Sports

The DCHS basketball teams split with Warren County at McMinnville Monday night with the Lady Tigers winning 50 to 46 while the Tigers lost to the Pioneers 63 to 42.

The Lady Tigers were down 14 to 13 after the 1st period but led 26 to 19 at halftime and 33 to 25 after the 3rd period before going on to win 50 to 46.

Kadee Ferrell scored 16, Mya Ruch 13, Emme Colwell 11, Megan Walker 6, and Summer Crook and Hannah Willingham each with 2.

The Tigers trailed 18 to 9 after the 1st period, 31 to 15 at halftime, and 52 to 34 after the 3rd period before losing to the Pioneers 63 to 42.

Dallas Cook and Jordan Young each scored 9. Evan Jones 8. Lucas Hale 7, Brayden Antoniak 6 and Conner Vance 3.

The Tigers have a record of 6-15 (3-5 in the district) while the Lady Tigers are now 11-11 and (3-5 in the district).

The remainder of the 2020 schedule is as follows:
Tuesday, January 28: Livingston Academy*-Away 6 p.m.
Friday, January 31: Watertown*-Home 6 p.m.
Tuesday, February 4: Cannon County- Away 6 p.m.
Friday, February 7: Upperman- Home 6 p.m..
Tuesday, February 11: Macon County*-Away 6 p.m.
Thursday, February 13: Smith County*-Away 6 p.m.

Isaac Cross, a senior offensive lineman, team captain, and Tennessee Tech signee, was named Most Valuable Player of the 2019 DCHS Tiger Football Team during the annual Awards Banquet held Saturday night at the Smithville First Baptist Church Life Enrichment Center building. Meanwhile Katherine Malone, a senior and cheer captain, received the Most Valuable Player Football Cheerleader Award.

The trophies were presented to Cross and Malone respectively by Tiger Football Coach Steve Trapp and Cheer Coach Amanda Fuller.

In addition to his MVP trophy, Cross received the Coach Clay Edwards Memorial Tiger Pride Award for the second year and he was named the All Region 3 Class 4A’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman. The Clay Edwards Award was presented to Cross by members of Edwards’ family, Abram Edwards and Sarah Rathbone, son and daughter, and their mother Tena Edwards-Jacobs.

“DeKalb County football has been a big part of my life. All the coaches have done so much for each of us as players and individuals. I can’t thank them and the people of the community enough for all of their support,” said Cross.

“Its not just what he did on the field that makes him so special but its what he embodies as a human being and a leader. Isaac was a tremendous football player and captain for us. In his career here he played all five positions up front for us. This year he was our main stay at left tackle .He is the first player to ever win the MVP and Clay Edwards Tiger Pride Award in the same year and to get the Tiger Pride Award for two years in a row. That speaks volumes about the type of guy he is. We are going to miss him but he is on to bigger and better things.,” said Coach Trapp.

In December Cross signed a letter of intent to play for the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles next year. Cross will graduate from DCHS in May.

“One reason I chose Tech is that it is really close to home. They offered to pay for everything which is really a blessing between academic and athletic money and Tech has a really good football program. I absolutely love coach Dewayne Alexander. He is an amazing coach with great principles. I love just about everything about the program,” said Cross.

Tennessee Tech competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision and is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference.

In presenting the MVC Award, Cheer Coach Amanda Fuller talked about Katherine Malone’s drive and determination to be the best cheerleader she can.

“Having someone like this girl on our team, we knew we had someone who was very responsible and dependable and knew how to get things done. Having her meant we had someone we could trust as a leader in practice on the sidelines. She would push and encourage her team to be better but even more than that she would set an example by pushing herself to work as hard or harder than everyone else. As an honor student she is a perfect example on and off the field. She is a very strong base. If she is part of a stunt its going to hit. She has an excellent memory so she knows all the cheers and dances and is very good at teaching that to others with lots of patience. She is a great captain and has earned the respect and love of her teammates and I am so thankful and honored to have been her coach for the last four years,” she said.

