Magic at ‘The Donnie Dome’
Dragons, unbeaten at home, now head to Murfreesboro
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Clinton High School swept through the postseason at Don Lockard Memorial Gymnasium with a 4-0 record (13-0 for the season), here playing against Scott High in the second round of the region tourney. The Dragons always played before a packed house. - Tony Cox
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Clinton senior Trace Thackerson wore a t-shirt in memory of Clinton’s legendary coach, Don Lockard, during warmups for the Region 2AAA championship. - Tony Cox
The Clinton High School Dragons pulled off a little magic this past basketball season.
The senior-led team completed a home sweep in 2021-22, going 13-0 on its home floor in Don Lockard Memorial Gymnasium — The Donnie Dome.
The Dragons have been to the state’s Big Dance before, back in 2004, but even during that season they didn’t sweep at home.
“It’s been a long time,” Dragon Head Coach Chris Lockard said of finishing a season unbeaten at home.
The Dragons also swept through the postseason.
The Dragons took the district championship at Anderson County High School, then came home to take three games in the Region 2 AAA tournament.
Then they iced the cake with a 78-74 win over Volunteer in sectional play Monday night.
“This is for the community,” Clinton senior guard Trace Thackerson said.
“I think we give them something, and we draw inspiration from them,” he said.
The team drew inspiration from each other, from the fans, and from the man for whom the CHS gym is named: Coach Don Lockard.
“I can’t talk now, I have to compose myself,” Chris Lockard said after being asked if he thought of his father during the season.
Don Lockard died May 23, 2018, at the age of 73.
In his 29-year coaching career, he amassed 642 wins and led the Dragons on multiple deep runs through the postseason, including a state tournament appearance in 1997.
And he left a legacy — not just of basketball, but of community and commitment.
Monday night’s win belongs as much to every player who has worn the Orange and Black as it does to the 2021-22 team.
Chris Lockard did compose himself.And he addressed the importance of his father after cutting the net. He thanked the fans and then pointed skyward.
“I, we, think about him (Don Lockard) every day,” player Trace Thackerson said.
“I grew up with him ... we grew up with him ... when we were kids. All of us. He’s a part of us.”
