The Dawson County Tiger varsity basketball team jumped all over visiting Towns County in its season opener last week. The Tigers used the 3-point shot and a stingy defense to defeat the Indians by a massive 51-21 score.

Dawson is currently 1-0 on the season.

“It was good to get that opening win. I think wins are contagious. I thought our man defense was pretty good. We don’t play man very much so it was good to get a chance to use it tonight,” said Head Coach Thad Burgess.

Towns didn’t manage a field goal until the 4:01 mark of the first quarter. The Tigers then went on an 8-0 run and never looked back to build a convincing 25-10 lead midway through the second quarter.

At intermission, Dawson held a firm, 29-12, lead.

The Indians scored only two points in the third quarter and Dawson led by a 42-14 score.

Senior Jacob Evans led all Tiger scorers with 17 points. Evans also pulled down nine rebounds in the win.

“Jacob Evans is our leading scorer and rebounder. We ask him to play a lot of minutes. I thought he did well tonight,” Burgess said.

Kaleb Holbrook also made his return to the lineup after suffering a season-ending knee injury last year.

“It was good to get Kaleb Holbrook back in the lineup to get him involved. We have to get him a little playing time because we are going to need him to play some point guard down the road,” Burgess said.

Sophomore guard Tyler Dominy had a solid night handling the ball and scoring for the Tigers. Dominy finished the game with 12 points.

“I thought Stephen Johnson had one of his better games. Levi Wilson was his solid self, giving us some good minutes,” Burgess said. 

“Eventually we are going to make a few shots. When your shooting the three, sometimes we aren’t going to look so good, but when you get on a roll and make some it makes a ton of difference in the outcome of a game,” said Burgess of his team’s three point shots.

The Tigers connected on 12, 3-pointers in the game.

Seven different Tiger players got in the scoring column. Evans led all scorers with 17 points, Dominy added 12, Will Anglin had 8, Ethan Brown and Kaleb Holbrook with 4 points apiece, Levi Wilson and Tyler King contributed 3 points each.

Towns was led by Bradley Swanson with 8 points.

“I really think our guys expect to win,” Burgess said.

The Tigers were back in action Monday and Tuesday at the Hebron Christian Thanksgiving Tournament. Scores were unavailable at press time. 

Dawson will play Galloway at home Nov. 30.

The boys’ game will tip off around 6:30 p.m.