The Clinton County Bulldogs came out firing on all cylinders Friday night, hitting nine three pointers during the game. Metcalfe County finished the game with eight three pointers and with the Dawgs hitting one more than the Hornets, that proved to be the difference in the game as the Dawgs won, 62-59.

That win will send Clinton County on to the All “A” Classic State Tournament in February.

Clinton County 62

Metcalfe County 59

Nick Delk opened it up for the Dawgs with a put-back, followed by a three pointer from Nick Brown, his first of four for the game, 5-0.

Metcalfe County battled and made back-to-back field goals to cut the lead to one point at the 5:04 mark.

Brown then launched his second three pointer putting the Dawgs up by four, 8-4.

The Hornets added a field goal of its own to cut the lead to two points, but Brown again drained a three pointer for an 11-6 lead with 3:19 remaining in the quarter.

Delk then went the length of the floor for a basket to lead by seven, 13-6.

Metcalfe County hit the first of eight game three pointers to cut the lead to four, but a put-back in the lane for Brown gave the Dawgs a six point lead with 1:29 on the clock, 15-9.

Metcalfe County finished the quarter with a three pointer to cut the lead to three points, 15-12.

Blake Melton opened up the second quarter for the Dawgs with a three pointer. The Hornets went back-to-back on field goals to cut the lead to two points at the 6:29 mark.

Brown added some space with a field goal, 20-16, followed by a three pointer from Bryson Cross, his first of four for the game, 23-16.

Metcalfe County added a field goal at the 3:55 mark to stop the bleeding somewhat, but Brown made back-to-back goals to give the Dawgs a nine point lead, 27-18.

Metcalfe County would finish the quarter with a 6-0 run to trail by three at halftime, 27-24.

As the second half got underway, both teams played with urgency, trying to finish the game on top. The level of competition was high as both teams matched each other shot for shot during the third quarter.

The Dawgs managed to break out with a seven point lead, 37-30, midway through the third quarter after Metcalfe County had gotten within one early in the period.

The Hornets finally took the lead at the 2:10 mark after a 10-0 run, 40-37.

Delk and Chase Stines combined for baskets to give the Dawgs a one point lead, 41-40, with 51 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Metcalfe finished the quarter with a field goal for a one point edge heading into the final period, 42-41.

Both teams went back and forth during the final period with neither team throwing in the towel.

Every point that was scored was matched by the other team in some fashion on the very next trip down the floor.

The fourth quarter alone saw 11 lead changes and two ties during the eight minutes of play.

During the final minute of play, Metcalfe County hit a field goal to take a one point lead, 59-58.

Delk made a basket with 29 seconds on the clock to put the Dawgs up by one, 60-59.

Metcalfe County then used the clock to get a final shot off, only the shot wouldn’t fall and Clinton County grabbed the rebound.

With seconds winding down, Brown was fouled with 4.6 remaining.

He stepped to the line and dropped in two foul shots to give Clinton County its final lead.

Metcalfe’s attempt for a last second heave was unsuccessful as Clinton County held on to win the 4th Region All “A” Classic Championship game, 62-59.

Individual scoring for Clinton County was:

Brown 24

Cross 15

Delk 14

Stines 6

Melton 3

Clinton County 77

Monroe County 54

The semi-final game of the 4th Region All “A” Classic finally saw a glimpse of what Clinton County Basketball could be for the 2021 season. However, the Dawgs struggled in the opening minutes of the game.

Shots didn’t seem to want to fall as Clinton County found itself down by six in the first quarter, 16-10, with a minute on the clock.

Clinton County’s Brown and Cross combined for baskets to cut the lead to two points at the end of the period, 16-14.

Monroe County started the second quarter with a field goal to push the lead to five, 19-14, but a basket by Stines cut that lead to three, 19-16.

Monroe County continued to stay in control of the game and added points to the board.

At the 5:59 mark, Monroe reached a five point lead, 24-19, but the Dawgs put together a 10-3 run to take a two point lead, 29-27, with 2:57 on the clock.

Monroe took the lead on a three pointer at the 2:20 mark, but Cohen Davis hit a free throw to tie the game at 30.

The Dawgs finally took the lead on a field goal by Cross at the 1:27 mark, 32-30. Monroe County finished the quarter with one of two from the line to get to within a single point at halftime, 32-31.

The first part of the third quarter was back and forth for both teams.

With 3:02 on the clock and the score tied at 40, Clinton County finally came together and put an end to Monroe County’s dominance over the game.

During the final three minutes of the third quarter, Clinton County put together a 12-3 run to lead by nine points going into the final period, 52-43.

Monroe County cut the lead to six at the beginning of the fourth quarter, 52-46, but an 8-0 run, with two three pointers by Delk and two free throws by Cross, put the Dawgs up by 14 points with 5:55 remaining in the game.

Delk scored 14 of his game total 18 points in the final period, which included a dunk at the 1:40 mark, 70-52.

Cross scored two of his 22 game high points at the 1:16 mark, with a reverse layup from behind the backboard, 72-52.

The Dawgs finished the game with a steal and basket by Davis and a three pointer by Steele Burchett as the final seconds ticked off the clock. The Dawgs won the game by a final score of 77-54.

Individual scoring for Clinton County was:

Cross 22

Delk 18

Stines 16

Brown 8

Melton 5

Davis 3

Burchett 3

Hay 2

Clinton County will be back in action on Friday as the second game in a girls’/boys’ double header against Allen County/Scottsville. Tipoff will be following the Lady Dawgs’ game at 6 p.m.

Clinton County will also host Jackson County on Saturday, following a freshman and junior varsity game scheduled to tip off around noon.

Nick Delk drove the lane in the first half against Metcalfe County in the finals of the 4th Region All “A” Classic. Clinton County won the game, 62-59.

Adam Hay scored a basket in the first half against Monroe County on Thursday of last week as Clinton County won the game, 77-54. Clinton County went on to the finals and defeated Metcalfe County, 62-59.

Bryson Cross drove the lane against Monroe County in the semi-finals of the 4th Region All “A” Classic. Clinton County won against the Falcons to move onto the finals against Metcalfe County. Cross finished with a team high of 22 points.