The Clinton County Lady Bulldogs opened its season last Tuesday night with a home game against Casey County followed by a road game against 4th Region rival Franklin-Simpson to finish the first week of the season at 1-1.

Clinton County 46

Franklin-Simpson 42

Friday night’s game saw Clinton County hitting the road for an away game against Franklin-Simpson, a team in the past which has had a lot of success in the region. Clinton County took their game to the Lady Wildcats and came out with a four point victory, 46-42.

The Lady Cats hit the board early with a quick basket, 2-0, but Allie Hopper scored a bucket of her own to answer. Joelie Hicks then took the lead on a basket, 4-2.

Clinton County remained strong on defense, only allowing Franklin-Simpson to score the one basket during the first quarter. Bree Boils hit one of two from the line and Hopper knocked down two to give Clinton County a 7-2 advantage after the first eight minutes of play.

The Lady Dawgs continued to play hard in the second quarter as Hopper grabbed a quick basket off a turnaround jumper, 9-2.

At the 6:40 mark in the second quarter, Franklin-Simpson finally scored and cut the lead to five points, 9-4.

From that point Clinton County started to feel the rhythm by producing points on offense. An 8-2 run saw Clinton County jump out to an 11 point lead at the 3:40 mark. Franklin-Simpson started to put a few points on the board, but Clinton County’s play was too controlling as the Lady Dawgs led 26-13 at the half.

The Lady Dawgs continued to roll in the third quarter and maintained a 10 plus point lead throughout the period. Clinton County reached a 14 point lead late in the third on a three pointer by Bree Boils, 35-21.

It was evident early in the first part of the fourth quarter that Franklin-Simpson wasn’t finished, down only 12 at the beginning of the final eight minute period.

In less than four minutes, Franklin-Simpson got back in the game on a 8-3 run, 39-35. At the 3:20 mark, Clinton County hit a three pointer and two minutes later Franklin-Simpson answered with a three pointer of its own to cut the lead to four points, 42-38 with 1:20 remaining in the game.

With Franklin-Simpson in scramble mode, the clock was the only threat to Clinton County. The Lady Dawgs needed to run as much time off the clock as possible while holding on to a lead.

The Lady Wildcats foul to stop the clock, sending Hicks to the line where she knocked down two of two for a 44-38 lead with less than a minute remaining.

With 32 seconds on the clock, Franklin-Simpson hit a three pointer in the corner to cut the lead to two points, 44-42.

With 14 seconds remaining, the Lady Dawgs turned the ball over and gave Franklin-Simpson the time needed to tie the game or take the lead. The Lady Wildcats’ shot was a miss and they fouled with 5.4 seconds on the clock. Hicks went to the line and dropped in two foul shots to push the lead to four points, 46-42. In the final seconds, Franklin-Simpson missed two shots as time ran out, giving Clinton County the 46-42 win.

Individual scoring for Clinton County was:

Hopper 16

A. Roberts 11

Hicks 10

Boils 5

Flowers 2

Collins 2

Clinton County 43

Casey County 50

Clinton County’s first game was held last Tuesday at Lindle Castle Gymnasium in what was a great start for the Lady Dawgs, jumping out to an early 8-0 lead.

Casey County quickly came back and cut the lead to one, 8-7, before the Lady Dawgs added three points to the board for an 11-9 lead with under a minute remaining in the period.

As the quarter came to a close, Casey had closed the gap and tied the score at 11.

Casey County continued with its momentum in the second quarter, outscoring Clinton County 6-0.

Hicks hit two shots from the foul line to cut the lead to four points, 17-13, but a basket at the 4:41 mark for Casey County extended the lead to six, 19-13.

Both teams went back and forth for the remainder of the period. Clinton County finished the quarter down by six at the half, 24-18.

The Lady Dawgs used the third quarter to play catchup. The hot/cold nature of the first game jitters was evident in the play of Clinton County, but at the 3:40 mark, the Lady Dawgs tied the score at 30, and took the lead on a foul shot by Hopper, 31-30. Casey made a basket with 36 seconds on the clock for a one point lead, but a basket by Hopper with 16 seconds left gave the Lady Dawgs the lead as the quarter ended, 33-32.

More than a minute into the fourth quarter, Alexis Roberts scored a bucket to extend the Lady Dawgs’ lead to three points, 35-32, but Casey recovered and cut the lead to one.

Roberts hit another basket to extend the lead again, but a three pointer by Casey County tied the score at 37.

With 3:48 on the clock, Boils hit a basket for a three point advantage, 41-38, but Casey then made a run that would end Clinton County’s chance to pick up its first win of the season.

A 6-0 run by the Lady Rebels saw Casey County grab a five point lead with less than a minute remaining in the game, 46-41. Rylee Stockton made a basket with 46 seconds on the clock to cut the lead to three, but Casey County finished the game holding Clinton County scoreless and adding four points to its side of the scoreboard to pick up the 50-43 win.

Individual scoring for Clinton County was:

Hopper 13

A. Roberts 12

Stockton 6

Hicks 6

Boils 4

T. Roberts 2

Clinton County was back in action Tuesday night as Monroe County came to The Castle. That game was too late for press deadline. The Lady Dawgs will also be at home on Friday night for the first district game of the season against Metcalfe County. Tip off is set for 6 p.m.

Allee Hopper put up a shot in the first half against Casey County Tuesday night. She finished with 13 points.

Gabby Beaty launched a three pointer during the first half of Clinton County’s game against Casey County last week.