The Clinton County Lady Dawgs finally got its season underway after more than a week following the boys’ team and having to cancel Friday night’s contest at Warren East due to freezing rain and bad weather.

Saturday’s game was at home against what is usually a tough opponent in Franklin-Simpson. Last season, Franklin-Simpson defeated the Lady Dawgs 68-47 and from the start of the game Saturday, it looked as though Clinton County was in for the same treatment.

The Lady Wildcats opened the game with a 5-0 run before Ansley Stalcup scored at the 6:51 mark.

Franklin-Simpson added six more points before Clinton County would score again midway through the first quarter, 11-4.

Franklin-Simpson reached a lead of 19-8 before Clinton County decided to step up and play ball against the Lady Wildcats.

In the final two minutes of the period, Clinton County outscored Franklin-Simpson 10-2 to cut the lead to only two points as the buzzer sounded.

Clinton County continued its run in the second quarter by holding strong on defense.

Clinton County’s first lead came at the 1:14 mark when Joelie Hicks dropped in two free throws, 25-24. Alex Beard knocked down a three pointer with 45 seconds remaining in the half to extend its lead. The Lady Dawgs scored 10 points in the second quarter while holding the Lady Wildcats to only four for a 28-24 lead at halftime.

As the second half got underway, Clinton County’s defense continued to give Franklin-Simpson trouble, but the lack of offense in the third period allowed a big enough window for the Lady Wildcats to regain the lead.

Franklin-Simpson scored four points from the line to take a two point lead, 32-30, at the 3:50 mark.

Macy Campbell hit a field goal to tie the score at 32, but a free throw by the Lady Wildcats gave them the lead by one, 33-32 with 3:16 on the clock.

Bree Boils hit one of two from the line to tie the score again, but Franklin-Simpson added four more points to finish the quarter with a 37-33 lead over the Lady Dawgs.

During the final quarter, Clinton County’s offense continued to struggle and show just weren’t falling. Franklin-Simpson took advantage of that and started pulling away from the Lady Dawgs.

At the 1:33 mark, Franklin-Simpson’s two free throws made put the Lady Wildcats’ lead at nine points, 49-38.

Down by nine and with a little more than a minute on the clock, Clinton County didn’t give up and played with extreme intensity.

Franklin-Simpson finished the game without a field goal in the final two minutes, but stayed strong from the foul line.

As the buzzer sounded to end the game, Franklin-Simpson was at the upper end of the scoreboard with the 53-44 win over the Lady Dawgs.

Individual scoring for Clinton County was:

Stalcup 18

Dicken 6

Beard 5

Campbell 5

Hicks 3

Boils 3

Hopper 2

Langford 1

Elmore 1

Clinton County traveled to Monroe County on Tuesday (too late for press deadline) and will travel to Metcalfe County on Friday for its first district game of the season. That game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. tipoff.