Caldwell County shook off a slow start to beat Dawson Springs 75-58 Monday and clinch the number three seed in the Seventh District Basketball Tournament.
Austin Clark scored 15 of his 21 points in the first half as the Panthers built a 25-22 lead after one quarter. Caldwell used a 12-3 run in the second quarter as John Davis scored nine points to lead the Tiger surge.
Caldwell led 39-34 at halftime, but Dawson scored the first four points of the second half to draw within 39-38. Dawson didn’t take the lead, and Caldwell was able to hold them off the rest of the way.
Any chance at chipping into the Caldwell lead was hurt by Dawson Springs’s 15-of-27 shooting at the free throw line. Caldwell, meanwhile, hit 13-of-20 free throws in the fourth quarter and 23-of-33 for the game.
Davis finished the game with 18 points for the Tigers. Cayden Fraliex added 18 points, and Derrin Boyd scored 14 of his game-high 24 points in the fourth quarter.
Clark led Dawson Springs (7-15) with 21 points, and Braxten Cotton added 20 points.
Caldwell County (10-12) will host Crittenden County Tuesday night.