Bulldogs Fall In District Tournament Second Round
Samuel Warren
Herald Staff
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The Burgin Bulldogs postseason run came to an end on Wednesday, Feb. 26, in a 69-18 loss to the Mercer County Titans in the 46th District Tournament second round. Typically a first round win guarantees a spot in the 12th Region Tournament, but since the inclusion of Trinity Christian into the 46th District three years ago, it takes two wins, unless awarded a bye. Two days prior to the Bulldogs’ loss to Mercer, Burgin defeated Trinity in the postseason for the first time in the school’s history, and earned their first district tournament win in 39 seasons.
J.T. Boswell led the Bulldogs to the historic victory. The only senior to feature in the game for the Bulldogs, and much of the season, Boswell was determined to make history in what could have been his final game in a Burgin jersey. He shot 7/9 from inside the arc, 3/9 from deep and 2/2 from the charity stripe on his way to a team-high and season-high 25 points. Boswell was named to the 46th District All-Tournament Team for his efforts.
Burgin senior J.T. Boswell was selected to the 46th District All-Tournament team for his 25-point performance in a win over Trinity Christian.
“It was really awesome to be a part of that moment. Feels pretty amazing. Our whole team played well, and it was just a fun game. [It] made all the practicing worth it,” said Boswell.
Micah Mayes, Landen Sexton and Hudson Taylor combined for 39 points in the win, and Casey Dodson was a force to be reckoned with in the paint. The junior grabbed 10 rebounds and assisted five baskets; he and Sexton displayed a physicality and willingness to lead that will help the Bulldogs tremendously in their senior campaign. It was an all-around encouraging performance for Bulldog Head Coach Todd Claunch, who says he was a fan throughout the game.
“Seeing it all come together was beautiful. We made two adjustments on the bench for that game, other than what we have wanted to do all season, one was to press, and the other was to put Micah (Mayes) at the front of that press. Other than that it was the boys executing brilliantly, playing team ball,” said Claunch. “Those that came off the bench did exactly what they had been asked to do in that situation. I literally never made an adjustment from the bench. Hudson (Taylor) made a call from the floor to go back to the press in the second half, when we got a little flat, and it was the perfect call. I was just a fan. It was truly, as a coach, a beautiful thing to watch!”
The 2024-2025 Bulldogs won one more game than the squad from a year ago. The Bulldogs’ seven wins ties the mark set in Claunch’s first season three years ago, and tied for the most since the 2018-2019 Bulldogs, who went 20-9 under Don Irvine.
