The DeKalb County Tigers basketball team had a rough game to start last week, falling to the Upperman Bees, but then they bounced back against the Macon Tigers. The road wouldn’t be kind however, as they would fall to Stone Memorial late in the week.

On Tuesday, January 18, the Tigers were in front of their home crowd as they hosted the Upperman Bees. Earlier, the Lady Tigers had pulled off an upset against the Lady Bees, but fortune would not be with the boys’ team.

DeKalb scored nine points in the first period, with Isaac Knowles finking a three-point shot, while Brayden Antoniak hit a pair of two-pointers. Conner Close also added a two-point basket. Upperman jumped ahead slightly, putting 11 points on the scoreboard.

The Tigers were held to only eight points in the second period, with Close, Stetson Agee, Elishah Ramos, and Brayden Antoniak each hitting a two-point hoop. The Bees added 17 to the board, taking a 28-17 halftime lead.

Jordan Young got on the board for the Tigers in the third period, sinking a couple of three-point baskets, while Close and Agee each had a two-pointer. Ramos added a couple of free throw points. Again, Upperman outscored DeKalb, getting 18 points and a 45-29 lead.

Brayden Antoniak and Nathaniel Crook each hit a three-pointer for the Tigers in the fourth period, while Robert Wheeler added a two-point shot and a couple of free throws. Close had a two-pointer, while Agee added on free throw point. Upperman scored 14 points, and took the 59-42 win.

Brayden Antoniak was the top scorer for the Tigers with nine points, while Close had eight. Young had six points, Agee five, Ramos and Wheeler each had four, and Knowles and Crook each had three.

The following Thursday the Tigers were back on their home court, this time taking on the Tigers of Macon County. It would be a much better outcome for DeKalb.

DeKalb opened up with 15 points in the first period. Elishah Ramos had a pair of three-point baskets, while Conner Close added a couple of two-pointers. Isaac Knowles had a two-point basket as well, while Jordan Young had a three-pointer. Macon was held to just 10 points.

The DeKalb Tigers caught fire in the second period, coming away with 23 points added to the board. Close had five two-point baskets and a free throw, while Ramos added a two and three-point shot. Stetson Agee got on the board with a couple of two-point shots and a free throw, while Brayden Antoniak had a two-point shot of his own. Macon was held to 13 points, giving DeKalb a 38-23 lead at the half.

Close, Knowles, Antoniak, and Young each added a two-point shot in the third period, while Macon was held to just nine points. DeKalb was up, 46-32.

Once again, the DeKalb Tigers poured it on in the fourth period, coming away with 21 points. Antoniak sank four two-point shots and a free throw, while Close and Agee each had a pair of two-pointers. Knowles and Young each had one two-point basket. The Macon Tigers were held to 17 points, giving DeKalb the 67-49 victory.

Close was the top scorer in the game with 21 points, while Antoniak had 13. Ramos had 11 points, Agee nine, Young seven, and Knowles had six points.

On Friday, the Tigers were on the road, traveling to Crossville to take on the Stone Memorial Panthers. The Tigers would start off slow and not be able to overcome the early deficit.

DeKalb came away with just six points in the first period, with Elishah Ramos and Jordon Young each hitting a three-point basket. The Panthers would come out with 13 points and the early lead.

The Tigers finally got things moving in the second period, with Stetson Agee sinking a pair of three-point shots, while Young added a two-pointer and a couple of free throws. Ramos and Brayden Antoniak each had a two-point shot. Stone added 16 to the board, taking a 29-20 halftime lead.

Conner Close got on the board for the Tigers in the third period, with a two-pointer and three free throw points. Agee added a two-point basket and a free throw, while Isaac Knowles and Brayden Antoniak each had a two-pointer. Once again the Panthers added to their lead, scoring 14 and taking a 43-32 lead.

Young sank a couple of three-point shots ans a free throw for the Tigers in the fourth, while Knowles, Brayden Antoniak, Jordan Parker, and Seth Fuson each had a two-point basket. Agee and Alex Antoniak each had a pair of free throw points. Stone was held to 15, but it was more than enough. The Panthers claimed the 58-51 win.

Young was the top scorer for the Tigers with 14 points, followed by Agee who had 11. Brayden Antoniak had six points, Close and Ramos each had five, Knowles four, and Parker, Alex Antoniak, and Fuson each had two.