Winter storm plays havoc with 4th Region Tournament schedule

Clinton County High School’s basketball teams – all four of them – were front and center last week when it came time to distribute championship trophies at the conclusions of the 16th District Tournament.

With two varsity titles and two freshman

championship titles in tow, chants of

“Go Big Blue” echoed from one end

of The Castle to the other end last

week.

After claiming the champ-

ionship titles in both 16th

District Freshman Tournaments the week prior, both C.C.H.S. varsity squads, the Lady Bulldogs on Thursday night, and the Bulldogs on Friday night, followed suit.

Thursday night’s girls’ varsity win came in the form of a 60-51 dispatching of the Lady Lakers of Russell County in a contest that at one time saw the Lady Bulldogs lead by 11 points in the first half, only to fall behind by 10 points at one point in the second half, before eventually pulling back out to capture the nine point victory, and the championship title.

The Lady Bulldogs had earned the trip to the championship game after defeating Cumberland County 47-28 in first round action last Tuesday night.

The Bulldogs completed the “sweep” for Clinton County High School in what was certainly one of the most exciting, hard fought high school basketball games ever played in The Castle.

Clinton County edged by the Lakers of Russell County in a down to the wire finish in front of a standing room only packed house of fans – nearly all of whom spent the final minute of action on their feet to watch the Bulldogs pick up the 71-70 victory.

Both the Lady Bulldogs and Bulldogs, as well as the Lady Lakers and Lakers of Russell County, will now advance to the 4th Region Basketball Tournaments begining later this week.

Girls’ 4th Region Action will be played at Allen County – Scottsville High School, while boys’ 4th Region will be played at Barren County High School in Glasgow.

Winter storm forces schedule alteration

Both of Clinton County’s varsity teams won 16th District Tournament Championships last week. Original plans were to see the girls’ varsity tournament get underway on Monday night of this week at Allen County-Scotsville High School, while boys’ play originally was to begin on Wednesday night at Barren County High School.

Tournament officials opted on Monday to move the tournament start two days ahead, pushing the girls’ event to a Wednesday starting date while the boys’ games are now scheduled to begin on Saturday, March 8.

Clinton County’s Lady Bulldogs will take it’s 16th District crown into 4th Regional Tournament play now on Thursday, March 6, going up against District 13 runner-up Franklin-Simpson in an opening round game set for an approximate 7:30 p.m. tip-off.

Girls’ semi-finals will be played Saturday, March 8, with the first of two games to begin at 1:00 p.m. and the girls’ championship game will be played at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, March 9.

Boys’ play will now see opening round games on Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8.

Clinton County’s Bulldogs, also the champions of the 16th District, will be facing 14th District runner-up Warren Central on Saturday in a first round contest set to get underway at Barren County at 6:00 p.m.

Boys’ semi-final games will be played on Monday, March 10,with the first of two games beginning at 6:00 p.m. The championship game is set to begin at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11.

Coach of the Year, Player of the Year, All-Region Second team

Clinton County saw three of it’s Big Blue receive special recognition just prior to the beginning of last week’s 16th District Basketball Tournament from the Kentucky High School Basketball Coaches Association.

Head Coach Todd Messer, now in his eighth year at the reins of Bulldog Basketball, was named the 4th Region Coach of The Year.

In addition, Bulldog guard Keifer Dalton, a junior at Clinton County High School, was chosen as the 4th Region Player of the year.

Colby Langford, a senior forward for the Bulldogs, was selected as a member of the Boys 2nd Team All 4th Region Team.

One coach and 15 players in boys’ and girls’ divisions are honored each year, with voting on the Coach of the Year as well as the three teams of five players, coming from the coaches from each region.

Players and coaches are recognized during a post-season banquet, and the Player of the Year and Coach of the Year from each region are traditionally recognized at some point each year during the respective Sweet 16 State Tournaments.

Above, Bulldog senior Colby Langford was lifted off of the floor by teammate Eli Brown just seconds after Clinton County won the 16th District Championship over Russell County, 71-70. Below, the Lady Dawgs enjoyed their own 16th District Championship celebration Friday night after a 60-51 victory also over Russell County.