The DCHS Tigers basketball team had a rough start to their season last week as they played a series of Hall of Fame games. The boys fell at home, then lost a pair of games last Saturday on the road in Gordonsville.

On Tuesday, November 14, the Tigers were on their home court as they hosted visiting Wilson Central. The game would stay close in the first half, but the speed of Wilson would become apparent in the second.

The Tigers put 19 points on the board in the first period, with Conner Close sinking four two-pointers and four free throws, while Dallas Kirby hit a pair of two-point baskets and a free throw. Jon Hendrix also had a two-point shot. Wilson Central took the early lead with 21 points.

DeKalb came away with 23 points in the second period. Jordan Parker got on the board with a couple of two-point baskets and four free throw points, while Alex Antoniak had three two-point shots. Close added a two-pointer and a couple of free throws, while Hendrix had a three-pointer and Seth Fuson had a two-pointer. Wilson matched the Tigers point for point, taking the narrow 44-42 halftime lead.

The third period was when everything fell apart for the Tigers. DeKalb scored 16 points with Close doing most of the work with four two-point baskets. Kirby had a two-pointer and a free throw, Hendrix a three-pointer, and Antoniak a two-point shot. Wilson Central put 32 points on the board, taking the 76-58 lead.

The Tigers would add 19 points to the board in the fourth, with Close adding four more two-point baskets and a free throw, while Hendrix had a two and three-point shot. Kirby had a three-pointer while Antoniak and Parker each had a free throw point. Wilson ended the game with 17 points, taking the 93-77 win.

The following Saturday, the boys were on the road in Gordonsville where they would take on a team from Liberty Creek. It would be another game that the Tigers would see pull away in the second half.

The Tigers scored 10 points in the first period, with four two-point baskets by Close and one by Antoniak. Liberty Creek would inch by with the lead scoring 12.

DeKalb only came away with eight points in the second period, with three two-point shots and a free throw by Close and a free throw point by Antoniak. Liberty Creek scored 13, taking the 25-18 lead at the half.

The game really got away from the Tigers in the third period. DeKalb scored 11 points with a three-pointer by Ian Colwell, a two-pointer each by Parker, Antoniak, and Close, and a pair of free throws by Seth Fuson. Liberty Creek pulled away with 23 points taking the 48-29 lead.

The Tigers managed 14 points in the fourth, with three-point baskets by Logan Duke and Hendrix, a two-pointer and a free throw by Fuson, and two-pointers by Colwell and Kaleb Spears. Parker added a free throw. Liberty Creek ended with 13 points, claiming the 61-43 win.

Later that evening the Tigers would take on Clay County in a game that would come down to the wire.

The Tigers jumped out with 20 points in the first period. Kirby scored on three two-point baskets and a three-pointer, while Hendrix added a two and three-pointer of his own. Antoniak had a two-pointer and a free throw, Fuson a two-pointer, and Parker a free throw point. Clay County had 15 points.

DeKalb added 15 more points in the second, with Hendrix and Kirby each having a two and three-point basket, while Colwell had a three-pointer and Close a two-pointer. Clay County had 16 points, giving DeKalb the 35-31 halftime lead.

The Tigers put 17 points on the board in the third, with Kirby hitting a pair of two-point shots and a three-pointer, while Close had a pair of two-point baskets. Hendrix added a three-pointer, Antoniak a two-pointer, and Fuson had a free throw. Clay was held to 13 points. The Tigers were up, 52-44.

It came down to the fourth, where the Tigers just couldn’t make anything happen. DeKalb came away with only four points with two-pointers by Fuson and Hendrix. Clay surged ahead with 14 points, taking the narrow 58-56 win.