The Clinton County Bulldogs won the 4th Region All “A” Tournament Saturday night and will make its third trip in seven years to compete for the All “A” state title.

The Bulldogs defeated Monroe County in the semi-finals, 54-39, and Glasgow in the finals, 45-41, to be crowned 2013 4th Region All “A” Classic Champions.

Clinton County 45

Glasgow 41

The Bulldogs’ trip to Frankfort, KY. this week first came with the cutting of the nets at The Castle after defeating Glasgow in the finals of the 4th Region All “A” Classic Tournament, 45-41.

As the ball went up to start the game it was tipped and went out of bounds. The referees couldn’t determine which of the two players touched the ball last, so a determination of a jump ball was called. With no clear possession for either team, the two players who went after the ball on the initial jump, squared off at center court for a second jump ball.

Glasgow controlled the second tip and after a minute of going up against Clinton County’s defensive set, the Scotties finally got a ball to go through the net to take a 2-0 lead over the Bulldogs.

Clinton County came down the floor a minute later and found Ryan Beard who knocked down a three pointer to take the 3-2 lead. A defensive stop by the Bulldogs saw Keifer Dalton score to extend the lead to three points, 5-2.

Glasgow matched with a three pointer to tie the score at five, but a three pointer by Joe Davis gave Clinton County an 8-5 lead with 4:35 on the clock.

The Bulldogs then added to the run with a basket by Colby Langford and a field goal by Davis for a 12-5 lead.

Glasgow got back in the game with a three pointer, but Langford was there to answer from the top of the circle to lead, 15-8.

The Scotties finished the quarter with a field goal to cut the lead to five points, 15-10, at the end of the first period.

Both teams were battling during the second quarter.

Glasgow cut the lead to three in the opening minute, but Langford hit two foul shots for a 17-12 lead.

A three point play by the Scotties cut the lead to two points, 17-15, but a basket by Davis pushed the Dawgs away by four, 19-15.

Another three point play cut the Dawgs’ lead to one point, but again Langford was there as he made a basket with 1:15 and was fouled on the next trip, making both free throws, for a 23-18 lead.

Glasgow finished the quarter with a field goal to trail the Bulldogs, 23-20 at halftime.

As the third quarter was underway, Beard opened up with another three pointer to give the Dawgs a 26-20 lead.

Glasgow answered and tied the game with back-to-back three pointers, 26-26, but Beard came through again with a three pointer to lead, 29-26.

As the speed of the game quickened, both teams were adding points to the board. Glasgow took its first lead since the beginning of the game at the 1:29 mark, 32-31.

Clinton County’s next series of shot attempts didn’t fall, giving Glasgow every opportunity to extend its lead, but Clinton County’s defense held up and kept Glasgow from scoring.

As seconds ticked off in the third quarter, Langford made a shot and was fouled, sending him to the line. He made the free throw and gave the Bulldogs a two point edge to end the quarter, 34-32.

At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Glasgow tied the score at 34. Langford again stepped up and knocked down a three pointer for a three point lead, 37-34.

Glasgow came back and tied the score again with a field goal and a free throw, but two free throws by Dalton gave the Dawgs a two point edge, 39-37, with 4:56 remaining in the game.

With 4:10 showing on the clock, Glasgow tied the score at 39 and more than two minutes later, Frank England hit a five foot jumper in the lane to take the two point lead.

After a defensive stop, the Bulldogs went into stall mode with 1:29 remaining.

With 23 seconds remaining, Langford was hit with a backdoor pass and made a huge basket to put the Bulldogs up by four points, 43-39.

Glasgow’s attempt to cut into the lead failed on its next possession and Clinton County gained control of the rebound. with six seconds on the clock, Glasgow scored its final points to get to within two of the Dawgs, 43-41. As time ran out, Glasgow fouled Langford, sending him to the line for two shots with four seconds remaining. Langford hit both for a four point lead and ultimately the game winning free throws that ended the chances of Glasgow taking the lead, 45-41.

The Bulldogs’ win was the teams’ 13th of the year and brought the program as a whole to the .500 mark.

