And then there were . . . well, it depends on Mother Nature

Sometimes you skate completely through a roundball season without missing hardly a game.

Other years are like this one has been down the stretch – snow and ice have not only caused cancellations during the end of the regular season, including the senior night game against Barren County, but with last week’s district tournament and now, this week’s regional tournament plans.

Although girls’ play in the 4th Region went off without a hitch Monday night and Tuesday night, before the first toss was thrown this week, local school officials had already heard from officials at Western Kentucky University about possible contingency plans in regards to the “possible” winter storm event that had been forecast to hit this area Wednesday afternoon.

Getting the games in is a top priority at this time of year, because of the upcoming Sweet 16 schedules that can’t be altered, and working out floor times at venues such as WKU can be a nightmare when working around the Hilltoppers men’s and women’s schedules as well.

The games will be played – when and in the worst case scenario, where, is the big question.

Lady Dawgs upset – one of the hardest to take I’ve ever gone through

There are times when the ball just won’t do what you want it to do, while at the same time, your opponent can do no wrong.

That was exactly what happened last week over in Edmonton when our Lady Bulldogs ran up against a hot-shooting underdog Lady Panther squad in the opening round of the 16th District Tournament

Fans wearing the blue and white kept waiting patiently for Clinton County’s game to begin looking something like the normal game they had watched the Lady Dawgs play throughout the year. You know which game I’m talking about – the one that enabled our girls to collect 24 victories.

It surfaced briefly down the final stretch as Clinton County battled back from 11 down to tie the score, but then that hot shooting underdog Lady Panther squad refused to step back and in the end, our season came to an end with a painful 75-72 loss.

I’ve been through a lot of season ending games since I began this job at the keyboard, and while some were expected, others were disappointing and painful.

Still, I honestly can’t remember a season ending loss that had quite the sting that last week’s Lady Bulldog opening round loss had for me, and for the girls, coaches and fans.

I know it was especially painful for seniors Shyanne McWhorter and Ansley Stalcup.

“I hate it the most for Shyanne and Ansley,” Coach Darrell Thompson said to me later that night following the heartbreaking loss. “They both deserved to have their careers end in Diddle Arena.”

One of the most accurate statements Darrell has ever said to me.

Still, that one loss aside, you have to remember that our Lady Dawgs, finishing with a 24-6 overall record, have had one of the most memorable, and absolutely fun seasons I can remember.

Like I said, I’ve been doing this a long, long time, and seen a lot of seasons, mostly fun, some not so much and I’ve covered seasons that ended like this one, in the opening round of the district tournament, and others that didn’t end until the Sweet 16 – including that one that lasted until the final game that was played in the entire state.

This one, despite last week’s sudden and unexpected ending – was one of the more fun years I can remember. I’m putting it in my top 5.

Thanks girls for a fun year – and a job well done.

You represented Clinton County with pride and class and you have created some memories for yourself and all of your fans that we will never forget.

Chin up, we couldn’t be more proud!

It’s (finally) March in Kentucky, don’t call me until April!