Karns adds to Chris Lockard’s frustrating season
Clinton’s Teegan Bollinger splits the Karns defense on his way for two of his 19 points Monday night. (photo:Ken Leinart )
“We’ve got to do a better job handling adversity,” Lockard said after the Dragons came up on the short end of an 81-54 decision against Karns at the Don W. Lockard Gymnasium.
“It was right from the get-go for us,” he said. “I looked up at the scoreboard and it was 4-2 because Karns missed their first eight layups.”
The Dragons (7-18) actually held a slim 8-6 advantage midway through the first quarter in what appeared to be a defensive struggle.
But the Beavers (20-7) erupted in the latter stages of the opening stanza, closing the frame with a 13-0 run and taking control of the game.
Clinton and Karns have one of the area’s longest running rivalries, dating to when the two schools were District 3-AAA rivals.
The Beavers swept the season series against the Dragons this season. Karns prevailed earlier this season in a close game, winning 71-65 in Knoxville.
This one wasn’t close, and the fourth quarter was played with a running clock. The TSSAA mercy rule was invoked as the Beavers extended their advantage to 41-23 by halftime and 70-34 by the end of the third quarter.
Karns guard and District 3-4A Player of the Year J.J. Faulkner had a game-high 30 points and was one of three Beavers to post double figures in the scoring column.
All-district standout Jaylen Roberts had 14 points, and Ayden Goins, another all-league standout, finished with 10 points.
Teegan Bolinger, an all-district 4-AAA player, led the Dragons with 19 points, and Carson Richardson had nine and knocked down three 3-pointers in the first half.
Upcoming games for the Dragons: Clinton has three remaining regular-season games and all will be at home. The Dragons host county rival Oak Ridge Thursday, They’ll entertain Maryville Christian in a recently added contest Saturday. CHS will close the regular season Monday before hosting the district tournament later in the week.