The Clinton County Bulldogs won’t be searching for an All “A” Classic title this year as the Bulldogs were put out of the tournament by Russellville on Monday night.

Russellville hit 10 three pointers to aid in picking up the win over Clinton County, 72-53.

All “A” Classic Regional

Clinton County 53

Russellville 72

The Bulldogs traveled to Logan County Monday night to take on the Panthers of Russellville in the first round of the All “A” Classic Regional Tournament.

The Bulldogs started off on the slow side at a very fast, patient Russellville team went up on the Dawgs, 19-9 at the end of the first quarter.

Wendell Maupin was the king of offensive rebounds and putbacks Monday night, finishing with 22 points and 10 rebounds for the game.

He scored eight points in the second quarter to help with Clinton County getting back to within striking distance of Russellville. As the buzzer sounded at halftime, Clinton County was only down two points to the Panthers, 27-25.

Despite Maupin’s 10 points in the third quarter, Russellville was hot from beyond the three point line, knocking down three total in the third quarter.

Clinton County found themselves down by only three points at the end of the third quarter, 48-43.

Russellville broke away from the Bulldogs early in the fourth quarter, putting together an 8-0 run to move up by 11 points.

Keifer Dalton took the ball to the goal and scored to cut the lead to nine points, but a three pointer by Russellville, which made its ninth of the game, pushed the lead out to 12 points with 4:59 on the clock.

From this point on, Clinton County basically traded baskets with the Panthers, never being able to close the gap.

Clinton County fell to Russellville by a final score of 72-53.

Individual scoring for Clinton County was:

Maupin 22

Stearns 18

Dalton 7

Langford 2

Beard 2

Parrish 2

The Clinton County Bulldogs grabbed a crucial win in the district race Friday night, knocking off the Russell County Lakers, 57-55, in overtime.

Coming into Friday night’s game, Russell County was undefeated in district play at 3-0. Friday night’s win gets the Bulldogs one step closer to a three-way tie for the number one seed.

There are several factors that will head into the decision of being the number one seed in the 16th District.

To have a three-way tie in the district, Metcalfe County will have to defeat Russell County on February 4 and Russell County will have to defeat Cumberland County on January 24. Clinton County’s final district game, against Cumberland County will also have to result in a win for the Bulldogs.

If that scenario plays out, there will be a three way tie for the number one seed.

If Russell County wins against Metcalfe County on February 4, the Lakers will hold the spot at number one, leaving the Clinton/Cumberland boys’ game to be a deciding factor for the number two and three spots in the district.

The only for sure thing as of press deadline, is Cumberland County will be the number four seed with a current record of 0-4.

What high school basketball fans would call bizarre is another situation that “could” happen in order to ensure a three-way tie.

If Cumberland County defeats both Russell and Clinton County, and Metcalfe defeats Russell County, then Metcalfe, Russell and Clinton counties will have a 3-3 record in the district for a three-way tie.

If any of those games go the opposite way, then the district will be settled without any ties for first place.

The best case scenario for the Bulldogs is for Metcalfe County to defeat Russell County, Russell County to defeat Cumberland County and Clinton County to win over Cumberland County to force the three-way tie and hope to draw the number one seed in order to play Cumberland County in the first round of the district tournament.

Clinton County 57

Russell County OT 55

The Clinton County Bulldogs laced up and took care of business Friday night as Russell County came to Lindle Castle Gymnasium.

Clinton County quickly jumped out to a 8-0 lead in the early part of the first quarter. Russell County made a run of its own, grabbing seven unanswered points, cut the Bulldog lead to one, 8-7.

Eighth grader Kiefer Dalton made a three pointer to push the Bulldogs’ up by four points, followed by a basket by Colby Langford for a 13-7 lead.

Russell County cut into the Bulldog’s lead by hitting two shots from the foul line. Langford answered with a basket with 1:01 on the clock for a 15-9 lead.

Russell County closed out the quarter with a field goal with 45 seconds remaining. Clinton County led at the end of the first period, 15-11.

During the second quarter, Clinton County added a 4-0 run for a 19-11 lead over the Lakers.

Russell County hit a basket with 4:50 on the clock and followed with another basket to cut the lead to four points, 19-15.

Clinton County’s Wayne Stearns knocked down a field goal, but Russell County answered with a basket of its own to keep Clinton County’s lead at four points.

