The Clinton County Lady Bulldogs are one step closer to grabbing a number one seed in the district tournament this year after defeating Russell County Friday night, 73-69.

Friday night’s win put the Lady Dawgs at 2-1 on the year in district play, but there is still much more district action remaining in the regular schedule before anything will be finalized.

The game started with a 9-0 run by the Lady Dawgs, but Russell County quickly came back and put together a 6-0 run to cut the lead to three points, 9-3.

Allie Hopper knocked down two free throws at the 3:58 mark, but a basket by Russell County cut the lead to three points, 11-8.

Clinton County then put together a 9-2 run to put the lead at 10 points with 1:15 on the clock, 20-10.

Russell County added four points to the board before the end of the quarter for a 20-14 Lady Dawgs’ lead.

The Lady Lakers battled back in the second quarter and ended up tying the score at the 6:02 mark at 22.

The determination by Clinton County continued to overcome the offense of the Lady Lakers and with 1:01 on the clock, Clinton County grabbed a four point lead on a three point play by Ansley Stalcup, 33-29.

Before the half was over, Russell County cut the lead to three points on a free throw made at the 30 second mark to send the Lady Dawgs into the locker room at halftime up 33-30.

The third quarter saw much of the same from both teams as the largest lead in the quarter for either team was five points, 49-44, Lady Dawgs.

A three pointer by Russell County cut the Lady Dawgs’ lead to two points at the 1:25 mark, followed by a free throw to get to within one point of Clinton County by the end of the third quarter, 49-48.

During the opening minute of the fourth quarter, Russell County took the lead on a field goal, 52-51.

Clinton County responded with a three pointer by Alex Beard and two baskets by Stalcup to regain the lead, 58-54.

The Lady Lakers cut the lead to two points on a field goal with 4:14 on the clock, but a basket by Stalcup and a three point play by Shyanne McWhorter gave Clinton County a six point lead with 3:30 remaining in the game, 62-56.

Russell County added a basket to the scoreboard to cut the lead to four points before a basket and a foul by the Lady Lakers sent Kayla Dicken to the line where she hit the end of the three point play to push the Dawgs’ lead to seven points with more than three minutes on the clock, 65-58.

The Lady Lakers then hit a three pointer to cut the lead to four points, but Dicken hit a field goal, followed by two free throws from Stalcup for an eight point lead with 1:34 on the clock, 69-61.

Russell County fought back in the final minute, getting to within three points, but Clinton County’s defense remained strong and the Lady Dawgs held out for the 73-69 win.

Individual scoring for Clinton County was:

Stalcup 28

Beard 12

McWhorter 10

Dicken 9

Elmore 6

Hopper 6

Langford 2

Clinton County 56

Whitley County 63

Clinton County traveled to McCreary County Saturday to participate in the Southern Kentucky Shootout.

The shootout consisted of one game against Whitley County. The Lady Dawgs fell behind in the first quarter by nine points, 19-10, but fought its way back in the second to take a one point lead at halftime, 25-24.

During the third quarter, Whitley County took control and posted an 11 point lead by the end of the period, 46-35.

Clinton County outscored Whitley County in the final period, 21-17, but the deficit was too much for the Lady Dawgs to overcome as Clinton County lost, 63-56.

Individual scoring for Clinton County was:

Stalcup 17

Dicken 17

McWhorter 10

Campbell 4

Hopper 4

Boils 2

Beard 2

Clinton County’s next game will be Friday night at home against Metcalfe County. That game will tip off at 6 p.m.