Clinton hoops are working out the kinks
Clinton’s Braylen Hayden goes for two during play against Lenoir City in the opening week of the season. (photo:Tony Cox )
“This was a great high school basketball game and the people who missed this game missed a very intense, very good basketball game,” Lockard said after the Dragons came up on the short end of a 65-47 decision to the host Highlanders at Gatlinburg-Pittman High School on Tuesday, Nov. 22. “Gatlinburg is a good team and this was a physical game.
“It was a little tough for us at times because we didn’t get a lot of breaks. It was a six-point game with three minutes to go and I left the game thinking that the kids played really hard. “It was a really good ballgame and I told the kids that if they continued to give that kind of effort, that we were going to do well.”
The Dragons (1-2) led early as they had a slim 12-11 advantage by the end of the first quarter.
The Highlanders, however, would storm back to take a 33-28 lead at halftime. They outscored Clinton 10-5 in the third quarter but the Dragons kept battling and wouldn’t go away.
“I really liked the resolve that our kids showed,” Lockard said. “They fought hard.”
Jeremiah Lee led the Dragons with 20 points. He also dished out five assists. Kaden Ison scored eight points for Clinton, which traveled to Karns Tuesday (results were not available at press time).
Clinton opens District 4-AAA play Friday when it hosts crosstown rival Anderson County. Tipoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.
Lady Dragons fall at Gatlinburg-Pittman: Clinton suffered its first loss of the 2022-23 season on Tuesday, Nov. 22. The Highlanders prevailed 80-28 in the contest.
The Lady Dragons will look to bounce back this week as they host Anderson County in their district opener Friday night. They played at Karns Tuesday but results were not available at press time.