That was fun – no doubt

“A bad night does not turn a good year into anything other than what it was… that was a very good year.”

That was the message I sent to Bulldog Head Coach Todd Messer Monday night after a windy return ride home from Bowling Green and like those on the floor and in the stands wearing blue and white, suffering through what was an eventual 73-49 loss.

Monday night’s loss at the hands of Russellville in the semi-final round of the 4th Region Tournament was certainly a hard pill to swallow, for several reasons, but like I stated, it by no means ruins what was a very good and successful season for Clinton County – players, coaches and fans.

Sure, it came on a night when nothing seemed to be working as it had for most of the 23 wins our Bulldogs had earned through this campaign.

Nothing. Not field goals (16-55), not 3-point shots (4-22), not our ability to hold onto the basketball (21 turnovers).

Russellville was a nice team, and certainly not to take anything away from their victory, but they really aren’t a team that should have advanced to the championship game to face Bowling Green coming off of a 24 point win over the Bulldogs.

On a normal Clinton County night that is.

The Panthers just ran up against a Bulldog team on a night when nothing was working in normal fashion. Nothing. In fact, as I watched our Dawgs in pre-game warm up, I thought then that things didn’t look right.

Still, that one bad night shouldn’t overshadow what a nice run this was for our Bulldogs.

A 23-10 finish that includes a championship title in our own Twin Lakes Holiday Classic, not to mention a return to victory lane in the 16th District Tournament, claiming the championship title once again after losing to Russell County in back to back years in the title round.

Finishing the year on the Diddle Arena floor in not the first round, but after picking up a win in quarter final play and advancing to the semi-final round – just a game away from that coveted final game. Clinton County had not won a first round game in regional play since the 2009-2010 season.

Heads should be high guys – players and coaches – as you did all of that in front of stands filled with fans who all rose to salute you as you left the floor – not just on Monday night, but every night all season long.

You played with class and honor, and you did our community proud. More importantly, you did yourself proud.

Most often, the seasons end on nights when we run up against a better team. This time, we ended the year on a night when we just couldn’t find our own game. Still – that one night shouldn’t cloud the way we look at this 2016-17 run.

Monday night’s drive home was certainly a long one – but thinking back since that first game on November 29 – what a fun run. Sure, a few more games would have been great, but on Monday, it just wasn’t to be

Thanks guys for putting together a great, fun year. You did us proud and you did yourself proud.

Once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog, and you guys earned the right to wear that nickname as proud as any who played before you!

It’s March (finally) and tournament time is in full swing, so . . .

I’ll see you in the gym!