Hot-shooting Bulldogs torch Cougars

Published 11:46 am Tuesday, March 11, 2025

By The Daily News

The return to the bright lights and big stage of the Region 4 Tournament didn’t faze the Clinton County boys’ basketball team, which rolled to an 87-64 win over Logan County in Monday’s opening round at E.A. Diddle Arena.

Playing in the region tournament for the first time since 2022, Clinton County scorched the nets by shooting 62.3% from the field to eclipse the school record for points in a game at a region tournament. The Bulldogs scored 83 points in a win over Metcalfe County in 1962.

“We’ve been hungry, man,” Clinton County coach Nick Irwin said. “We’ve been hungry for this for three years — since (former coach Todd Messer) stepped down and I took over. It’s been the common theme for this bunch — that they had never proven it on their own yet. Getting back here is that little thing they need to keep going. I know my two seniors had been here before, but they didn’t feel like it was their team. It was a big part of getting here one, but — and we’ve had some good runs in the past — coming over here and showing out.”

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Logan County was able to keep pace with the Bulldogs for a half before Clinton County (29-2) found another gear and pulled away in the second half.

Logan County (19-12) jumped out to a 15-9 advantage late in the first, but Clinton closed with an 11-2 run to take a 20-17 lead after one. The Cougars regained the lead briefly to start the second before Clinton County pushed the lead back to 35-29. The Bulldogs were still up six in the final minute of the half before Logan County scored five straight, including a steal and layup by Damani Goodloe that made the score 40-39 with five seconds remaining in the half. Clinton County had one more answer — a half-court heave from Cannon Young that banked in at the horn and gave the Bulldogs a 43-39 lead.

“Not to brag on myself, but I have got the strap from behind the arc,” Young said. “I was wide open. I didn’t plan for the bank shot. I aimed for the perfect swish, but I mean I will settle for the bank. It was a great shot to celebrate with my team in the locker room at halftime. It was fantastic.”

That momentum carried into the second half. Clinton County opened the third quarter with a 13-3 run to push the margin to 56-42. The lead was still 14 after three, with the Bulldogs opening the fourth with seven straight to make the score 74-53.

Logan County was unable to get closer than 19 the rest of the way.

Four Bulldogs finished in double figures. William Beaty led the way, scoring 21 points off the bench.

“He’s done it all year,” Irwin said. “No surprise. District final I think he had 18 off the bench. Started the first game — 16 the first game. Came off the bench in the championship game and had 18. He’s done that all year. He’s been our spark when we’ve had other guys that either had sickness or concussions or whatever it was through the year that they couldn’t start. He knew it was his job, next guy up.”

Nick Poore had 19 points and 12 rebounds for Clinton County. Young added 18 points and Jaxson Mason finished with 14 points.

Samson Hightower led Logan County with 16 points, while Nicholas Thomas added 15 points.

“It was a fun basketball game,” Logan County coach Josh Frick said. “Two teams that really went at each other. That first half was something. You have to give Clinton a lot of credit because they made a lot of shots tonight and we kind of struggled to put the ball in the hole, struggled to get stops at times. They’ve got a really good basketball team and when they shoot it like that they are tough to beat.”

Clinton County advances to face Barren County in the semifinals at 6:30 p.m. on March 17 at E.A. Diddle Arena, looking to advance to a region title game for the first time since 1960 when the Bulldogs won the Region 5 championship.

Clinton County and Barren County met in Albany on Feb. 14, with the Bulldogs winning 50-48.

“Any time you are facing a Warren Cunningham team you better have your stuff ready because he is going to,” Irwin said. “I know for sure it is going to be a battle. There is no doubt. It was a war at our place. Anxious to get back at it again.”

LCHS 17 22 14 11 — 64

CCHS 20 23 24 20 — 87

LC — Hightower 16, Thomas 15, Goodloe 8, Switzer 7, Hinton 7, Blann 4, Johnson 3, Tichenor 2, Burr 2.

CC — Beaty 21, Poore 19, Young 18, J. Mason 14, Davis 7, McCutchen 4, Irwin 2, C. Mason 2.

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