TONY STINNETT, Courier Co-Editor
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 4:07 am

Cannon County's basketball team split with rival DeKalb County in front of a standing-room only crowd at Robert A. Harris Gymnasium Tuesday.

The Lionettes (8-2, 2-2) continued their dominance of rival DeKalb County by thrashing the Lady Tigers, 64-33. Cannon County secured its 30th consecutive win against its rival to continue a remarkable win streak that dates back to February 1999.

Cannon County's boys put up a valiant effort but came up on the short end of a 51-45 decision against the Tigers (8-2, 3-1).

Jordan Hollis led the Lionettes with 16 points, four rebounds and three steals. Abbey Sissom scored 10 points and Joanna Young finished with eight points, 11 rebounds and six steals.

The biggest scare during the game involved Lionettes Head Coach Michael Dodgen, who was unable to join the team in the locker room at halftime and was not on the court when the team returned for the third quarter.

Assistant coach Lydia Garrett handled Dodgen's responsibilities during halftime and in the third quarter until the head coach returned to the bench with less than four minutes remaining in the frame.

"About the 3 minute mark of the second quarter I turned to put a sub into the game and I felt a sharp pain in the back of my head," Dodgen said. "It stayed with me for awhile, then went away, then it came back. It scared me a little so I wasn't stubborn for a change and told someone. (A doctor) looked at me during the half and when things settled down I was able to go back out.

"(Garrett and Darvin Gill) did a great job at halftime," Dodgen said. "The kids handled it well. You don't want to scare them and they handled it all well."

Otherwise, it was smooth sailing for the Lionettes who rolled out to a dominating 30-6 halftime lead and never looked back.

The Lions (3-7, 1-3) put forth a solid effort against DeKalb County before falling short in the end. Cannon County was led by Cory Henley's 13 points. Jarrett Melton and Justin Tobin tallied nine each, and Tanner Larson finished with six points and five rebounds.

The score was tied 20-20 at the half before DeKalb County pulled ahead, 36-32, entering the fourth quarter. The Tigers built as much as a 13-point lead in the fourth quarter and then held off a furious Cannon County rally in the final 3:17. Melton scored seven of his nine during a three-minute span to lead the comeback bid.

Henley's back-to-back 3-pointers in the third quarter kept the Lions in the game.

Cannon County returns to action at Coffee County Friday. Tipoff for the girls game is 6 p.m.

(Complete recaps of both Cannon County games can be accessed on CannonCourier.com, and will appear in the Dec. 20 print edition of The Cannon Courier.)