Time to paint Bowling Green blue!

Coach Todd Messer and Company joined together in the chant “We Are . . . Bulldogs” as he dropped down from the stepladder that had been placed under the goal at Metcalfe County High School, the second championship net in hand and raised over his head for the crowd to see.

That capped off a perfect week for the Clinton County coaching staff and players, picking up another 16th District Championship title and earning another trip to represent the district at the next level of post-season play, the 4th Region Tournament in Bowling Green’s Diddle Arena.

By dispatching Cumberland County in the opening round then with a 81-58 championship win over Metcalfe County on Thursday night of last week, our Dawgs were set to get to the next level of play.

On Sunday afternoon, as they came out against Allen County – Scottsville, the Bulldogs came out full force, punched the Patriots right in the mouth, and never let up.

The result was a 73-52 first round win for the Dawgs in 4th Region play, and showing the rest of the region that Clinton County was serious about playing some hard-nosed basketball this year.

Looking around the stands of Diddle Arena for that game – a Sunday afternoon 3:00 tip that meant a two-hour drive from Albany – you couldn’t help but be proud of our little community that showed up in great numbers to stand behind our team.

In the post-game interview, Coach Messer noted the support our community had shown for the Dawgs, all season long, and what it meant to the team.

“I’m really proud of them, they’ve supported us, they’ve jumped on the wagon with us and they believe we can do some special things as well,” Messer told the media gathered in the Diddle Arena Media Room after the ACS win. “Once they came, they came in full force.”

Clinton County’s 16th District counter-part, the Hornets of Metcalfe County, nearly pulled off an upset in its first round game Monday night, dropping a 72-70 overtime decision to Logan County, Bowling Green advanced with a 57-46 win over Franklin Simpson, while the remaining opening round matchup saw Warren Central earning a 63-57 overtime win over Glasgow.

After first round games had concluded, Clinton County was one of four teams headed for semi-final round play, along with the Purples of Bowling Green, the Dragons of Warren Central and the Cougars of Logan County.

Next up, our Dawgs will again head to Bowling Green for semi-final round action – the Final Four round – of 4th Region play, and the next task will be to go up against the highly rated Purples of Bowling Green.

As important as a big showing of blue in the sidelines was on Sunday, it’s even more important come Friday night.

As the tournament progresses, the competition only gets better, and this team needs to see that their efforts mean something to Albany and Clinton County.

This is certainly a special group of young men wearing the blue and white Clinton County High School uniform this season, and they have some high reaching goals in mind that are certainly within their grasp.

Find that blue and white outfit and head west come Friday afternoon, and let’s get behind our Bulldogs and push them through these 4th Region Tournament brackets.

Friday’s tip against Bowling Green will be at 6:30, and a win will put the Dawgs in the championship game on Saturday night, again with a 6:30 tip facing the winner of the Warren Central – Logan County semi-final contest.

Of course the main prize our Bulldogs are working toward is to finish the week as the sole survivor in this 4th Region, with the nod to take their game to the next level, a berth in next week’s Sweet 16 – the KHSAA Greatest Show in Hoops at Rupp Arena.

Bowling Green Friday at 6:30 – Be there and be Blue!

Go DAWGS!

I’m in the gym, don’t call me until April!