By: Joseph M. Morgan

In a pair of convincing victories in the varsity boys semifinal round of the 2016 DeKalb County Tournament Monday night, the Plainview Bears defeated the Sylvania Rams 62-39, and the Geraldine Bulldogs defeated the Crossville Lions 63-37 to advance to the finals of the county tournament. Originally scheduled for last Friday and Saturday night, the semifinal and championship rounds of the county tournament were postponed until this week due to snow and winter storms over the weekend.

In Monday night's semifinal matchup between Plainview and Sylvania, the Bears held a five-point lead over the Rams at the end of the 1st quarter, up 15-10, but pulled away in the 2nd and never looked back. Plainview poured in 26 points in the 2nd quarter, going into the half with a commanding 41-27 lead.

Sylvania held Plainview’s lead to 15 through the 3rd quarter, but would never manage to put together a run down the stretch to close in on the Bears. Down 50-35 at the start of the 4th, Sylvania would only put up four points in the final quarter, and Plainview would go on to win the game 62-39.

In the Geraldine-Crossville semifinal matchup, the Bulldogs dominated the game from the tip. The Bulldogs led 17-7 at the end of the first and went into the half with a 29-13 lead over the lions. Geraldine put up 21 in the 3rd quarter to extend their 16-point lead to 33, going into the 4th quarter with a 50-17 lead over Crossville. The Bulldogs pulled back in the 4th, but maintained a commanding lead, eventually defeating the Lions 63-37.

The Plainview Bears and the Geraldine Bulldogs will face off in the 2016 DeKalb County Tournament Championship Finals this Thursday, Jan. 28 at 7:45 p.m. at the DeKalb County Schools Coliseum in Rainsville.