After a slow start in the first road game of this still young season last Friday night, the Clinton County Bulldogs finally secured a victory in the closing minutes over the Wildcats of Franklin-Simpson, 45-39.

Although it was the second game of the season for both teams, the low scoring contest had more appearances of “first game jitters” than a contest between two teams that were ready to do battle on the hardwood.

Nearly half of the opening quarter had been played before the timer had to put the first points on the scoreboard, a field goal for the Wildcats at the 4:22 mark.

It was more than two more minutes into the contest before a Clinton County basket would go up on the board after senior guard Jackson Harlan dropped in a three point field goal with 2:21 showing.

Although both team were putting up plenty of attempts in the early minutes of the contest, neither squad was able to find the basket with any degree of consitency.

After controlling a one point lead briefly, 5-4, on a Seth Stockton basket, the Bulldogs trailed by a single point when the first quarter came to an end with the Wildcats on top, 6-5.

Clinton County suffered more of the same as the second quarter played out, although a 6-0 run to get the quarter underway on scoring by Evan Dearborn and Stockton, gave the Dawgs their first significant lead at 11-6.

Franklin-Simpson answered with a 6-0 run of its own to retake a one point lead, 12-11, with both teams swapping baskets in the final 1:45 of the first half to show Clinton County once again trailing by a single point at the halftime break, 14-13.

The Bulldogs jumped out again with a fast start to get the third quarter underway, this time with a 8-0 run to take control of a seven point advantage, 21-14.

Clinton County stretched out to control an eight point advantage at one point late in the third quarter, 26-18, but another comeback run by the Wildcats left the Dawgs out in front by only two points at the close of the third period of play, 26-24.

The two teams remained neck and neck as the fouth and final quarter got underway, and although the Bulldogs never trailed during that final period, the two teams were tied at 39-39 with just 1:23 showing on the clock.

Clinton County caught a couple of breaks going down the stretch, and created a couple more breaks for themselves as the final 60 seconds played out, with the Dawgs finishing the contest 6-0 to hold on to the low-scoring victory, 45-39.

Chase Stines dropped in a pair of big free throws to go with two more free throws and a field goal from Harlan, allowing the Bulldogs to hold onto the win.

Individual scoring for Clinton County was:

Harlan 26 Dearborn 5

Stockton 10 Stines 4

Clinton County traveled to Monroe County Tuesday night to take on the Falcons and were scheduled to return to the home court on Friday night to play host to the Hornets of Metcalfe County in double-header games with the Lady Bulldogs.