On Monday morning people in Albany and Clinton County awakened to a winter wonderland with sub-freezing temperatures and predictions that temperatures would not reach above freezing marks all week.

Clinton County basketball may have to end its regular season early.

This week’s snow storm already canceled the Dawgs’ game against South Warren Monday night and as of press time Tuesday, Thursday’s home game against Barren County is still on as scheduled, but school officials and coaches will most likely consider canceling that game depending on road conditions.

Regardless of how this week’s schedule turns out, next week will mark the beginning of the post season as both the Dawgs and Lady Dawgs begin the post season run starting with the district tournament held at Metcalfe County this year.

Clinton County fans will find the Bulldogs taking the hardwood first in 16th District Tournament competition.

The Bulldogs will take on the Panthers Monday, February 23 at 7:45 p.m. in the first round of the 16th District Tournament.

Picking up the number two seed in the district was Russell County. Also with a 5-1 record, but losing the coin toss, the Lakers will take on host Metcalfe County Tuesday, February 24 at 7:45 p.m. Metcalfe County finished the season with a 2-4 record, defeating Cumberland County during both meetings.

The championship game of the boys’ district tournament will be held Friday, February 27 at 7 p.m.

For the Bulldogs, Clinton County finished regular season district play with a 5-1 record, which was a tie with Russell County.

Clinton County split during the regular season with the Lakers, losing on the road, January 3, 72-56, and picking up the win at home on January 16, 48-44.

During a district meeting held last week, Clinton County won the coin toss for the top seed in the district, which will put the Bulldogs up against Cumberland County in the first round.

Cumberland County, with the number four seed, finished the regular season district play 0-6.

The Bulldogs defeated Cumberland County in both regular season matchups, 75-46 at home on December 16 and 68-45 on January 13. Clinton County also played the Panthers in the second round of the All “A” Classic on January 22, with a 95-34 win.

Clinton County’s regular season matchups against Metcalfe County came with two wins, the first on December 19, 74-41 and the second on January 9, 72-51.

The Bulldogs will take on the Panthers Monday, February 23 at 7:45 p.m. in the first round of the 16th District Tournament.

Picking up the number two seed in the district was Russell County. Also with a 5-1 record, but losing the coin toss, the Lakers will take on host Metcalfe County Tuesday, February 24 at 7:45 p.m. Metcalfe County finished the season with a 2-4 record, defeating Cumberland County during both meetings.

The championship game of the boys’ district tournament will be held Friday, February 27 at 7 p.m.

For the Lady Dawgs, Clinton County picked up a number two seed in the district. Even though the Lady Dawgs have had one of the best seasons in school history with only five losses as of press deadline Tuesday morning. Two of those five losses have come from district opponents, finishing with a 4-2 record.

Clinton County defeated Russell County on January 3 at Russell County, 56-50, then was defeated by Cumberland County at Burkesville on January 13, 50-47.

In order to maintain the number one seed in the district, the Lady Dawgs needed to defeat the Lady Lakers at home on January 16, but Russell County ended up winning that game and handing Clinton County it’s second district loss of the season, 67-59.

The Lady Dawgs did get revenge for it’s first district loss by playing Cumberland County in the second round of the All “A” Classic regional tournament held at Burkesville, 58-40. However, that game wasn’t considered as a regular season district game, thus not making a difference as far as district standings are concerned.

The Lady Dawgs defeated Metcalfe County in both meetings during the regular season, 70-37 on December 12, and 47-39 on January 9.

The Lady Dawgs also defeated Metcalfe County in the Best of the Lakes Holiday Classic, 62-48, but that game isn’t included in district standings.

With a district record of 5-1, the number one seeded Lady Lakers will take on the number four seeded Metcalfe County, 0-6, Monday February 23 at 6 p.m.

The number two seed Lady Dawgs, 4-2, will take on number three seed Cumberland County, 3-3 Tuesday night, February 24 at 6 p.m.

The girls’ championship game will be played Thursday night at 7 p.m. at Metcalfe County.

By picking up opening round wins in next week’s 16th District, not only do teams advance to the championship game of this tournament, but are also guaranteed one of the two positions from the 16th District in the next level of the post-season run, the 4th Region tournaments held the following week.

With both the runner-up and district champions advancing to that next level, both the girls’ and boys’ participants will be playing the 4th Region at Western Kentucky University’s Diddle Arena.

Regional tournament champions will, of course, advance to the next level, competing against 15 other regional champions from across Kentucky in the KHSAA Sweet 16 State tournament.

Girls’ Sweet 16 play will be held in Bowling Green’s Diddle Arena while the boys’ state tournament is held in Rupp Arena in Lexington.