Dragons survive overtime
Maddox scores 29 as Clinton outlasts Carter
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Bryson poured in 29 points against Carter on Saturday night in the Dragons’ 63-56 overtime win at Don W. Lockard Gymnasium. Camden Nelson (right) drives into the lane during the home matchup against Carter. - Ellie Hatmaker
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Camden Nelson drives into the lane during the home matchup against Carter. - Ellie Hatmaker
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Clinton’s Tristian Lundy scored 11 points and pulled down six rebounds while adding four steals in the Dragons’ 63-56 overtime victory over Car- ter on Saturday night. - Ellie Hatmaker
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Jaxson Alcorn launches a 3-point attempt for Clinton during Saturday night’s region quarterfinal against Carter. The Dragons outlasted the Hornets 63-56 in overtime. - Ellie Hatmaker
Longtime Clinton High School boys basketball Coach Chris Lockard will be the first to admit his team didn’t deliver its sharpest performance Saturday night.
But the Dragons did enough to survive and advance.
Clinton outlasted Carter 63-56 in overtime in a Region 2-AAA tournament elimination quarterfinal at Don W. Lockard Gymnasium.
“We weren’t at the top of our game,” he said. “We didn’t shoot well and we didn’t really rebound well. But we played really good defense.
“We did enough late to win, and that was good, but you don’t want to get in the habit of having to do that in the tournament against high-caliber competition.”
The Dragons, the District 4-AAA regular-season and tournament champions, trailed the Hornets 13-11 at the end of the first quarter. Clinton ratcheted up its defensive pressure in the second stanza, outscoring Carter 13-2 to take a 24-15 halftime lead.
The Hornets refused to fade.
“Carter is a good basketball team,” Lockard said. “They’re a young team, but they’re well-coached and they have some good shooters. They can shoot the ball, and [Coach] Tyler [Cate] really does a great job.”
Clinton has been battle-tested throughout the season, playing multiple overtime and double-overtime games. When the Dragons needed a steady voice before the extra session, it came from one of their own.
Before Lockard could address the team in the huddle, senior standout Bryson Maddox stepped in.
“In the huddle, before I could even open my mouth, Bryson said, ‘They’re not used to this. We’ve been here before, so let’s go out and win this game,’” Lockard said.
Maddox backed up his words with action. He poured in 29 points, grabbed five rebounds, collected five steals and dished out two assists. His leadership, however, may have been his biggest contribution.
Clinton also received key production from its supporting cast. Tristian Lundy added 11 points, six rebounds and four steals, while Ben Tackett chipped in eight points and four boards.
With the win, the Dragons advanced to face Austin-East in Tuesday’s region semifinals. Results were not available at press time.
