With a long, hot summer behind us and fall on the way out as well, local sports enthusiasts have been patiently watching the calendar for the start of the next high school basketball season.

The wait is nearly over, and although fans will still have to wait until the very end of this month before the opening game when Clinton County plays host to the Lady Rebels and Rebels of Casey County on November 29, there is, in fact, an appetizer in store this Friday night.

The annual pre-season introduction of the players who will be wearing the Clinton County blue and white uniforms this roundball season is slated for this Friday night when the Meet the Bulldogs event is slated.

Player,s cheerleaders, coaches and staff introductions and, of course brief blue and white scrimmages that will give fans in attendance their first look at what can be expected action wise when the teams take the floor for this soon to get underway 2016-17 roundball season.

Of course the night will end with the traditional Wall of Fame ceremony where two new members will be inducted and introduced onto the Clinton County High School Basketball Wall of Fame.

According to first-year C.C.H.S. Athletic Director Nick Irwin, the 2016 Meet the Bulldogs will get underway with a chili supper fundraiser in the high school cafeteria.

Beginning at 4:00 p.m. and continuing until 6:00 p.m., fans can enjoy an all you can eat meal of chili for $5 per person, including a drink.

At 6:00 p.m., the action will move into the Lindle Castle gymnasium where the Meet the Bulldogs events will get underway.

There is no admission cost to the introduction portion of the program, although the concessioun stand will be open with all items on sale for $1.50.

Following the players, cheerleaders, coaches and staff introductions, the attention will turn from the future of this 2016-17 season, to the past history of the Lady Bulldog and Bulldog program with the introduction of the two newest members of the Clinton County High School Wall of Fame.

This year’s inductees will be Tony Sloan on the Bulldog side, and Jessica Cummings Conner on the Lady Bulldogs side.

Tony Sloan

Tony Sloan was a member of the Bulldogs basketball teams in the mid-1950s, during what many consider to be the golden era of high school basketball when games between community rivals resulted in packed gymnasiums on home game nights, and long caravans of traveling fans when games were held away.

Although game statistics weren’t kept and archived during those days as they are now, Sloan was known not only as a top scorer for the Bulldog teams during his high school playing career, but also as a fierce rebounder on both ends of the court.

Sloan, who graduated from Clinton County High School in 1955, is currently number 36 on the All-Time Scoring List with a career total 808 points.

During his senior year, Sloan dropped in 412 points and finished the season with a 15.3 points per game average.

Sloan played for W.A. “Bill” Kidd, a former player for the University of Louisville.

Named to the All-District and the All-Region teams in 1955, he helped lead the Bulldogs to a District Runner-up finish and an appearance in the Regional Tournament in 1955.

Jessica Cummings

Jessica Cummings (Conner) was a member of the Lady Bulldogs teams during the “glory days” of the mid-2000s that included the program winning a host of titles during a span that stretched across her high school playing career.

Cummings is currently 32nd leading All-Time Scorer in school history with 609 career points and is also ranked as the 4th All-Time in three-point field goals made in her career with 138.

She was named to the 16th District All-District team in 2004 and 2006 and to the 4th Region All Region team in 2006.

During her career the Lady Bulldogs collected the following accomplishments: 2002-2003 All A State Champs, 16th District Champs, 4th Region Champs, KHSAA State Semi-Finalist with a team record of 34-2, 2003-2004 All A State Champs, with a team record 26-8, 2004-2005 All A State Runner-up, 16th District Champs, 4th Region Champs, KHSAA State Runner-up, with a team record of 32-6, 2005-2006 16th District Champs with a Team Record 10-18.

During her career, her total team win/loss record was 102-34.