Clinton County’s Lady Bulldogs picked up an important victory last Tuesday night in Burkesville, handing a Lady Panther team a 19 point loss, 51-32.

The next two nights weren’t so favorable for the Lady Dawgs, however, as they gave up two defeats, losing a close one to another 16th District foe, Russell County, 36-31, and giving up a controversial decision to the Lady Indians of Adair County, 46-30.

Clinton County – 51

Cumberland Co. – 32

Clinton County trailed only briefly going up against rival Cumberland county last Tuesday night in a game at Burkesville, with the Lady Panthers grabbing a 3-2 lead early on a three point basket that followed Riley Stockton’s game opening two point field goal.

Both of those baskets came after each team had made several trips down the floor, each missing several shots before either team was able to find its scoring mark.

The early lead would be the only time the Lady Panthers would be out in front the rest of the night.

With additional scoring from Cassie Thompson, Braylee Mann and Stockton the Lady Dawgs would close out the first quarter in control of a 13-8 advantage.

More hustle and a fast pace saw the second quarter get underway, but again, the Lady Dawgs were slow to find the basket as the Panthers inched back to within a single basket from Clinton County before Abbi Young and Alexis Roberts put the offense in motion with a trio of unanswered field goals that brought on a time out from the Lady Panther bench.

Braylee Mann closed out the first half with another field goal that gave the Lady Dawgs their first double digit advantage, 21-11.

Cumberland County opened up scoring in the second half, but for the most part, the rest of the third quarter belonged to the Lady Bulldogs.

Both Mann and Stockton went to war against the Lady Panthers, and with additional scoring from Landree Moons and Makenzie Cope, Clinton County put together a 19-7 run to close out the quarter on top 40-18.

The Lady Dawgs quickly padded that lead as the fourth and final quarter got underway, with scoring from Cope and Mann, to give the Lady Dawgs a 27 point lead, 45-28, and allowing them to shift into coast mode to cross the finish line at the game ending buzzer with a 19 point win, 51-32.

Clinton County hit 42 percent of its field goal attempts on 19 of 45 attempts, including three of eight from three point range for 38 percent.

From the line, the Lady Dawgs were 10 of 20 attempts for 50 percent.

Individual scoring for Clinton County was:

Mann 15

Stockton 15

Roberts 10

Young 4

Cope 3

Thompson 1

Clinton County – 31

Russell Co. – 36

Russell County had the best final two minutes in the books Friday night as they outlasted a hard battling Clinton County Lady Bulldog team down the stretch in a home game that saw the Lady Lakers pick up the five point win, 36-31.

The loss for Clinton County was a big one, coming from a 16th District opponent and setting the first half of district play for the Lady Dawgs at 1-2 after an earlier loss to Metcalfe County and last week’s loss at Cumberland County.

A neck and neck battle all night, the two teams were tied at 31-31 with just 2:15 showing on the game clock, with Russell County taking advantage of a pair of Lady Bulldog turnovers during those final minutes to pull away and claim the 36-31 win.

After trailing 9-6 at the close of the first quarter, the Lady Dawgs claimed the lead mid-way through the second quarter on a three point basket by Abbi Young, 15-13.

The Lady Lakers dropped in the final three points of that first half to take a one point lead to the halftime break, 16-15.

Clinton County led early in the third quarter, but only by a few points, stretching out to a four point advantage, 20-16, after Roberts and Mann combined for a 5-0 run.

That scoring run proved to be all for the Lady Dawgs in the eight minute period, however, as Clinton County finished hitting only two of 16 from the field for the quarter.

Russell County held a narrow three point lead as the fourth quarter got underway, and boosted that advantage to a seven point 30-23 lead with 4:30 remaining.

Stockton dropped in eight points in a two minute stretch to tie the score for her Lady Bulldogs at 31-31, but those final two minutes that were all Lady Lakers ending Clinton County’s hopes of a victory, with Russell County earning the win, 36-31.

From the floor, Clinton County hit 12 of 39 attempts for 31 percent, including 23 percent from three point range on three of 13 attempts.

From-the line, Clinton County hit four of six attempts for 67 percent.

Individual scoring for Clinton County was:

Stockton 16

Mann 6

Young 5

Roberts 4

Clinton County – 30

Adair Co. – 46

An ill-fated trip across region lines into the 5th Region to face the Lady Indians of Adair County proved to be not the best idea for how to spend Saturday afternoon for the Clinton County Lady Bulldogs.

After a questionable series of calls by the officials working the game, the Lady Bulldogs watched the Lady Indians finish most of the contest from the free throw line, hitting most of those attempts.

That run of free throw that came on call after call against the Lady Bulldogs in the final two minutes, saw the Lady Indians stretch from a 28-28 tie with less than four minutes to play, to pick up a 16 point victory, outscoring Clinton County 18-2 in that run for the 46-30 win.

Taking issue with those questionable calls cost the Lady Bulldogs more than just the win, with Clinton County Head Coach Darrell Thompson finishing the game inside the dressing room, after receiving his second technical foul in just a matter of seconds.

The resulting ejection will also force Thompson to sit out the next three games, which will put him outside of the McCreary Central gymnasium for most of this week’s Arby’s Classic at McCreary Central.

Saturday’s game was neck and neck for the most part, up until the time the officials decided to take over, and, in fact, the Lady Dawgs had led at the end of the first three periods of play.

It was Riley Stockton who went to war early for Clinton County, picking up all eight of the Lady Bulldog first quarter points to put her team out in front 8-3.

Clinton County continued to hold the lead at halftime, 17-11.

The two teams battled toe to toe during most of the second half, with the Lady Bulldogs continuing to hold onto their lead at the end of the third quarter, 23-19.

Adair County began inching toward the Clinton County lead as the fourth quarter got underway, and eventually gained control of the lead after a 7-0 start.

Combined scoring by Mann and Roberts tied the score with just over three minutes remaining, 28-28, and set the stage for the chain of events that eventually led up to a 16 point Lady Indian win, 46-30.

From the floor, Clinton County hit 28 percent, dropping in 11 of 40 attempts including hitting just two of 14 from three point range for 14 percent.

From the line, the Lady Bulldogs hit six of 14 attempts for 43 percent.

Individual scoring for Clinton County was:

Stockton 12

Mann 10

Young 7

Roberts 1

The Lady Bulldogs will spend most of this week in the McCreary Central gymnasium, taking part in the Thursday – Sunday Arby’s Classic.

Rylee Stockton got a defensive stop with this blocked shot on Tuesday against Cumberland County. Stockton finished the game with 15 points.

Abbi Young put up a three pointer during Clinton County’s game against Cumberland County last week.

Braylee Mann drove the lane for a layup in the first half against Cumberland County. Clinton County won the game, 51-32. Mann finished with 15 points.