Dragons fare well in Blount
Clinton traveled to the Heritage Thanksgiving Classic Tournament over the holiday weekend.
Their first game against Heritage High School ended with a strong victory over Heritage, with the Dragons finishing 67-57.
The game stayed close until the final quarter, with the Dragons getting a shaky start and losing the lead multiple times until they finally seemed to find their footing in the fourth. During the fourth quarter, though, they steadily climbed ahead of Heritage to finish a full 10 points ahead.
The Dragons held an impressing 50-percent effective field goal percentage alongside a 76-percent successful free-throw stat. Clinton dominated on three-pointers especially, sinking eight baskets to Heritage’s four.
Heritage had trouble holding onto the ball, totaling 12 turnovers by the end of the game, and Clinton capitalized on those mistakes, too, gaining 12 points off of turnovers before the final buzzer.
The Dragons’ next opponents were the Maryville Rebels. Unfortunately for the Dragons, they couldn’t seem to find that footing again and a rocky start only grew worse as the game progressed. The game finished 85-58 with a Maryville victory. Clinton didn’t hold the lead once.
Clinton still had a strong showing, managing 52-percent on field goals and another 75-percent on free throws. Unfortunately for them, they were just outdone by Maryville, who not only made more baskets than them, but shot more.
Turnovers hounded the Dragons, and Maryville capitalized on the opportunity by gaining 31 points off turnovers by the end of the game.
Clinton managed nine points off turnovers.
Live by the turnover, die by the turnover, as the saying goes, and the same thing that helped the Dragons so much against Heritage hindered them against Maryville.
Maryville, meanwhile, couldn’t keep their hands to themselves, finishing the night with 12 personal fouls to Clinton’s six. Still, personal fouls only do so much to hinder a team, and did little to offset Maryville’s strong shooting game.
The Rebels made 14 three-point-shots, gaining half of their total points from shots outside the arc.
Evan Winchester was the MVP for Clinton, finishing the night with 25 points under his belt. Trailing in second place were Chase Lockard and Jackson Garner, with 11 points and 10 respectively. Jackson Garner finished with the highest field goal rate, at 58-percent. Winchester also dominated on defensive rebounds, grabbing seven for the Dragons, while Trevor Bryant did well on offense, grabbing three rebounds.