LED ALL SCORERS WITH 28 POINTS.
BARREN COUNTY GIRLS STOP CCHS, 62-23, EXTEND WIN STREAK TO 12 GAMES
GLASGOW — Barren County High School’s boys basketball team stayed within striking distance.
The Trojans even had KHSAA 4th Region contender Clinton County on the ropes.
But the Bulldogs had the equalizer, senior forward Jaxson Mason, and the visitors from Albany used their mojo to pull away for a hard-fought, 59-49 victory over the Trojans on Friday night at the BCHS gym.
The 6-foot-5, 210-pound Mason, who doubles as the quarterback for the Bulldogs’ football team, finished with a game-high 28 points as Clinton County bounced back from a tough 53-51 loss to Somerset on Thursday night in Albany.
Clinton County improved to 20-4 overall, and the Bulldogs rank second to Warren Central (19-3 overall) among KHSAA 4th Region schools in the RPI formula.
Clinton County coach Nick Irwin said he knew his team would have their hands full with the Trojans, who had won five of their previous six games. Barren County coach Warren Cunningham watched his team fall behind, 17-7, in the first quarter, but the Trojans regrouped on defense and even had a shot at taking the lead early in the fourth quarter.
The 3-pointer was off the mark, however, and Mason scored back-to-back baskets to keep the Trojans at arm’s length the rest of the way.
OPERATES ON THE PERIMETER.
CONTROLS THE OPENING TIP-OFF …
WILL BEATTY SCORES
IN THE OPENING SECONDS …
FINDS A TRIPLE-TEAM ON THE BASELINE.
“Warren is the master of the matchup zone,” Irwin said. “His teams always present a big challenge. All the credit to my guys … We had a tough loss to Somerset (on Thursday night), and they really responded tonight.”
Barren County’s Cameron Pippen came off the bench to hit some key 3 pointers, and he led the Trojans with 14 points. BCHS teammates Kade Hardy, Weston Shelton and Jaxson Byrd all finished with eight points. Byrd also turned in a strong defensive effort, and the Trojans will be a team to watch in the KHSAA 15th District Tournament later this month at Glasgow High School.
Clinton County’s Cade Button, a transfer from Metcalfe County, has only been playing with the Bulldogs for a matter of days, but he gives the Bulldogs additional quickness in the backcourt, as well as a deft jump shot. Button and CCHS teammates Chase Harmon and Will Beatty all finished with eight points.
Beatty caught the game’s opening tap from teammate Jaxson Mason and immediately scored on a layup. Beatty added an open 3-pointer to make it 5-0, at which point Barren County used its first timeout to map out its defensive strategy.
Ultimately, though, it was Mason’s night.
“Jaxson sees the floor really well and he’s a good passer,” CCHS coach Nick Irvin said. “We go as he goes, to be honest with you.”
AND THE BULLDOGS
NEVER TRAILED IN THE GAME.
PLAY HOST TO GREENWOOD ON MONDAY.
ARE A TEAM TO WATCH IN THE 4th REGION.
Mason and the Bulldogs have three more non-district games, starting with a road trip on Monday to McCreary County, before they play host to the KHSAA’s 16th District Tournament. Clinton County reached the KHSAA 4th Region championship game last year, only to fall to Bowling Green High School, 66-59.
Bowling Green went on to finish as the KHSAA Sweet 16 runner-up, losing to UK recruit Malachi Moreno and Great Crossing High School, 71-61.
“It’s all starting to come together,” Mason said.
Barren County plays host to Greenwood on Monday night.
WASTED LITTLE TIME IN TAKING CONTROL …
ADDY SLAGLE LED HER
TEAM WITH 17 POINTS.
BARREN COUNTY GIRLS 62, CLINTON COUNTY 23
Barren County left nothing to chance, shutting down the Lady Bulldogs on the defensive end of the floor and putting the game out of reach before halftime.
A KHSAA-mandated running clock was implemented midway through the third quarter, as the Trojanettes improved to 24-2 overall. Barren County also has gone 16-1 against 4th Region opponents, with the only loss coming to Franklin-Simpson in a holiday tournament at South Warren High School in December.
“I think we’re sharing the ball really well,” Barren County coach Piper Lindsey said, “and doing a good job of spreading the floor and making the extra pass. We’ve been able to take care of the ball this year and that’s helped us in the long run.”
Barren County has been a team to watch in the KHSAA’s 4th Region for decades, but the Trojanettes are looking for their first trip to the Sweet 16 since 2019.
Franklin-Simpson upended the Trojanettes in the 4th Region semifinals last year, 41-29, on its way to the Sweet 16.
Sophomore guard Addy Slagle led the Trojanettes with 16 points, while teammate Mahalia Burton, also a sophomore, finished with 14.
Nine Barren County players got into the scoring column. The Trojanettes will play host to Greenwood on Monday night.
HAS GUIDED THE TROJANETTES
TO 12 CONSECUTIVE VICTORIES.
AND BARREN COUNTY
ARE 24-2 ON THE SEASON.
WAS RECOGNIZED FOR SCORING 1,000 CAREER POINTS.
