The Clinton County Bulldogs improved to 20-6 on the year Friday night with a home win over Monroe County, 54-45.

Friday night was also deemed “Senior Night” for Clinton County symbolizing the final home game of the regular season.

Clinton County will graduate four seniors in 2012, including Wayne Stearns, Sawyer Stalcup, Wendell Maupin and Derek Albertson.

The Bulldogs got off to a rocky start Friday night as Monroe County immediately tried to run a stall.

The Falcons held the ball for almost two minutes in the first quarter before taking a shot and finally when the ball went toward the hoop, Monroe County grabbed a two point lead.

The Bulldogs returned to tie the score at two on free throws by Stearns. Clinton County then took the lead on back-to-back baskets by Albertson, 6-2.

Monroe came back and cut the lead to one point, 6-5, but a jumper by Maupin pushed the Bulldogs’ lead to three points, 8-5.

Stalcup knocked down two shots from the free throw line for a five point lead with 2:16 on the clock.

Although Clinton County was leading the game, the Bulldogs never looked completely comfortable on the hardwood.

After Monroe County saw stalling the ball wasn’t working, the pace of the game picked up and Clinton County started getting easy baskets around the rim.

The Bulldogs led Monroe at the end of the first quarter, 14-9, but Monroe County wasn’t finished as the second quarter got underway.

Clinton County’s Colby Langford came off the bench in the second quarter and scored the Bulldogs’ first points of the period, 16-9.

The bread and butter of the Bulldog team is its three point shot and Friday night it wasn’t there during the first half.

Monroe County quietly and calmly snuck up on the Bulldogs and put together a 10-0 run to lead by three points, 19-16.

With more than half of the quarter already ticked away, Clinton County’s shooting continued to struggle, hitting six of 16 from the floor in the first half.

At the 2:52 mark, Stearns hit a field goal to cut the lead to one point, but a basket by Monroe pushed the lead back to three points, 21-18.

Langford then made Clinton County’s first three pointer in six attempts to tie the score at 21 with 2:02 remaining before halftime.

Monroe County would score two more field goals before time ran out to take a four point lead into the locker room at halftime, 25-21.

As the third quarter began, Clinton County came out on a mission scoring the first 15 points of the half to take a 36-25 lead.

The Bulldogs would score five more points to end the period, but Monroe County just wouldn’t go away, cutting the deficit to five points, 41-37.

During the final period, Clinton County put together a 6-1 run for a nine point lead, 47-38.

As the quarter progressed, Clinton County never really put away the Falcons, however, the Bulldogs played well enough to keep them at bay.

During the final 1:40, Clinton County put up six points to Monroe County’s two to finish the game with a 14 point victory, 59-45.

Individual scoring for Clinton County was:

Stearns 18

Dalton 14

Langford 9

Stalcup 8

Maupin 6

Albertson 4

The Bulldogs were back in action Tuesday night as the team traveled to South Laurel to take on the Cardinals. That game was too late for press deadline and will appear in next week’s edition of the Clinton County News.

Clinton County will put an end to the regular season as the Bulldogs will travel to Barren County Thursday night for the second game of a double header with the Lady Dawgs.

Senior Derek Albertson finished with four points Friday night in the Bulldogs’ 20th win of the season, 54-45. Albertson scored his points on back-to-back buckets in the first quarter.

Colby Langford put up a shot during Clinton County’s final home game Friday night against Monroe County. The Bulldogs won its 20th game of the season, 54-45.