The James C. Haile State Invitational Tournament was founded in 1974. It is the oldest continual State Junior High Tournament in Tennessee.

Macon Co. began the game with a 3 pt. shot by Michael Ashburn. DeKalb’s 3 pt. shots weren’t falling, but #33 finally converted on a 2 pt. basket. Seth Carlisle took it to the hole for 2 pts. Carlisle rebounded on DeKalb’s miss with a fast break pass to Kendrick Carter. Carter was fouled on the play and hit both ends of a one in one. On DeKalb’s end there was a steal by Ashburn, with the recovery coming from Tyler Gann. Carlisle shot and missed, Gann rebounded and was fouled. Gann hit both ends of the one in one. DeKalb’s #50 shot, #33 rebounded but lost the ball out of bounds, the ball went to Macon. Carlisle drove to the basket for 2 pts.

Timeout was taken with 1:16 left in the first quarter. When play resumed Dawson Brawner fouled #12, #12 shot and missed. Carter recovered the ball, and pushed it up the court with a pass to Ashburn for 2 pts. DeKalb’s #50 converted for 2 pts. The final shot of the quarter went to Ashburn for 3 pts. with a pass from Gann. At the end of the first quarter Macon County was up 16 to 4.

The second quarter began with a foul by Ashburn, putting DeKalb’s #25 on the line. The second foul shot was missed; Carlisle rebounded with an out pass to Ashburn. Carter shot and missed, Gann rebounded, Carter shot and missed, Gann rebounded but fouled a DeKalb player. On DeKalb’s end Carter picked up a foul, then #23 sunk a 3 pointer. On the run, Ashburn’s pass to Brawner added 2 pts. to Macon’s score. The next series included a steal by Carlisle, a block by Carter that was recovered by Carlisle. Carlisle shot and missed, DeKalb’s #25 shot and missed, the rebound was tipped out on Macon, DeKalb’s ball. Player #12 shot and missed, Ashburn rebounded, and Carlisle converted 2 pts. with a shot from the top of the key. DeKalb’s #50 shot and missed, Gann fouled on the shot. On Macon’s end, Brawner was fouled, Carter shot and missed, Brawner rebounded and was fouled. Brawner missed both foul shots.

DeKalb’s 3 pointers started to fall with #12 scoring 3. Ashburn’s kick out pass to Brawner on the fast break went out of bounds then DeKalb’s #23 scored a 3 pointer. On Macon’s end Heston King, who had come in for Gann, powered up for 2 pts. on the block with a pass from Ashburn. DeKalb’s #23 scored 2 pts. As action continued, Ashburn’s 3-point shot was a miss, Brawner rebounded and was fouled. Ashburn couldn’t convert on the next 3, the ball went out on DeKalb, then Brawner shot & missed. Brawner rebounded, went up again with bodies banging, no foul called on Brawner’s miss. The ball was out on DeKalb, Macon’s ball. Carlisle took it to the hole for 2 pts. DeKalb’s #23 shot and missed. The Tigers went into halftime with a 24 to 16 lead on the Saints.

Play resumed with a foul by Carlisle, DeKalb’s #50 scored 2 on an inbound pass. Carlisle retaliated with a 2-point jumper and was fouled on the score. Carlisle missed the foul shot but DeKalb’s #11 lost the ball out of bounds. Carlisle shot and missed, Brawner rebounded then King rebounded, shot and was fouled. King hit one of his foul shots. DeKalb’s #50 shot and missed, #33 rebounded and was fouled by Brawner. DeKalb hit one of the foul shots. The Tiger’s Carter drove to the basket for 2 pts. Brawner stole the ball, passed to Ashburn; Ashburn’s fast break pass was stolen.

On DeKalb’s end Brawner rebounded the missed shot but lost the ball off his foot, DeKalb’s #50 scored on the inbound pass. King shot and missed then DeKalb’s #23 scored 2 pts. Macon went on for a series of missed opportunities but regained momentum from a Carlisle steal and fast break pass to Carter for 2 pts. At the end of the third quarter Macon was up 31 to 23.

Macon picked up the pace in the fourth quarter, and there was no turning back for the Tigers in their quest for the win. Macon’s first score in the 4^th came from Carter driving to the rim for 2 pts. On DeKalb’s end, Brawner’s block gave the ball back to Macon. Carter fouled while applying defensive pressure on the ball, DeKalb’s #34 scored for 2 pts. Cayden Shrum, who had come in for King, shot for 3 but the ball rimmed out. DeKalb’s #12 shot and missed, Gann leaped high for the ball but walked when he came back down. DeKalb’s #23 shot and missed but #50 scored 2 pts. after rebounding the ball. Ashburn passed to Brawner, Brawner was fouled on the shot and hit both foul shots.

Timeout was taken with 3:26 left to go in the fourth. Macon’s aggressive pressure on the ball created turnovers for DeKalb. Ashburn chased DeKalb’s missed ball out of bounds and hanging in the air managed to throw the ball back in to a Tiger player. Carlisle shot, received contact, but no foul was called, DeKalb’s ball. Seeking redemption on the no-call, Carlisle stole the ball, crashed to the board for 2 and was fouled. Carlisle missed the free throw, Brawner rebounded and shot, Gann grabbed the miss and scored for 2 pts. Tenacious defense from Carter produced a steal, Carter passed to Gann, Gann passed to Brawner, Brawner went up for the shot and appeared to be fouled but there was no call. DeKalb’s #50 shot and missed, Carlisle rebounded, Carter was fouled, Ashburn was fouled but missed the free throw. In an attempt to regain possession, DeKalb began fouling the Tigers. Carter was fouled and hit both free throws. DeKalb’s #12 shot and missed then the fast break kick out from Gann to Brawner produced 2 pts. There was no turning back for the Tigers.

The game ended with two back-to-back fast break passes, Carlisle to Ashburn for 2 pts. and Ashburn to Carter for 2 pts. The final score was Tigers 47 – Saints 28.

Scoring for the Tigers were Kendrick Carter - 12, Seth Carlisle - 12, Michael Ashburn - 10, Dawson Brawner - 6, Tyler Gann - 4, and Heston King - 3.