The DCHS Tigers concluded the 2019 season at 8-5 overall, a 2nd place finish in the region, and a 2-1 record in the state playoffs, the first time a DCHS football team had ever advanced that far in the post-season.

Other individual Football Player Awards are as follows:
Offensive Player of the Year- Axel Aldino
Offensive Lineman- Diego Coronado
Offensive Back- Nathaniel Crook
Receiver- Tyzaun Ladet
Defensive Player of the Year- Desmond Nokes
Defensive Lineman- Dylan Denson
Linebacker- Aidan Curtis
Defensive Back- Isaac Knowles
Special Teams Player- Alan Munoz
Most Improved-Jonathon Garcia
MVP- Isaac Cross
Coach Clay Edwards Memorial Tiger Pride Award-Isaac Cross
Scout Team Player of the Year: Silas Cross
Newcomer of the Year: Bryan Portillo

Thirteen players on the 2019 DCHS football team earned All-Region honors.

Tiger players honored were as follows:
Offensive Most Valuable Player: Axel Aldino
Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman: Isaac Cross
Most Outstanding Defensive Lineman: Dylan Denson
Most Outstanding Returner: Desmond Nokes
Most Outstanding Defensive Back: Isaac Knowles
1st Team All Region: Diego Coronado
1st Team All Region: Aidan Curtis
1st Team All Region: Tyzaun Ladet
1st Team All Region: Antwon McCoy
1st Team All Region: Peyton Leaf
2nd Team All Region: Alan Munoz
2nd Team All Region: Evan Jones
2nd Team All Region: Nathaniel Crook

Individual Cheer Awards are as follows:
Most Valuable Cheerleader- Katherine Malone
Most Spirited- Sadie West
Best Dancer- Malia Stanley
Best Cheer-Kiersten Griffith
Best Stunts-Alley Sykes
DEAR (Dedication, Enthusiasm, Attitude, and Responsibility-Morgan Walker
Best Jumps-Sara Carver

The York Institute Dragons and Dragonettes bested the DCHS Tigers and Lady Tigers lost at Jamestown Friday night.

The Lady Tigers lost 57 to 48 and the Tigers were defeated 61 to 43.

In the girls game, DC trailed 13 to 9 after the 1st period, 24 to 20 at halftime, and 35 to 31 after the 3rd period before losing 57 to 48.

Kadee Ferrell scored 18. Mya Ruch 9. Megan Cantrell and Summer Crook each with 6. Megan Walker 4, Hannah Willingham 3, and Emme Colwell 2.

The Tigers trailed 12 to 7 after the 1st period, 30 to 16 at halftime, and 45 to 27 after the 3rd period before losing to the Dragons 61 to 43.

Dakota White and Evan Jones each scored 9. Dallas Cook 7. Lucas Hale 6. Brayden Antoniak 5. Jordan Young 3 and Elisha Ramos and Kylen Rhea each with 2.

The Tigers have a record of 6-14 (3-5 in the district) while the Lady Tigers are now 10-11 and (3-5 in the district).

The remainder of the 2020 schedule is as follows:
Monday, January 27: Warren County-Away 6 p.m.
Tuesday, January 28: Livingston Academy*-Away 6 p.m.
Friday, January 31: Watertown*-Home 6 p.m.
Tuesday, February 4: Cannon County- Away 6 p.m.
Friday, February 7: Upperman- Home 6 p.m..
Tuesday, February 11: Macon County*-Away 6 p.m.
Thursday, February 13: Smith County*-Away 6 p.m.

Another outstanding DCHS softball player has signed a letter of intent with Cumberland University of Lebanon to play collegiate ball for the Phoenix after she graduates here.

Kenzie France, a senior, put pen to paper Wednesday at DCHS. Members of Kenzie’s family, coaches, and fellow players joined her for the occasion including Heather Stanfill, head coach of the Cumberland University Phoenix.

Cumberland is a member of the Mid-South Conference affiliated with the NAIA.

“The reason I chose Cumberland is because I have always been a little bit of a home body and it was close enough that I could be away from home but I could also come back whenever I needed to and when I went to visit there it was a great family atmosphere and Coach Stanfill really made me feel I was part of the family. Everyone there is just so loving. I am so blessed and thankful for this opportunity and I give all glory to God,” said France.

“The first time we saw her play we definitely knew we wanted her. She is just an all around athlete. A good hitter and a good fielder and more importantly she is just a good person. I think for us she will fit right in with our current team. Everybody is excited to have her. Personality wise she just clicked with our team. Everybody wanted her and I think she will be a standout player for us. My goal is for her to move right into that first base position,” said Coach Stanfill.

Kenzie joins a growing list of softball players from DCHS who have made the move to Cumberland University after their high school playing days.

“We have had great success with players from DeKalb County. It started with Victoria Bennett and then we got Tyra Graham, Kayley Caplinger and down the line. It’s been incredible the character they have which matches really well with what I want,” added Coach Stanfill.

Although Kenzie will be handling first base duties at Cumberland, she will primarily be on the mound for her senior season with the Tigerettes this spring where she has had past success. Kenzie also achieved another feat last season by having set the DCHS softball program’s all time homerun record as a player for her career.

“I am expecting more big things from Kenzie this season. Big things from a big hitter. She will be primarily on the mound for us this year. She has been very good there for us but at the plate is where she owns it. As s sophomore she hit 15 homeruns and last year as a junior she had 60 RBIs. Everybody pitched around her. She set the all time homerun record here for her career at the end of last year. I have to check but I believe she had five homeruns as a freshman, 15 as a sophomore and 8 last year. She tied Tyra Graham for all time homeruns in a season as a sophomore. Kenzie is a prolific big bomb hitter,” said Tigerette Coach Danny Fish.

Kenzie said her career goal is to work in health care. “I would like to go into nursing and be a nurse practitioner with a major in mental health,” she said.

As for the upcoming softball season, her last as a Tigerette, Kenzie has high hopes. “I am so excited to see what this season has in store for us. We are going to work for it and I am hoping we go back to state,” Kenzie concluded.

Cumberland University softball has been selected fifth in the Mid-South Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Head coach Stanfill begins her 12th season with the Phoenix and returns five starters from last year’s club that finished 26-22 overall, 11-15 in conference action. Senior Tyra Graham of DeKalb County and junior Madison Woodruff both earned First Team All-Mid-South accolades last season.

The DCHS basketball teams swept visiting Smith County Tuesday night in Smithville. The Lady Tigers won in overtime 59 to 52 while the Tigers claimed an 80 to 54 victory.

The Lady Tigers trailed 7 to 4 after the 1st period but held a 20 to 19 edge by halftime. Smith County was back out front 34 to 33 after the 3rd period but the game was tied at 48 by the end of regulation. The Lady Tigers outscored Smith County 11 to 4 in the overtime period and won 59 to 52.

Emme Colwell scored 16. Kadee Ferrell 12. Gracie Griffin and Summer Crook each with 8. Mya Ruch 6 and Megan Walker, Megan Cantrell, and Hannah Willingham each scored 3.

The Tigers led 15 to 10 after the 1st period, 33 to 22 at halftime, and 57 to 36 after the 3rd period before going on to win 80 to 54.

Evan Jones scored 17, Dakota White 13, Elisha Ramos 12, Brayden Antoniak 9, Luke Jenkins 8, Jordan Young and Dallas Cook each with 7, Kylan Rhea 4, Stetson Agee 2, and Conner Vance 1.

The Tigers have a record of 6-13 (3-4 in the district) while the Lady Tigers are now 10-10 and (3-4 in the district).

The remainder of the 2020 schedule is as follows:
Friday, January 24: York Institute*-Away 6 p.m.
Monday, January 27: Warren County-Away 6 p.m.
Tuesday, January 28: Livingston Academy*-Away 6 p.m.
Friday, January 31: Watertown*-Home 6 p.m.
Tuesday, February 4: Cannon County- Away 6 p.m.
Friday, February 7: Upperman- Home 6 p.m..
Tuesday, February 11: Macon County*-Away 6 p.m.
Thursday, February 13: Smith County*-Away 6 p.m.