The Clinton County Bulldogs moved its record to 17-7 on the year after a hard fought contest at Wayne County and a home game against Caverna on Thursday night.

Clinton County took on the undefeated Cardinals on its home floor and was defeated 68-53. The Cardinals’ winning streak came to an end Sunday against Montgomery County in the Joe B. Hall Prep Classic as Wayne County dropped the contest, 81-72.

Thursday night’s game against Caverna came with a familiar face on the opposing team. Former Lady Bulldog Head Coach Blake Button brought his team into The Castle and the Dawgs finished on the winning side, 84-62.

Clinton County 84

Caverna 62

Caverna scored the first points of the game Thursday night followed by three baskets by the Dawgs for a 6-2 lead at the 6:20 mark.

The Colonels responded with a basket to cut the Dawgs’ lead to two points, but baskets by Keifer Dalton and Colby Langford gave the Dawgs a six point cushion, 10-4 with 4:42 on the clock.

Caverna cut the lead to one point on a made three pointer, but a drive and scored basket by Dalton put the Dawgs back up by three points, 12-9.

A basket and a foul sent Caverna to the line for a chance at a three point play and after the made free throw, Caverna gained a one point lead over Clinton County, 13-12.

To finish the quarter, Clinton County put together an 8-0 run for a 20-13 first quarter score.

Caverna came out in the second quarter and hit a three pointer to cut Clinton County’s lead to four points, but a 6-0 scoring run gave the Dawgs a 10 point lead with 4:59 on the clock, 26-16.

The Colonels answered with an 8-0 run to cut the Dawgs’ lead to two points with more than a minute remaining in the half, 26-24.

Clinton County kept Caverna’s scoring to only two points for the remainder of the half while putting up five more to its side of the scoreboard. Clinton County led at the halfway points, 31-26.

Clinton County came out after halftime on a mission. The Dawgs quickly took care of business with a quick 11-0 run to start the second half and grab an 18 point lead, 44-26.

Caverna was never in the game in the second half as Clinton County led after three quarters, 59-40, and won by 22 points, 84-62.

The Dawgs finished with all five starters in double figures for the game.

Individual scoring for Clinton County was:

Dalton 22

Claywell 17

McWhorter 12

Colby Langford 12

Nelson 11

Colin Langford 4

England 2

Choate 2

Tallent 2

Clinton County 53

Wayne County 68

Tuesday night, Clinton County traveled to neighboring Wayne County to take on the Cardinals in hopes of adding the first loss to Wayne County’s record, however, Clinton County wasn’t the team to do that as Wayne County defeated Clinton County, 68-53.

In the beginning of the game, the Cardinals came out hot early, leading 12-3 with 2:20 left in the first quarter.

Clinton County fought back and cut the lead to two points, 12-10 before the quarter ended. In the second quarter, the Dawgs continued to work to gain control of the game. With 5:12 on the clock, Dalton scored a basket to tie the game at 19, followed by a basket to take the lead, 21-19 at the 4:40 mark.

Dalton scored again for a 23-19 lead, but Wayne County’s three pointer and two point basket put the Cardinals up by one point, 24-23, with 3:12 remaining in the half.

Clinton County regained the lead again off a basket by Cole Nelson with 2:23 on the clock, 25-24, but two free throws and a field goal put the Cardinals up by three with 1:10 left in the half.

Colby Langford cut the lead to one point on a field goal, but a three pointer with 30 seconds remaining gave Wayne County a four point advantage going into halftime, 31-27.

Clinton County came out cold in the second half and Wayne County quickly jumped out to a 10 point lead at the 4:45 mark, 37-27.

Langford answered with a hook shot to cut the lead to eight points, but Wayne County hit four free throws for a 12 point lead, with more than two minutes remaining in the period, 43-31.

Clinton County finished the third quarter down by 10 points as Wayne County scored with six seconds to go in the period, 47-37.

Wayne County started the fourth quarter with an 8-2 run to lead by 16 points, 55-39.

Down by 15 points with 1:38 remaining in the game, Head Coach Todd Messer was charged with a technical foul which gave Wayne County two free throws and the ball.

As the final seconds ticked away, Clinton County’s Langford scored the final basket for the Dawgs’ 68-53 loss.

Individual scoring for Clinton County was:

Colby Langford 25

Dalton 12

England 4

Claywell 4

Colin Langford 2

Nelson 2

Anderson 2

McWhorter 2

Clinton County will be back in action Friday, February 14, against Monroe County. Friday night’s game will be the final home game of the season and Senior Night festivities will also occur between games.