Basketball , front and center

Hard to believe, but our Lady Dawgs and Bulldogs entered the 16th District play portion of our season last week when we traveled to Metcalfe County and again this week when we played host to neighboring Cumberland County (games that were too late for this week’s coverage).

Seems like this time of year, the coupling of the holiday season, the start of roundball season and then moving into the holiday tournament run, puts everthing into a whirlwind around here, but at least it keeps fans with plenty of action to look forward too.

Both squads lost heartbreakers last week when the Gators of Greenwood left their Swamp and came to The Castle.

Still, we learned a lot from both of those games, including that both squads showed signs of improvement and better days to come – says here, write it down.

Our Lady Dawgs seemingly had things under control for several stretches of the game against a much more experienced squad, but an 18-0 run by the Lady Gators left Clinton County with too much room to make up and too little time to do so.

The final horn left our Lady Dawgs on the losing end, 59-47 and with a 0-5 record going into this week’s three-game schedule.

The Bulldogs also had some problems coming down the final stretch as well, and despite facing a much higher rated 4th Region opponent, it appeared for much of the game that the Dawgs would end up with a “W”.

A couple of miss-steps and chalk those up to inexperience also, and Clinton County eventually gave up a narrow defeat, 69-64.

Complete game rundowns, along with photos from both contests, can be found elsewhere this week in SPORTS.

Looking ahead, as I mentioned above, we are in the midst of 16th District competition now, and that continues with a second matchup against a disrict foe this Friday when we travel to Russell County for a double-header matchup against the Lady Lakers and Lakers.

Girls action tips at 6:00.

On Saturday, both varsity squads again take to the hardwood, but not in the same locations. Our Lady Dawgs play host to the Lady Indians while the Bulldogs will be headed east to Coach Todd Messer’s old stomping ground, Manchester, Kentucky.

The Bulldogs will be facing North Laurel in the Bobby Keith Classic held at Clay County High School in a contest that is slated to tip at 3:00 p.m. central time.

The Lady Dawgs will be on the local hardwood where they will face the Lady Indians of Adair County. Junior varsty is slated to tip at 6:00 p.m. local time.

Holiday tournaments next week

I’ve never kept it a secret that I’m just not a big fan of the holiday tournanment/classic tradition, but just like fruitcakes, it’s something that we endure anyway.

At least Clinton County has taken to hosting our own holiday events, and as I’ve said in this space before, we do it with class that keeps good teams coming back and more good teams asking to getinvolved.

Next up, as we approach Christmas, will see our Lady Dawgs headed east to McCreary Central to play in the Arby’s Holiday Classic. Clinton County’s game schedule puts the Lady Dawgs on the floor four times during the four-day December 20-23 schedule, facing Barbourville on Wednesday, December 20 at 10:30 a.m., Bell County on Thursday at 11:30 a.m., Wayne County on Friday at 12:00 noon and finally McCreary Central on Saturday also at 12:00 noon.

In the meantime, Clinton County will once again be hosting our own Twin Lakes Holiday Classic, which has evolved into one of the best and classiest holiday tournaments in the state.

That lineup will see our Dawgs facing Marion County on Wednesday, December 20 at 4:00 p.m., South Oldham on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. and South Warren on Friday at 5:00 p.m.

Strap in, it gets busy from here on out.

On the mends

Well wishes go out to a special Bulldog fan and one of my favorite girls who has been under the weather for the past few days, but is bouncing back.

Aubrie Messer, daughter of Coach Todd and Amanda Messer, has been recovering from a bout with pneumonia. Hopefully we’ll be getting a high five from Aubrie before the game very soon.

It’s high school basketball season and I’ll see you in the gym – don’t bother me until April!