April 1, 2024
By: Dwayne Page
Seniors Conner Close and Ella VanVranken were named the DCHS Tiger and Lady Tiger basketball Most Valuable Players Monday night at the annual team banquet, while Senior Elaina Turner 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 an MVP three-peat as he won the team’s highest award his sophomore and junior seasons as well. During his high school career Close scored a total of 1,287 points. He notched his 1,000th career point on December 12, 2023 at home against Smith County. 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 and Dallas Kirby also made the DTC All-Star Team.
For VanVranken, it was her second straight MVP award. She is also a member of the 1,000-point club at DCHS having reached that milestone as a junior during her 2022-23 season. This year, VanVranken made the 2nd Team All-District.
Other individual cheerleading awards included:
MVC: Elaina Turner
Outstanding Jumps: Landen Tubbs
Outstanding Motions: Annabella Dakas
Team Favorite Cheerleader: Sara Moore
Most Coachable: Izzy Prichard
Roar Award (Respectful, Outgoing, Accountable, Reliable): Madeline Martin
Other Lady Tiger basketball awards were as follows:
MVP: Ella VanVranken
Most Energetic: Bella Rackley
Most Passionate Player: Allie Melton
Best Defensive Player: Chloe VanVranken (All District Honorable Mention)
Sharpshooter Award: Avery Agee
Best Offensive Player: Ella Van Vranken
Most Improved and Sportsmanship Award: Tess Barton
Best Hustle Award: Cam Branin
Best Teammate: MaKayla Scales
For the Tigers,
MVP: Conner Close
Best Ball Handler and Best Three Point Percentage Shooter: Jordan Parker
Best 6th Man: Ian Colwell
Best Offensive Player (Average 17.8 points per game) and Most Rebounds (160): Conner Close
Best Defensive Player (Led Team in Deflections and Steals): Alex Antoniak
Most Improved: Seth Fuson
Both the DCHS Tigers and Lady Tigers were bounced from the district 7 3A basketball tournament in Feebruary by Livingston Academy. In the opening round of the tournament at Tennessee Tech, the DCHS Lady Tigers lost to Livingston Academy 59 to 28 while the Tigers followed with a 71 to 56 loss to the Wildcats. The Tigers completed the year at 10-19 overall and the Lady Tigers finished at 9-20.