Dawgs take season opener against Rockcastle

Posted December 4, 2013 at 2:56 pm

The Clinton County Bulldogs held its season opener Monday night, December 2, at The Castle against Rockcastle County. During the game, Clinton County’s defense held strong in the third quarter to give the Dawgs the cushion it needed for the 64-50 win.

In the first quarter, Clinton County started in full court pressure. As Rockcastle County brought the ball up the floor, the zone defense allowed good looks at the basket from beyond the three point line for the Rockets and they capitalized on that, hitting three in the first quarter.

Clay Choate made the first bucket of the season for Clinton County at the 6:30 mark, but Rockcastle knocked down one of its three first quarter three pointers to take a 3-2 lead.

Clinton County’s Keifer Dalton and Colby Langford hit baskets to extend Clinton County’s lead to three, but the second three pointer by the Rockets tied the score at 6-6 with 4:40 remaining in the quarter.

The remainder of the quarter saw both teams going back and forth, trying to establish some sort of rhythm. The buzzer sounded at the end of one with both teams tied at 12.

As the second quarter got underway, Dalton scored two from the free throw line to put the Dawgs up by two, 14-12. Rockcastle answered with a basket at the 6:29 mark, then took the lead on a three pointer with 5:58 on the clock, 17-14.

Clinton County then took charge with a 5-0 run on a basket by Langford and a three pointer by Dalton, 19-17, with 4:59 on the clock.

Rockcastle returned the favor with a five point swing of its own to take a 22-19 lead at the 4:10 mark. Langford cut the lead to one on a basket in the paint, but the Rockets hit one of two from the line to extend its lead to two points, 23-21.

At the 2:52 mark, Langford tied the score at 23, but Rockcastle went up by three with a three pointer with 2:21 on the clock, 26-23.

With more than two minutes on the clock, Clinton County made a run to take the lead. Langford, combined with two baskets by Choate and one from Dalton, finished the quarter to give Clinton County a 31-28 halftime lead.

As the third quarter got underway, Clinton County’s defense was turned up a notch and a strong defense fueled its offense by putting together a 15-0 run and holding Rockcastle scoreless until the 2:10 mark, 46-31.

With 1:37 remaining in the quarter, Parker Means scored a basket inside the paint to put the Dawgs up by 17 points, 48-31.

Rockcastle County finished the quarter with a three pointer to cut the lead to 14, 48-34, with a minute remaining on the clock.

Rockcastle did its best to chip away at Clinton County’s lead in the fourth quarter. The Rockets got to within six points of the Dawgs at the 5:46 mark, 48-42, but Clinton County’s late run of 12-1, put the Dawgs back up by 17 with 2:59 on the clock.

The Dawgs finished the game with a basket and two free throws by Langford and held Rockcastle County to only five points in the final three minutes for the 64-50 win.

During the game, Clinton County had 11 players come off the bench to contribute to its first win of the season.

Individual scoring for Clinton County was:

Dalton 25

Langford 20

Claywell 7

Choate 6

Nelson 2

Colin Langford 2

Means 2

Clinton County’s next games will come Thursday night at home against Somerset and Saturday against Franklin-Simpson at home. The Somerset game is set for a 7 p.m. tip off and the Franklin-Simpson game is scheduled for a 7:30 tip off.

Saturday will also see the girls take the floor at home for the first time this season, with a junior varsity/varsity action beginning at 3 p.m.

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Keifer Dalton drove into the lane and was intentionally fouled as a Rockcastle County player pushed him from underneath. Dalton hit the basket and knocked down two free throws for a four point swing. Dalton finished the game with a team high, 25 points.
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Colby Langford pulled up on the baseline Monday night during Clinton County’s season opener against Rockcastle County. The Dawgs won the game, 64-50. Langford finished the game with 20 points.

Below, Lance Claywell sent a shot toward the goal during the first half against Rockcastle County Monday night. Clinton County won the contest and move to 1-0 on the year. Claywell finished the game with seven points.

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