The Clinton County Bulldogs only played one game last week due to the postponement of Friday night’s game against Metcalfe County due to weather conditions.

Tuesday night, Clinton County played host to neighboring Pickett County, Tennessee, and the 32 minutes of playing time didn’t disappoint fans.

The Bulldogs jumped out early in the game with three quick points by Jackson Harlan.

Pickett County answered with a bucket, but then Clinton County went on a 13-2 run to lead the Bobcats, 16-4, with a little more than two minutes remaining in the first quarter.

Pickett County would finish the quarter with a basket and a free throw, but Clinton County added six more points to the board for a 22-7 first quarter lead.

During the second period, Clinton County remained in control of the game.

Both teams went back and forth on offense, scoring the same amount of points in the eight minute period. Pickett County did cut the lead to 11 points late in the period, but Clinton County held strong on defense during the final two minutes to keep Pickett County from scoring.

Clinton County led the Bobcats 39-25 at the half.

During the third quarter, Clinton County kept the Bobcats just out of arm’s reach, but couldn’t put them away for good. Pickett County scored just enough against Clinton County’s defense to keep them in the game throughout the third period.

By the end of the eight minutes, Clinton County still had a commanding lead, but the game wasn’t over and Pickett County had time to make one last run at the lead during the eight minute fourth quarter, 55-44.

With the lead cut to 11 at the end of the third quarter, Pickett County then cut the lead to eight points on a three pointer, 55-47, in the first minute of the fourth quarter.

Then, the Bobcats cut the Dawgs’ lead to six points on another three pointer 12 seconds later. Clinton County’s Harlan added a basket at the 6:40 mark to extend the lead to eight points, 57-49, but a basket by Pickett County put the Bobcats back to within six points, 57-51.

Harlan proved to be the key component in Tuesday night’s game as his short jumper was nearly an automatic two points for Clinton County as he hit a basket at the 6:01 mark to regain an eight point lead, 59-51.

The Bobcats cut the lead to five points on a three pointer at the 4:45 mark, but a free throw by Colin Langford put the Dawgs back up by six points, 60-54.

At the 3:20 mark, Pickett County cut the lead to four points, the closest the Bobcats had been since the beginning of the game, 60-56.

Harlan scored again to give Clinton County a little more cushion, but a basket by Pickett County once again cut the lead to four points with 2:36 on the clock, 62-58.

With Harlan’s shot being the go-to for the Bulldogs, he hit another jumper from the lane to put the Dawgs’ lead back to six points with 2:10 remaining in the game, 64-68.

With 1:49 on the clock, Jamison Summers went to the line and knocked down two free throws, followed by two from Harlan to regain a 10 point lead. At the 1:02 mark, Summers went back to the line and hit one of two for an 11 point lead, 69-58.

During the final minute, Pickett County became desperate to stop the clock. Fouling was the only option for the Bobcats and at that point in the game, tempers flared somewhat when Langford was run over on purpose and shoved out of bounds while dribbling the ball down the sideline.

Pickett County’s Brian Gibson was ejected from the game due to the violent blow to Langford and the situation almost got out of hand as members of both benches swarmed the players on the floor.

After everything had settled down, and Gibson was escorted off the floor, Clinton County’s Brett Gibson was sent to the line, hitting one of two and putting the finishing touches on the win, 72-60.

Individual scoring for Clinton County was:

Harlan 31

Summers 13

Gibson 11

Langford 10

Stockton 4

Choate 3

Clinton County’s next game came on Tuesday against Cumberland County, too late for press deadline, and the Dawgs will travel to Russell County on Friday to take on the Lakers.

Brett Gibson let a three pointer fly during the first half against Pickett County. Gibson finished the game with 11 points as the Dawgs picked up the 72-61 win.

Jackson Harlan knocked down this shot in the first half against Pickett County. Harlan led the Dawgs in scoring with 31 points as the Dawgs routed the Bobcats, 72-61. Clinton County moves to 11-5 on the year.

Colin Langford put up this floater in the lane Tuesday night against Pickett County at The Castle. Clinton County won the game, 72-61. Langford finished with 10 points.