The Bulldogs will head to Frankfort, KY. to the Frankfort Convention Center Thursday to play in the first round of the All “A” Classic State Tournament for a 7 p.m. local time tipoff.

Clinton County will face the winner of Region 14, Knott County Central which has a record of 18-3 going into Thursday’s game.

Individual scoring for Clinton County was:

Langford 21

Beard 9

Davis 7

Dalton 4

England 4

Clinton County 54

Monroe County 39

The Bulldogs didn’t pull off two impressive wins this past week by hitting every shot they attempted. Rather defense was the key factor in Clinton County’s 4th Region Championship title.

Against Monroe County Friday night, Clinton County missed its first five shots, allowing Monroe County to take the lead with the first basket of the game at the 5:59 mark.

At 5:40, Colby Langford made a jumper to put Clinton County on the board. Monroe County would score on its next possession to regain a two point lead, but a three pointer by Joe Davis gave Clinton County a one point lead with 4:15 remaining in the first quarter, 5-4.

Monroe County took the lead on a field goal with 3:59 on the clock and Clinton County’s defense was turned up a notch.

The Bulldogs spent the final four minutes of the quarter, holding Monroe County to zero points, while adding six baskets, two from Keifer Dalton and one from Langford, to finish the quarter, 11-6.

During the second quarter, Monroe County scored a quick basket, 11-8. Two free throws and a basket by Dalton pushed the Bulldogs’ lead to seven, 15-8, then Monroe County put together an 8-1 run to tie the score at 16 with 2:45 remaining in the half.

Clinton County stepped back up quickly and drained two three pointers, one by Langford and one by Lance Claywell, to get a five point lead with 1:36 on the clock, 22-17.

Monroe County cut the lead to two points on a three pointer, 22-20, but the Bulldogs finished the quarter with two field goals for a 26-20 halftime lead.

During the third quarter Clinton County continued to add to its score with two field goals back-to-back to gain a 10 point lead, 30-20.

Monroe County then hit a three pointer to cut the lead to seven, 30-23, but a three point play by Frank England put the Dawgs up by 10, 33-23.

The Falcons made two baskets to cut the lead to six points midway through the period.

England gave the Dawgs an eight point lead on a field goal with 3:20 on the clock and then Clinton County’s defense really kicked in. The Bulldogs held Monroe County scoreless for the remainder of the period, for an eight point third quarter lead, 35-27.

During the fourth quarter the Bulldogs’ defense really picked up and held Monroe County to only 12 points for the final period.

Clinton County added to its lead throughout the period by scoring 19 points in the final period, to move into the finals with a 54-39 win.

Individual scoring for Clinton County was:

Langford 13

Dalton 12

England 11

Davis 8

Claywell 3

Cook 2

Anderson 2

Beard 2

Nelson 1

Clinton County will play Thursday night at the Frankfort Convention Center in the first round of the Touchstone Energy All “A” Classic against Knott County Central at 7 p.m. Game summary and photos of that game will appear in next week’s edition of the Clinton County News.

Colby Langford put up a shot during the second half against Glasgow Saturday night in the championship game of the 4th Region All “A” Classic Tournament. Langford finished the game with 13 points.

Joe Davis went up for a layup during Clinton County’s semi-final game against Monroe County on Friday. Clinton County defeated the Falcons, 54-39, and Glasgow on Saturday night for the champsionship, 45-41. Davis finished the game with eight points.

At the 2:00 mark, Frank England hit a five-foot jumper in the lane to move the Bulldogs ahead by two points, 41-39. England finished the game with four points as the Dawgs defeated Glasgow, 45-41.

Above, Frank Engalnd, Keifer Dalton and Colby Langford were selected to the 4th Region All Tournament Team during Saturday night’s awards ceremony.

Right, Ryan Beard was named to the 4th Region All Academic Team Saturday night after the conclusion of the championship game played at Lindle Castle Gymnasium. The Dawgs will move on to the All “A” Classic State Tournament in Frankfort, KY., Thursday where Clinton County will face Knott County Central at 7 p.m.

Clinton County celebrated Saturday night after the conclusion of the 4th Region All “A” Classic Championship game as Clinton County defeated Glasgow 45-41.