The DeKalb County High School Tigers basketball team had local fans on their feet last Friday as they took on the third seeded White County Warriors in the first round of the District 7AAA basketball tournament held at Cumberland County High School last Friday night. DeKalb would fall behind early in the game, but slowly pull away as the game progressed.
The Tigers came away with seven points in the first period. Jon Hendrix sank a three-pointer, while Seth Fuson and Jordan Parker each had a two-point basket. The Warriors took the early lead with 13 points.
Dallas Kirby came to life for DeKalb in the second period, scoring on a pair of two-point shots and a couple of three-pointers. Hendrix added a three to his tally, while Parker and Porter Hancock each hit a two-point shot. White County was held to 11, tying the game at halftime at 24.
Elliot Barnes got on the board for DeKalb in the third, sinking a three-pointer and a free throw. Fuson and Logan Duke each hit a two-pointer, while Kirby had three free throw points. The Warriors were held to seven, giving the Tigers the 35-31 lead.
It would be a clash in the fourth period with both teams fighting hard. Shots from the free throw line would prove crucial for the Tigers and the Warriors. The Tigers would end the game with 20 points on the board. Fuson hit a three-pointer and three free throws, while Parker had a two-point basket and five free throws. Hancock added a two-pointer and a pair of free throw points, while Kirby came away with three free throw points.
The Warriors fought back hard and pulled the score to within two points and one point in the period. The Warriors’ Trip Pinion, the district’s Defensive MVP, had to leave the game with a leg injury, but the Warriors still fought hard. In the end, White County was held to 19, giving DeKalb the major upset win, 55-50.
With the win, the Tigers advanced to the semi-finals at Cumberland County High School on Saturday evening. There, DeKalb would face off with the second seeded Stone Memorial Panthers. Once again, the Tigers would get off to a slow start, but would rally in the third to make the game interesting.
The Tigers came away with seven points in the first period, with a three-pointer and two-pointer by Hendrix and a two-point shot by Kirby. The Panthers would jump ahead with 13 points.
DeKalb added another nine points to the board in the second, with Kirby sinking a two-pointer and a couple of free throws, while Hendrix had a two-point shot and one free throw. Hancock also added a two-point basket. Stone Memorial put another 13 on the board, taking the 26-16 halftime lead.
The Tigers rallied in the second, putting 20 points on the board. Kirby came to life with five two-point baskets, while Hendrix and Parker each added a two and a pair of free throws. Fuson also had a two-point shot. The Panthers were held to 12, cutting their lead 38-36.
It would come down to the fourth period, and the Tigers played hard. Kirby hit a three-point shot and a free throw, while Parker had a three-pointer of his own. Hancock added a two-point basket, while Hendrix had a pair of free throw points.
Unfortunately, the Panthers would rally, scoring 19 and taking the 57-47 win.
With the win over the Warriors, the Tigers have earned a berth in the Region Basketball Tournament at a date, time, and location to be announced.
