And then there were . . . 32

This is what we were working toward last December when we first turned on the gym lights and hooked the scoreboard up for that first game of the 2014-15 season – the start of the final two weeks and the event that every team had their sights set on.

The thing is, of course, more teams will be watching from the sidelines than lacing up the sneakers for the next two weeks as the girls first, then the boys next week, work through the field of 16 teams each to try and get to that final game and the chance to lay claim to that championship trophy – and the coveted championship banner that will hang from some gym.

For Clinton County, the run ended with a first round loss to the top team from the 14th District, the Bowling Green Purples.

Credit to our Dawgs and coaching staff, although the final score was an 11 point spread, with three minutes to play, Purples coach D.G. Sherrill wasn’t showing a very confident look on his face as Clinton County trailed by just two with the chance to go ahead with just three minutes showing on the fourth quarter game clock.

Bowling Green held on to take the win, but a free throw here or rebound there and it could have been another thing all together.

Credit also to our co-16th District representative, the Lakers of Russell County, for taking their game straight to the other 14th District representative later that same night in Bowling Green.

Again, the 14th rep in that game, Warren Central, also survived for the win, but our two 16th teams certainly got their attention.

In closing out the boys’ season, although ending in the post-season run is always a disappointing night, overall I’ll have to say this was one of the best overall runs I can remember, mainly because of the group of young men, and especially those senior members, who were wearing those blue and white uniforms.

Guys, thanks for a great experience, and thanks for representing your community and school in such a way that made all of us who followed and supported you so proud.

Congrats to Ansley and Keifer

Word came last week at the conclusion of the 16th District Tournament that two of our players were honored with invitations to participate in the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches East-West All -Star games.

Seniors Ansley Stalcup and Keifer Dalton, were both second place vote getters in the Player of the Year voting on the KABC ballots, and by virtue of that accomplishment, both were selected to be included on the All-Star teams to represent the 4th Region.

Both will be on the west team roster. The girls’ game is at Warren Central this Saturday at 2:00 central and the boys’ game is at Transy on the 21st at 1:00 central.

Leftovers

Now that Clinton County has put up the roundballs for another few months, there are always a few items that are stuck around my computer front on post-its (stickies) that need to be cleaned up. This year there are a couple.

Kudos to the four teams in the 16th District and especially to Metcalfe County for coming together to do everything they could for the student athlete and allowing them to be properly, or at least as properly as was possible all things considered, for a senior night recognition.

Three of our four schools, Clinton, Cumberland and Russell, all had Senior Night recognition ceremonies cancelled due to the heavy snows that wreaked havoc with the final week of regular season games.

To replace those lost opportunities, the schools were able to properly recognize their seniors prior to the first game of 16th District competition at Metcalfe County.

Nice touch.

Great effort, no cooperation from Mother Nature

Kudos again to our own C.C.H.S. Athletic Director, Mike Beard, in making every effort to get things ready for a possible makeup game with Barren County.

Mike went the extra mile in an effort to get the C.C.H.S. parking lot usable by the public by hiring outside crews to clear parking spots just in case there had been enough melting to reschedule the snowed out game with Barren County.

His hopes, and even his own shoveling efforts around many of the walkways, were all in an effort not so much to get the basketball game in, but in an effort to be able to give our seniors their Senior Night ceremony on our home floor.

A lack of cooperation from Mother Nature forced the game to be cancelled on attempts for both a Friday night and Saturday night rescheduling that week, but his efforts to do everything he could for our athletes were certainly commendable.

Now on to the games, and this week’s girls’ Sweet 16 in Bowling Green (the last to be held there for awhile), and next week’s Sweet 16 in Lexington.

Throw up the rock and let’s crown a couple of champions.

It’s March in Kentucky – don’t call me until April!