Top-seeded Lady Dragons take care of business in district semi-final round
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Clinton’s sophomore Lanee Carmichael (30) has proven to be a fierce talent during the 2023-24 season. Teams have had to be mindful of her scoring and second attempts after offensive rebounds. - Tony Cox
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Clinton’s Bailey Burroughs is a tough competitor in the paint. - Tony Cox
A late surge helped the Clinton High School girls basketball team capture a postseason victory and an opportunity to host a game in this week’s Region 2-AAA Tournament Friday night.
The top-seeded Lady Dragons were already assured of a spot in the regionals by virtue of their regular-season league championship.
But Clinton (22-6) entered the District 4-AAA Tournament wanting more, namely a district tournament championship, which would earn it home court advantage throughout the region tournament.
The Lady Dragons took their first postseason step with a 62-49 victory over Union County in the district tournament semifinals at Scott High School in Huntsville.
For three quarters this contest was a roller coaster ride. Clinton led, 15-14, at the end of the first quarter. They Lady Dragons extended their advantage by halftime. Things, however, remained close with Clinton clinging to a 31-29 lead at the break.
“We got out in front but they made a big run and we were down by nine (in the third quarter) and then we closed the game out on a 22-4 run,” Lady Dragons’ coach Alicia Daugherty said. “And we were able to come back and get a win in the district tournament.”
Daugherty, the veteran Clinton coach, said that the Dragons scored the final 11 points of the third stanza. The Lady Dragons battled back and regained the lead before the end of the quarter. They were ahead, 46-45, heading into the final frame.
Clinton outscored the Lady Patriots, 11-4, over the last eight minutes of the contest to earn the victory and move on to the district tournament championship game against crosstown rival and No. 2 seed Anderson County Tuesday night. Results for the title game were not available at press time.
The Lady Mavericks (18-10) and the Lady Dragons split their regular-season series. Clinton won on the road in December, while Anderson County was victorious at the Don W. Lockard Gymnasium earlier this month, claiming a three-point victory in a low-scoring contest.
“We split our two games with them, but that doesn’t matter now,” Daugherty said. “Once you get to the district tournament, you start over and everybody is 0-0, and it doesn’t matter how many wins you’ve got.
“They won the last one. But that was after Snowmageddon, and we couldn’t throw the ball in the ocean. I told the girls that we have a chance to win the one that was important. It’s been since 1979 since Clinton has won a district title, so they’re definitely playing for something.”
Against the Lady Patriots, sophomore Lanee Carmichael had 20 points. Josie Moody added 12, while Bailey Burroughs and Addi Gamble finished with 11 points each.