Dawgs claim two wins in Robbie Davis Classic
With one team bowing out of last weekend’s Robbie Davis Classic, the Bulldogs were put in the position of having to play two games Saturday in order to keep the two visiting boys’ teams on the play list.
The Dawgs reached down deep and earned hard fought wins in both instances, defeating Pulaski Southwestern in the opening game, 58-50, then a come from behind win against one of the most frequent three point shooting teams I’ve ever see play on The Castle floor, Hopkins County Central, 93-84.
Those victories pushed Clinton County’s overall record to the 15-9 mark going into this week’s games.
As I mentioned in this space last week, the Robbie Davis Memorial Classic is one of my favorite events, as it honors my close friend, the late Robbie Davis.
It was great to get to see most of the family of Robbie on hand for Saturday’s event, Amy, Amy, Irene, Mike, John and Joe.

Season is winding down, and the
remaining games are scattered
With the weather issues and the water crisis issues that have been dealt with during this basketball campaign, the changes to the schedule have been all over the place, and there is no guarantee it’s going to not change again before the final February 20 regular season games are played.
In any case, here’s what we know now, as far as varsity games, dates and times remaining.
Clinton County’s girls’ varsity will travel to Casey County this Thursday, February 8, while the Dawgs will head to Somerset Christian in Pulaski County on that same date.  Both will begin with junior varsity games, slated to tip at 5:30 p.m.
Green County girls’ varsity will come to The Castle on Saturday, February 10, with a girls’ JV tip at 5:30.
A rare Sunday afternoon outing was necessitated due to a host of scheduling conflicts in order to get in the important double header against 16th District opponents Cumberland County, at Burkesville.  The girls’ varsity is slated for a 3:00 p.m. time, followed by boys’ action.
On Tuesday, February 13, the Lady Dawgs will host Adair County with a 6:00 p.m tip for the JV, and the following day, Wednesday, February 14, we play host to 16th District opponent Russell County for double header action with the girls set to begin at 6:00 p.m.
The Lady Dawgs are set to host Casey County in The Castle on Thursday, February 15, with junior varsity set to begin at 5:30 p.m., then Barren County will play host to both our Lady Dawgs and Bulldogs on Friday, February 16, with a 6:00 p.m. tip for the Lady Dawgs.
For years, that Barren County matchup has marked the end of regular season play, but with a strange makeup of the calendar this year basically giving high school basketball an “extra week” to get the games in, a final day of play will see a Tuesday, February 20, double header with two different programs coming to The Castle.
The Dawgs will open the action going up against McCreary Central at 5:30 p.m., followed by the Lady Bulldogs facing neighboring Wayne County at about 8:00 p.m, following the Senior Night festivities slated to be held between games.
That finally takes us into the post season play beginning with the 16th District tournament the following week, hosted this year by Russell County.

Congrats to the frosh squads
Both our girls’ and boys’ freshman teams earned the right to advance in the 16th District Tournament by picking up opening round wins Sunday afternoon in games against Monroe County, played here.
The young Lady Dawgs picked up the victory over the Lady Falcons 51-26, while the frosh Dawgs finished with a 55-25 tourney win.

Coaching against your coach
Clinton County Lady Bulldog Assistant Basketball Coach Gina Thacker, acting as the head coach for the Lady Bulldog Junior Varsity, had the rare experience of getting to coach against her former coach Monday night at The Castle.
Thacker, who played on some of the best Lady Dawg squads a couple of decades ago, faced off against Somerset Christian Junior Varsity Coach Gary Abbott Monday.
Of course, Abbott is a former Lady Bulldog head coach from the late 1990s to the early 2000s, taking the Lady Dawgs to its first appearance in the KHSAA Sweet 16 in 2003.
Thacker coached her JV team Monday night to a 36-19 win over her former coach.  The two embraced and chatted briefly after the Clinton County win.
Abbott, who suffered through a near fatal bout with the COVID-19 virus during the pandemic, told me after the game that he was doing great now, and was enjoying his stint on the coaching staff at Somerset Christian.
“I’m having fun” Abbott said with a smile.