Red-hot Dragons enter playoffs as District 4-AAA top seed
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Clinton’s Braylen Hayden had six points, six rebounds and five assists against Karns on Friday night. - Tony Cox
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Clinton’s Jaxson Alcorn looks for an open teammate during the Tuesday, Feb. 11, home meeting with Powell High School. The Dragons won 64-45. - Tony Cox
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Clinton’s Bryson Maddox led the Dragons with 27 points and nine rebounds during the regular season finale at Karns High School. - Tony Cox
The Clinton High School boys basketball team has closed the book on the 2024-25 regular season and now turns its focus to the playoffs.
With a share of the District 4-AAA regular-season title and the No. 1 seed in the district tournament secured, the Dragons have already clinched a berth in the Region 2-AAA tournament.
Clinton (18-10) enters the postseason as one of the hottest teams in Tennessee, winning nine of its last 10 games and closing the regular season on an eight-game winning streak.
Veteran Coach Chris Lockard, who guided the Dragons to five consecutive district tournament championship game appearances, is optimistic about his young squad despite early-season growing pains.
“I hope we can keep this thing going,” Lockard said. “We’re playing well right now, and we got two big wins last week.
“We beat Powell at home, and that was a huge win for us. They’re a good team, and they’ve gotten a lot better. I think they finished second in their district.”
Powell (12-14) did indeed finish second behind Oak Ridge in District 3-4A. The Wildcats dominated that district and held a 22-3 record at press time with a game remaining against Sevier County.
The Dragons wrapped up their regular-season home schedule with a commanding 64-45 victory over Powell on Feb. 11 at Don W. Lockard Gymnasium.
Clinton set the tone early, outscoring the Panthers 20-9 in the first quarter and extending the lead to 36-18 by halftime.
Three Clinton players scored in double figures. Bryson Maddox led the way with 26 points and four steals. Jaxson Alcorn added 15 points, eight rebounds, two steals and a block. Carson Richardson finished with 11 points, three rebounds and two assists.
Clinton capped the regular season with a 67-49 road win at Karns on Friday. The Beavers kept it close early, with the Dragons holding a 28-23 halftime lead.
“Karns is a team a lot like us — they’re young,” Lockard said. “(Karns Coach Lee) Henson does a good job, and if you’re young in that district (District 3-4A), it’s going to be hard on you.”
Maddox led Clinton with 27 points and nine rebounds. Richardson had 20 points, four rebounds and four assists. Kaden Ison added nine points, four rebounds and two assists, while Braylen Hayden finished with six points, six rebounds and five assists.
With momentum on their side, the Dragons now set their sights on postseason play.
