Basketball Bragging Rights for a Good Cause

December 10, 2023
By: dwayne page

Bragging Rights for a good cause!

In the first ever Border Battle of high school alumni basketball between the two counties, Cannon County High School swept both men’s and women’s games Saturday night against DeKalb County in Smithville. Proceeds from the event are going to Project Graduation.

Featuring basketball stars from the past, the Cannon County Lions beat the DeKalb County Tigers 66 to 46 while the Cannon County Lionettes prevailed over the DeKalb County Lady Tigers 39 to 33. The DeKalb Tigers Alumni team was coached by former educator and coach Mike Braswell while former Lady Tiger basketball star MaryAnn Puckett coached the Lady Tigers.

In the men’s alumni game, Cannon County led 17 to 8 after the 1st period, 34 to 20 at halftime, and 48 to 34 after the 3rd period before claiming a 66 to 46 victory over the DeKalb County Alumni team.

For DeKalb County, Trey Jones scored 9, Lucas Phillips 8, Ethan Roller 6, Justin Bone, Tanner Poss, Hayden Thomas, and Brayden Antoniak each with 4, Zackary Vincent 3, and Jordan Young and Colter Norris each with 2.

Cannon County only had six players in their lineup, and they were led in scoring by Brady Cunningham with 23 points followed by Lane Willis 13, Jacob Nave 12, Austin Brock with 11 and Trey Fann 7.

In the women’s game, Cannon County led 14 to 7 after the 1st period, 26 to 14 at halftime, and 32 to 17 after the 3rd period before defeating the Lady Tigers Alumni team 39 to 33.

For DeKalb County, Kelly Parkerson Pyburn scored 10, Casey Bogle Agee 6, Mallori Hart 4, Hannah Panter Bone 3, and Tonya George Lee, Stephanie Hart Williams, Danielle Tyson Horton, Jailyn Bolding, and Gracie Griffin each with 2.

Cannon County was led in scoring by Macy Clements and Amber Burnett each with 10, Erin Fann 9, Hope Young-8, and Dani Young 2.

The DCHS Alumni men’s roster included the following and their year of graduation:

Jacob Rankhorn-2004, Lucas Phillips-2013, Zackary Vincent-2013, Ethan Roller- 2014, Justin Bone-2015, Trey Jones-2018, Noah Martin-2019, Colter Norris-2019, Tanner Poss-2019, Hayden Thomas-2019, Brayden Antoniak-2022, Nathaniel Crook-2022, and Jordan Young-2022.

The DCHS Alumni women’s roster included the following and their year of graduation:

Tonya George Lee-1992, Casey Bogle Agee-1999, Kelly Parkerson Pyburn-1999, Stephanie Hart Williams- 2003, Brooke Hutchings-2012, Abbey Roller-2013, Danielle Tyson Horton-2014, Jailyn Bolding-2016, Hannah Panter Bone- 2017, Lydia Brown- 2019, Megan Cantrell- 2021, Gracie Griffin- 2021, and Mallori Hart- 2021.

The Cannon County High School Alumni men’s roster included the following and their year of graduation:

Josh Rhulen-2011, Jacob Nave-2015, Marshal McReynolds-2015, Austin Brock-2016, Trey Fann-2018, and Lane Willis-2018.

The Cannon County High School Alumni women’s roster included the following and their year of graduation.

Brandi Burnett-2005, Hope Young-2005, Amber Burnett-2007, Eden Fann-2007, Erin Fann-2010, Jordan Hollis- 2013, and Macy Clements-2014.

December 9, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Honoring a two-time state high school high jump champion!

Ally Beneke has become one of the greatest athletes of all time at DCHS.

The 2023 graduate was honored between the DCHS-Warren County basketball games Friday night in Smithville for having captured back-to-back women’s high jump state titles in 2022 and 2023.

During the presentation, Beneke was presented a plaque for her feat and a banner in her honor was unveiled which will be prominently displayed in the gym alongside those for other star athletes.

Beneke was a member of the DeKalb and Warren County cooperative Track and Field program during her sophomore, junior, and senior years.

Ally earned her first State Championship on May 26th, 2022 at the TSSAA-DI AAA track meet after jumping a height of 5 feet 6 inches to claim the title.

She repeated as State Champion on May 25, 2023 when she cleared a new personal record of 5 feet 8 inches on her final attempt jump at the TSSAA D1-AAA Track and Field State Meet held at the Dean A. Hayes Stadium at MTSU.

Beneke is the 20-year-old daughter of Jerry and Kim Beneke and they joined her for the brief recognition ceremony Friday night along with her grandmother and coaches, Jeremy Wilhelm and Kristen VanVranken

Ally is now a student at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville where she is furthering her athletic and academic career on a Track and Field scholarship.

Beneke and her family moved to DeKalb County almost three years ago from Michigan when she was a sophomore.

December 9, 2023
By: dwayne page

After graduation, the next stop for Konner Young, the DCHS Tiger baseball team’s talented Senior shortstop will be Greenville University in Illinois.

Joined by his family, coaches, and teammates, Young signed a letter of intent Friday afternoon to play for the Panthers starting in 2025.

Baseball is Konner’s passion and has been most of his life.

“I grew up watching DCHS Tiger baseball and all I ever wanted was a spot on the team and when I got here, I just made the most of it,” said Konner.

“Konner has been a vital part of our team,” said DCHS Tiger Baseball Coach Tad Webb. “His first three years he has started as a freshman at shortstop, and we plan to use him there again this season. He has been a staple up the middle for us and he also does what he needs to do at the plate. He often comes through with some big hits for the team”.

Although Greenville, Illinois is some distance from home, Konner said the atmosphere there is like home.

“They (Greenville Coaches) reached out to me one day in school and I responded. After that we kept in touch and I later got a visit and discovered that it was the perfect match for me,” said Konner.

“Greenville really reminded me a lot of Smithville. It’s a small town and the people there are really nice. While I was there the coach recited a Bible scripture and that helped seal the deal for me,” said Young.

Once at Greenville, Konner said he plans to further his education in some form of the engineering field.

“I am very excited for Konner,” said Coach Webb. He is a special young man today and I have known him since he was little. Playing baseball is something he has always wanted to do and over the years, I have had the privilege of having coached him some in travel ball. I know this (furthering his baseball career) has been part of his dream for a long time. Its very pleasing to see him achieve and reach that dream,” said Coach Webb.

Konner is the son of Jeremy and Kim Young.

Greenville is a private university in Greenville, Illinois. It is affiliated with the Free Methodist Church. Established as Greenville College in 1892, the institution was renamed Greenville University in 2017. Its sports teams participate as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Division III. The Panthers are a member of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC). The Panthers also compete in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA).