April 23, 2023
By: Dwayne Page
Junior Conner Close was named the DCHS Tiger basketball Most Valuable Player Saturday night at the annual team banquet, while Junior Ella VanVranken received the Lady Tiger MVP honor. Senior Katherine Gassaway is the Most Valuable Cheerleader. The awards were sponsored by Love-Cantrell Funeral Home and presented by Chad and Shelia Kirby. The MVP and MVC awards are named in memory of Kirby’s grandfather Allen D. Hooper.
For Close, it’s back-to-back MVP titles as he won the team’s highest award for the 2021-22 season as well. In addition to being named MVP, Close earned awards for being the team’s Best Offensive Player and he was selected to the 1st Team All-District 7AAA. Close also made the DTC All-Star Team.
Along with having earned the MVP honor, VanVranken, a member of the 1,000-point club at DCHS, was recognized for having been named to the 2nd Team All-District 7AAA as well as the District’s All-Defensive Team and she made the DTC All-Star Team.
State Representative Michael Hale presented to VanVranken a resolution adopted by the Tennessee General Assembly honoring her for having scored more than 1,000 points for her career. Ella scored her 1,000th career point on December 21,2022 in a holiday tournament between the Lady Tigers and Ezell Harding at Wilson County High School in Lebanon leading the team in scoring with 26 points that day in a 56 to 51 victory for DeKalb County.
The season for the Tigers ended in February with a loss to White County in the District 7AAA Tournament. The Tigers, under first year coach Joey Agee, finished with an overall record of 12-15. Coach Brandy Alley’s first year Lady Tigers wrapped up their season at 14-15 after losing to White County in the district tournament in February.
Other Lady Tiger basketball awards were as follows:
MVP (Love Cantrell Funeral Home Allen D. Hooper Memorial Award): Ella VanVranken. She was also named to the 2nd Team All-District 7AAA as well as the District’s All-Defensive Team and DTC All Star Team
Leadership Award: Madison Martin
Most Improved: Darrah Ramsey
Best Defensive Player: Chloe VanVranken. She was also named to the District 7AAA All-Freshman Team
Hustle Award: Cam Branin
Sharp Shooter: Avery Agee. She also made the DTC All Star Team
Best Teammate: Tess Barton
For the Tigers,
MVP (Love Cantrell Funeral Home Allen D. Hooper Memorial Award) and Best Offensive Player: Conner Close. He was also named to the 1st Team All-District 7 AAA and DTC All Star Team
Defensive Player and Best Sixth Man: Alex Antoniak. He also made the District 7AAA All-Defensive Team
Best Ball Handler: Elishah Ramos. He also received All District Honorable Mention
Team Leader: Stetson Agee
District 7AAA All-Freshman Team: Jon Hendrix
Best Rebounder: Robert Wheeler. He also made the 3rd Team All District 7AAA and DTC All Star Team
Most Improved: Zack Birmingham
Best Sixth Man: Ean Jones
Other individual cheerleading awards included:
MVC (Love Cantrell Funeral Home Allen D. Hooper Memorial Award) : Katherine Gassaway
Most Coachable: Averie McMinn
Outstanding Jumps: Yvette Chivers
R.O.A.R. Award (Respectful, Outstanding, Accountable, and Reliable): Katie Patterson
Outstanding Motions: Annabella Dakas
Team Favorite: Hannah Lohorn