With 3:04 on the clock, Stearns nailed a three pointer to push the Bulldogs up by seven points, 24-17.
It took almost a minute off the clock before Russell County added two points to its side of the score board, but Wendell Maupin hit one from the line for a six point lead with 1:26 on the clock.

With the half winding down, Russell County cut the lead again to within four points on a field goal, 25-21.

Clinton County held the ball for the final possession of the half.

With the ball in the hands of eighth grader Dalton, and the final seconds winding down, Dalton makes his move and pulls up inside the three point line in the center of the court and knocks down the shot to give Clinton County a six point lead at halftime, 27-21.

For the start of the second half, Clinton County quickly moved out to a 10 point lead, 31-21.

The Lakers cut the lead on a three pointer and a field goal, but Stearns hit a basket to push the Bulldogs’ lead to seven points, 33-26.

Russell County didn’t give up and their determination would prove worthy in the end.

The Lakers hit two free throws, followed by a three pointer to cut the what was once a 10 point lead down to two points, 33-31, and finished the quarter.

At the start of the fourth quarter, both teams played with high intensity. Russell County came out and tied the game in the opening minute of the final period, but a 12 footer by Will Parrish gave the Bulldogs a little breathing room, 35-33.

The Lakers took its first lead with 5:59 on the clock when a three pointer found the mark for a one point advantage, 36-35.

Parrish again came through and knocked down a field goal, 37-36. Russell County was sent to the line on their next offensive trip and hit both to regain the one point lead.

Langford was sent to the line with 4:05 on the clock where the freshman hit both free throws.

From this point on, both teams went back and forth with the lead until the score was tied at 43 with 2:25 on the clock in regulation.

With 2:12 remaining, Stearns was sent to the line where he made one of two for a one point lead, 44-43.

On the following trip, Russell County got the opportunity for two shots at the line, but only made one to tie the score again, 44-44.

With 1:33 on the clock in regulation, Maupin took his chance at the foul line, but hit only one of two.

Clinton County regained control of the ball with 45 seconds on the clock when Stearns hit a layup on a drive to gain a three point lead, 47-44.

At best, Russell County could tie the game on it’s last possession and that is exactly what happened, as Russell County’s Tyler Robinson threw what appeared to be an off-balanced, out of position “hail mary” that hit the bottom of the net with 29 seconds on the clock.

With half a minute remaining in regulation, Clinton County’s possession saw a missed shot and a jump ball that went to the Lakers.

Russell County had a chance to win the game, but a miss on offense gave new life to the Bulldogs with a chance to grab the win in overtime, 47-47.

In the overtime period, the clock starts at four minutes. Russell County drew first blood and scored at the 3:34 mark for a two point lead, 49-47.

The hot hand for Friday night’s game was Stearns who hit a huge three pointer. Clinton County’s defense then forced a turnover that resulted in Parrish hitting a basket for a three point lead, 52-49.

Russell County was sent to the line as Langford committed his fifth foul of the game with 1:42 remaining in overtime.

The Lakers hit only one of two from the line. The next trip down the floor resulted in two shots from the foul line by Maupin. He made only one to give the Bulldogs a three point lead with 1:38 on the clock.

Clinton County then made a defensive stop against Russell County, and sent Dalton to the line during its offensive trip down the floor. Dalton hit both free throws for a five point lead, 55-50.

With 1:04 on the clock, Parrish fouled out sending Russell County to the line for two shots.

The Lakers made both to cut the lead to three points.

With less than a minute remaining in the overtime period, Clinton County lost the ball and Russell County was able to hit a three pointer with 38 seconds on the clock to tie the game at 55.

Clinton County then brought the ball down the floor and worked the ball around the perimeter for almost 20 seconds.

Stearns received the ball on the right side of the floor and dribbled toward the middle of the floor. He then lost the ball with 14 seconds on the clock and Russell County recovered it only to turn it over with 11 seconds remaining.

The final play saw the ball travel to the right corner where Ryan Beard put up a shot for the win. The ball hit off the rim and was grabbed by Maupin where he went back up and missed, grabbed his own rebound and put another shot up this time making the game winner as the buzzer sounded, 57-55.

Individual scoring for Clinton County was:

Stearns 26

Langford 10

Dalton 9

Parrish 6

Maupin 6

Clinton County will be back in action on Thursday, January 20, at Cumberland County as the Bulldogs finish regular season district play.