The Clinton County Bulldogs have had a remarkable season despite having lost a starter early in the year. Clinton County has a 22-6 record going into the district tournament this week, which is a tie for first as far as win/loss season is concerned.

Monday in the Lexington Herald-Leader, the Dave Cantrell ratings have the Bulldogs rated at 66.9, which is first in the district, followed by Russell County – 63.7, Metcalfe County – 62.8 and Cumberland County – 40.2.

The 4th Region’s top two teams are Bowling Green (81.2) and Warren Central (81.1) ranked eight and 10 in the state respectively.

Clinton County faced Metcalfe County on Tuesday night, too late for press deadline. That game will appear in next week’s edition of the Clinton County News.

Clinton County 63

Barren County 50

The Bulldogs hosted Barren County Thursday night for this year’s senior night. Clinton County’s lone Senior Will Parrish, played his final game at the Castle while the Bulldogs pulled off the 13 point win, 63-50.

The beginning of the game was close with only one point separating the two teams throughout the first five minutes of the game, 7-6, with the Bulldogs up by one.

Clinton County then started scoring, finishing the quarter with a 12-2 run for a nine point lead, 19-10.

Clinton County continued to control the flow of the game throughout the second period.

The Bulldogs reached a 12 point lead near the midway point in the period off a basket by Ryan Beard, 30-18.

At halftime, the Bulldogs seemed to be in control of the game with a 34-23 lead.

During the second half, Clinton County remained on top. The Bulldogs allowed the Trojans to cut the lead to eight points on several occasions, but Clinton County’s cold shooting from the floor didn’t stop the Bulldogs from attacking the basket.

Clinton County finished the third quarter with a 49-33 lead.

During the fourth quarter, Beard opened the period with a three pointer, 52-33.

Barren County then hit back-to-back three pointers closing the gap to 13, 52-39.

Wendell Maupin hit two free throws to push the Bulldogs’ lead to 15 points, but another Barren County three pointer cut that lead to 12 points with 2:45 remaining in the game.

Clinton County remained strong from the foul line as Keifer Dalton hit two free throws to add more distance from Barren County.

The Trojans hit another three pointer to slash the lead to 10 points, followed by two more from the line by Dalton, followed by yet another three pointer by Barren County to cut the lead to nine points, 57-48.

With less than a minute on the clock, Clinton County held on and kept Barren County from getting any closer.

Maupin, Langford and Frank England hit field goals to push the score to the final, 63-50.

Individual scoring for Clinton County was:

Stearns 15

Dalton 13

Langford 12

Maupin 8

Beard 7

Davis 3

Parrish 3

England 2

Clinton County 50

Southwestern 48

On Tuesday night, the Clinton County Bulldogs hosted Pulaski Southwestern in a game that would come down to the final seconds to determine the winner.

Clinton County held on, but by the skin of their teeth, when the Bulldogs came up with two big steals in the final seconds to secure the win, 50-48.

In the early part of the game, the Bulldogs came out flat, and struggled from the floor.

The Bulldogs fell behind early in the first quarter and found itself down by seven at the end of the break, 17-10.

Clinton County came out in the second quarter and started to show some life as Southwestern made their points off of transition.

The Bulldogs scored the final four points of the second quarter to get to within two points at halftime, 21-19.

Southwestern, starting five players over 6’3”, seemed to play very much above the Bulldogs. The Warriors took out most of Clinton County’s attempts around the basket and scored at will under its goal.

However, the Bulldogs tied the score in the third quarter, at 25, with 5:40 on the clock.

The score remained close for the next several minutes, but Southwestern took a commanding lead towards the end of the period, 37-25.

Eighth grader Joe Davis came off the bench and gave the Bulldogs a lift at the end of the period that continued on through the fourth quarter.

Davis hit a three pointer from the left corner with 12 seconds remaining in the third period.

Southwestern hit one of two from the foul line to start the fourth quarter, 38-32.

Davis then hit back-to-back three pointers to tie the score at 38 and give the Bulldogs the lift it needed to get back into the game.

Clinton County took the lead for the first time since the first quarter on two shots from Langford from the free throw line, 40-38.

Southwestern tied the score at 40, but a basket by Langford, Dalton and Beard gave the Bulldogs a six point lead with 3:36 on the clock, 46-40.

Southwestern cut the lead to four points on a field goal, but a rebound and put back by Beard extended the lead for the Bulldogs, 48-42.

On three straight trips down the floor, Clinton County couldn’t find a way to keep Southwestern out of the game.

Southwestern came back and tied the score at 48 with 1:28 on the clock.

With time running out, Clinton County worked the ball around the three point line. With 23 seconds remaining in the game, Dalton was fouled, sending him to the line for a one and one opportunity.

Dalton hit one to give the Dawgs a one point lead, 49-48.

With 15 seconds on the clock, Southwestern called a time out to set up the last play of the game. Down by only one point, a field goal was all the Warriors needed to take the game from the Bulldogs.

Southwestern threw the ball into their big man under the goal, but he couldn’t handle it. Southwestern bobbled the ball and Wayne Stearns came up with the steal and he was fouled, sending him to the line for two shots. Stearns hit one of two for a two point lead with three seconds remaining.

Head Coach Todd Messer called a time out after Stearns hit the second attempt from the foul line, to set up a defensive play to keep Southwestern from traveling the length of the floor for the final shot.

As Southwestern took the ball out of bounds, the Warriors bobble the ball again and this time Will Parrish was there to gain possession as time ran out. Clinton County held on by two points, 50-48.

Individual scoring for Clinton County was:

Dalton 14

Langford 13

Davis 9

Beard 7

Stearns 3

Parrish 2

Maupin 2

Messer and Company head to district with 22-6 overall record