Lady Dragons are regular-season champs
Clinton’s Josie Moody posted a double-double in Friday night’s 49-43 win over Cum- berland Gap. Earlier in the week, Moody scored 12 points against Gibbs, and had nine points and 11 rebounds against Union County. (photo:Tony Cox )
The Lady Dragons clinched the title by winning three league games last week.
Clinton has also won nine of its last 10 games, heading into action this week.
Last week, CHS defeated Gibbs, Cumberland Gap and Union County.
The win against the Lady Panthers avenged the Lady Dragons’ lone district setback of the 2023-24 campaign. Cumberland Gap edged Clinton 59-52 there on Jan. 25
Clinton (19-5 overall, 8-1 in the district) opened the week on Tuesday, Jan. 30, with a 78-55 victory over Gibbs at the Don W. Lockard Gymnasium.
With that victory, the Lady Dragons completed the regular-season sweep against the Lady Eagles.
Clinton also defeated Gibbs earlier this season in Corryton.
Against the Lady Eagles last week, Clinton had four players score in post double figures.
Lanee Carmichael led with 33 points. Addi Gamble added 16, Josie Moody had 12, and Allie York finished with 11.
In last week’s tilt against the Lady Patriots, the Lady Dragons had their hands full as Union County, one of the area’s scrappiest teams, made Clinton work for a 53-49 victory.
The Lady Dragons battled their share of offensive struggles, but still manufactured enough scoring to earn a victory.
“We just didn’t play good basketball and we’ve been shooting the ball awful,” Clinton Coach Alicia Daugherty said. “Union County is a good team. They’re scrappy and they have a couple of good guards.
“And they both just happened to be on against us. I was really happy with the way that the kids found a way to win against Union.”
Carmichael scored 26 points against the Lady Patriots, while Moody scored nine points and pulled down 11 rebounds.
On Friday in the rematch against Cumberland Gap at Clinton, the Lady Dragons were able to exact a little revenge against the Lady Panthers with a 49-43 victory.
Moody and Carmichael each posted a double-double, and Clinton had four players score 10-plus points. Moody finished the game with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Carmichael came up with 11 points and 12 boards.
Meanwhile, York and Gamble scored 10 points each for Clinton, which clinched the league title.
The Lady Dragons closed out district play Tuesday night at home with a make-up game against crosstown rival Anderson County. Results were not available at press time.
But both the Lady Dragons and Lady Mavericks will have a first-round bye in the postseason tournament. ACHS has sewn up second place.
By winning the regular-season championship, Clinton has earned a trip to the Region 2-AAA tournament.
Daugherty said the regular season was big for her squad.
“We have six teams in our district this year, so everybody doesn’t get to go to the region tournament,” she said.
“So, now we have a little leeway if we have a screw-up in the district tournament,” she said.
“Two years ago, we won the regular-season championship and we got upset in the first round of the district.”