Snow break leads to Dragons’ three-game win streak
Clinton’s Lebron Booker had 14 points against Scott and nine against Cumberland Gap. Earlier this month, Booker scored 25 against Gibbs. (photo:Tony Cox )
It was something that nobody associated with basketball wanted to see, including the Clinton Dragons and longtime head Coach Chris Lockard.
But in hindsight, Lockard is looking at the unexpected extended break as a positive for his squad, which has now won three consecutive games, dating to Saturday, Jan. 13, when it captured a crucial District 4-AAA road victory over Gibbs in Corryton.
That was Clinton’s last action before a winter storm blanketed the area with snow and ice, putting East Tennessee into a deep freeze.
The Dragons (7-11 overall, 4-2 in the district) finally got the chance to return to the floor late last week. Clinton played back-to-back league games at Cumberland Gap Thursday and at Scott Friday.
The Dragons were victorious in both contests, topping the Panthers (5-12, 0-6) 72-55 Thursday night, and avenging an earlier loss to Highlanders with a 68-55 win in Huntsville on Friday.
“As much as I think all of us hated it when we didn’t get to practice and didn’t get to play, I think this was a blessing for us because we made some changes,” Lockard said. “We got to sort of see what was working and what was not working.”
LeBron Booker led Clinton’s offensive attack against the Highlanders, who entered this week at 13-9 overall and 2-3 in the district before traveling to Anderson County Monday night.
Booker had 17 points and was one of four Dragons to post double figures in the scoring column in the contest.
Bryson Maddox had 14, while Jeremiah Lee and Jacob Dooley finished with 10 points each.
Against the Panthers, Clinton got a strong offensive effort from its backcourt players.
Lee led the way with 22 points, and Teegan Bolinger added 10.
Booker finished with nine points at Cumberland Gap.