Bulldogs, Trojans look to take next step en route to region title
Barren County Trojans (20-12) vs. Clinton County Bulldogs (29-2)
March 17, 2025 – 6:30 PM – 4th Region Semifinals
Barren County and Clinton County will meet at Diddle Arena on Monday night with a spot in the 4th Region championship game on the line. For the Trojans, it would be their first title game appearance since 2016 – a loss to Bowling Green. For the Bulldogs, one must go back 65 years to 1960 when they won the 5th Region championship. Barren County is looking for its first region title since 1999. But before either team can begin dreaming about playing in the coveted state event, they must win the next two games – starting with Monday’s affair.
Last Time Out
Barren County beat Warren Central, 58-44, in the 4th Region Quarterfinals & Clinton County defeated Logan County, 87-64, in the 4th Region Quarterfinals
Last Meeting – February 14, 2025
Of Clinton County’s 29 wins, none were closer than a 50-48 home victory over Barren County in mid-February. The Bulldogs led throughout the entirety of the game, but the Trojans hung around and had a chance to win with a last-second three-pointer. Clinton’s Cannon Young led the way with 15 points and six rebounds, while Nick Poore chipped in 10 points and eight rebounds in the victory. Barren’s Tate Spillman had a game-high 22 points (with three made three-pointers), and Jackson Reece added 13.As in the William Beaty led all scorers with 21 points, including a barrage of three-pointers in the first half.
In last month’s meeting, Clinton was held without a three-pointer (0/8 in total). Should Barren be able to hold the Bulldogs to a similar clip in Monday’s matchup, it would certainly have a strong chance to advance. Barren also found success using its post players – Joshua Decker and Gavin Nunn – against Warren Central’s post players in the opening round. Will they seek to disrupt the Bulldog bigs in similar fashion
What to watch for
At 29-2 and ranked among the state’s elite for a large part of the season, Clinton County is rightfully favored to advance to the title game. However, as we saw last month and in their quarterfinal win over reigning champion Warren Central, the Trojans will not back down to anyone.As in the first meeting, the game will likely be won in the halfcourt. In the second half of that game, Clinton County executed its zone offense to near perfection, using Young as passer at the high post & as a decoy in the short corner.
Poore and Drew Davis knocked down big shots to help secure the win. As for Barren County, it found success once it was able to get past the initial wave of Clinton County’s multi-faceted trapping – finding open three-pointers for Spillman and Reece. Coach Warren Cunningham’s club used this effective ball movement in its win over Central as well, a recipe for success which allowed them to blow the game open with timely shot making.
As in the first meeting, the game will likely be won in the halfcourt. In the second half of that game, Clinton County executed its zone offense to near perfection, using Young as passer at the high post & as a decoy in the short corner. Poore and Drew Davis knocked down big shots to help secure the win. As for Barren County, it found success once it was able to get past the initial wave of Clinton County’s multi-faceted trapping – finding open three-pointers for Spillman and Reece. Coach Warren Cunningham’s club used this effective ball movement in its win over Central as well, a recipe for success which allowed them to blow the game open with timely shot making.
Anyone that watched Clinton-Logan in the region quarterfinals saw how deadly the Bulldogs were from beyond the arc. William Beaty led all scorers with 21 points, including a barrage of three-pointers in the first half. In last month’s meeting, Clinton was held without a three-pointer (0/8 in total). Should Barren be able to hold the Bulldogs to a similar clip in Monday’s matchup, it would certainly have a strong chance to advance. Barren also found success using its post players – Joshua Decker and Gavin Nunn – against Warren Central’s post players in the opening round. Will they seek to disrupt the Bulldog bigs in similar fashion?
Prediction
With the state tournament being delayed until the final week of March, it sets up an odd scheduling quirk which gives both teams a full week break between the region quarterfinals and semifinals. After electrifying wins in the opening round, will either team come out flat in this game?
I predict the Trojans will take an early lead in the semifinal – just as they did against the Dragons. Against Warren Central, Barren denied Ant McAfee the ball for the entirety of the game. Will they look to attack Clinton the same way? The Bulldogs put six in double figures against the Cougars and are capable of having any of their top six go off on any night. Therefore in the end, I think this is truly a coin flip game.
Stat to Know – 65
Clinton County has yet to allow 65 points in a single game this season
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