The Clinton County Bulldogs won the regular season district race by defeating all other teams in the district twice to pick up the number one seed in tournament play.

The Bulldogs defeated Metcalfe County in the opening round of the district tournament and were set to play Russell County in the finals after the Lakers defeated Cumberland County in overtime during their opening round game, 77-72.

Friday night the Dawgs took the floor to take on the Lakers of Russell County, bringing in an 11-20 record to the floor. Before Friday night’s game, Clinton County posted an 18-11 record.

The Dawgs got off to a slow start Friday night as Russell County jumped out to a quick 8-4 lead.

Shots for the Dawgs weren’t falling in the early minutes, but Russell County was hitting everything they threw up, including 10 of 14 from the floor during the first quarter for 71 percent.

By the time the first quarter ended, Clinton County found itself down by 10 points, 23-13.

The second quarter saw Clinton County chip away at the Russell County lead.

Seth Stockton scored a basket to cut the lead to eight in the opening drive, but Russell County added a basket to its side of the scoreboard to push the lead back to 10 points, 25-15.

Both teams matched point for point for the next several minutes until Nick Brown dropped in a three pointer to cut the lead to seven, 29-22.

Russell County extended the lead to nine points, 31-22, on a field goal, but a basket by Stockton cut the lead to seven points with 3:45 on the clock, 31-24.

Both teams would finish the quarter by scoring four points each to see Russell County lead at the half, 35-28.

The third quarter went much different for Clinton County as the Dawgs went on a 7-0 run with a basket and three pointer by Stockton and a basket by Jackson Harlan to tie the score at 35, with 6:02 on the clock.

Russell County scored a field goal, but Ely Baker knocked down a three pointer to take a one point lead, 38-37.

The Lakers answered with a three pointer of its own to take a two point lead, 40-38, but two of Stockton’s game high 28 points came at the 4:22 mark to tie the score at 40.

The score went back and forth for the remainder of the period and saw Clinton County trail by one at the end of the eight minutes, 50-49.

At the start of the fourth quarter, Russell County hit one of two from the line to extend its lead to two points, 51-49.

Harlan drilled a three pointer to take a one point lead at the 6:42 mark, 52-51, but, Russell County answered again to take the lead by one, 53-52.

Russell County put together a 10-0 run on the Dawgs with 5:35 remaining in the game to take an eight point lead, 63-55. Clinton County could never recover in the final minutes as Russell County reached as much as a 14 point lead during the final minute, 74-60.

Stockton hit a three pointer in the closing seconds, as well as Senior Michael Fulton draining a three pointer from the right corner for the final points of the game for Clinton County.

As the buzzer sounded, the Dawgs lost the contest, 76-66, and picked up runners-up honors.

The Dawgs will play in the 4th Region Tournament Wednesday against Bowling Green at 6 p.m. at WKU’s Diddle Arena.

Individual scoring for Clinton County was:

Stockton 28

Harlan 22

Pruitt 4

Brown 4

Fulton 3

Baker 3

Stines 2

Jackson Harlan went up for a jumper during the first half against Russell County in the championship game of the 16th District Tournament Friday night. Harlan finished the game with 22 points, but Clinton County lost the contest, 76-66.

Nick Brown drilled a three pointer during the first half against Russell County. Clinton County lost the game, 76-66, and will take on Bowling Green Wednesday, at 6 p.m. at WKU.

Jackson Harlan, Chase Stines, Ely Baker and Seth Stockton were named to the 2018 All District Team Friday night.