Clinton County Bulldog basketball fans were once again afforded a trip west this week to participate in the 4th Region Tournament in Bowling Green’s Diddle Arena.
The trip to Western Kentucky University on Tuesday night came after Clinton County’s boys’ varsity advanced to the championship game of the 16th District Tournament held last week in Russell County.
Clinton County split its district tournament games last week, but by virtue of finishing one of the two top teams in the event, advanced on to regional play nonetheless.
The Bulldogs picked up an opening round win over Cumberland County on Tuesday night, 68-51, before losing in the championship game to a hot handed host Russell County,
Coverage in the Clinton County News of Tuesday night’s opening round game of the 4th Region Tournament was too late for this week’s publication and will be included in next week’s newspaper. The Bulldogs were to face Barren County in the Tuesday night contest on the Diddle Arena floor.
Clinton County – 68
Cumberland County – 51
Clinton County’s 16th District Tournament play was a mixed result in their two games, with the Bulldogs handling Cumberland County in opening round action last Tuesday evening with a 68-51 victory that saw the Bulldogs lead the Panthers in wire to wire fashion.
The Bulldogs came out with an intense style of play as the game against the Panthers got underway last week, and before the opening quarter had reached the four minute mark, Clinton County had already broke open a 9-0 lead.
Cumberland County wasn’t completely without determination either, dropping in quick back to back three point baskets to close the gap to 9-6 before the Bulldogs again dominated play to close out the opening quarter in control of a 16-9 lead.
Jamison Summers continued his scoring attack as the second quarter began and shortly afterward, he had led the Bulldogs to control its first double-digit lead of the game, 20-9.
Although the Bulldogs were clearly in control of the upper hand throughout the contest, they were facing an opponent that was determined to stay within reach and not be the victim of a runaway game.
After the Bulldogs had puled out in front by as many as 16 points in the second quarter, the Panthers managed to cut Clinton County’s lead to nine points late in the quarter, before trailing the Dawgs by 13 at halftime, 35-22.
Cumberland County refused to go away as the second half began, after trailing by as many as 15 early in the quarter, managing to cut the Clinton County lead to just six points mid-way through the period to trail 42-36 before the Bulldogs stretched back out to control a 10 point advantage at the end of the quarter, 48-38.
It was during the fourth and final quarter of play that Clinton County managed to fully close the door on any hopes the Panthers had of staging another comeback, with the Bulldogs slowly stretching out its lead throughout the final period to eventually take control of the victory by a 17 point spread, 68-51.
Individual scoring for Clinton County was:
Summers 25
Smith 9
Brown 8
Gibson 8
Langford 7
M. Collins 6
Harlan 3
York 2
Clinton County – 43
Russell County – 62
The Bulldogs were never able to find their normal game Friday night when they took on the host Lakers of Russell County in the championship game of the 16th District Tournament.
With both teams already having earned the right to advance to the next level of post-season play, at stake Friday night was the hope of advancing with a championship title in tow.
Although the Bulldogs jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, it was Russell County that came out of the gate fast and hard, getting the game off and running by hitting a host of baskets from three point range.
In fact, the Lakers hit six baskets from beyond the three point arch during the opening quarter of action, adding only a single basket to it’s total from two point range while building up a commanding 20-6 lead at the close of the opening period of action.
Clinton County was unable to put any meaningful counter attack together that would phase the Lakers for the remainder of the contest.
Although the game never actually reached runaway status, the Lakers’ lead was never seriously challenged throughout the contest.
Clinton County trailed by 17 points at the end of the first half, 32-15, and had dropped behind by 20 points at the close of the third quarter before giving up the decision by a final score of 62-43.
Individual scoring for Clinton County was:
Summers 17
York 9
Gibson 8
Langford 7
Stockton 2
Brett Gibson pulled up for a jumper during the first half of Friday night’s 16th District Championship game against Russell County. Gibson finished with eight points.
Above, Jamison Summers drove the lane in the first half against Russell County in the championship game of the 16th District Tournament. The Dawgs lost the game 62-43. Below, Colin Langford took a shot during the first half of Clinton County’s game against Russell County. Summers and Langford finished with 17 and seven respectively.