By THOMAS P. WEAVER

HORIZON Editor

CELINA-After both the Clay County High School boys and girls basketball teams graduated the majority of their starters from last season’s sub-state squads, one might think their 2019-2020 campaigns would serve as rebuilding years.

Instead, with a wealth of young talent poised to fill the void left behind by of one of the best classes ever to don the black and gold, this season may be better characterized as a reload for both the Bulldog and Lady Bulldog teams.

“I think so,” Lady Dawg head coach Matt Walker said when asked about the term reload being a better description than the word rebuild.  “We lost more seniors than anybody, but the young talent is there and I’m excited about the season.”

Veteran Bulldog head coach Rob Edwards also agreed, but he was a bit cautious with his response.

“I guess you could call it that,” he said.  “I don’t know if we’ve ever been in a position where we’ve graduated so many and the next year the expectations were just as high.

“We’re going to have some tests along the way for us to see how good the reload is going to look and there’s going to be some misfires I’m sure.  We will just have to see how it goes when the popcorn starts popping and they toss it up.”

After winning both the District 6-A and Region 4-A titles last season, before being upset in the sectional round and finishing with a 32-3 record, Edwards’ Dawgs are picked to repeat as conference champs this year, despite losing seven seniors—four of which included starters Landon Woodcock, Gavin Silk, Heath Kimes, and B.J. Emberton.

Walker’s girls team, which is picked to finish fourth in the district, just graduated three, but they were all starters and included the top two Lady Dawg scorers of all-time—Kenzie Arms and Taylor Strong.

Their offensive efforts, combined with the play of defensive specialist Maddy Harlan, led the team to both a district and region runner-up finish and their second-straight sectional contest, which they lost on a buzzer-beater to record a 27-9 overall mark.

Lady Dawgs

The Lady Bulldogs are looking to build on their predecessors’ example with a centerpiece duo of returning starters, a lone senior, and a mix of talented youth.

Juniors Rachel Copass and Katie Arms will lead the group as the only returning starters, while senior Kelcee Rhoton and a stable of underclassmen will play major roles.

“Those two are definitely a good base to start with and both of them had big individual games at times last season,” Walker said of his pair of starters who have two years remaining, “and Kelcee is a really great example for the younger girls to look up to.

“If everybody played with her heart and her intelligence, they’d have a chance to play a lot as well.”

Another focal point of Walker’s team will come in the form of starting freshman Briley Burchett, who has made an immediate impact on the squad.

“I’m pretty excited by what I’ve seen so far,” Walker said of the rookie post player.  “She’s got a great skill set for a freshman and I hope to see it continue to improve and grow.”

Copass, Arms, and Burchett will be joined in the starting lineup by what Walker described as “a mix” of Rhoton, junior Marlee Ashlock, and sophomores Eliza Jenkins and Lauren Weaver.

“Every year is different in terms of fitting a team together,” the fourth-year coach said.  “It may not be a consistent five on a night-to-night basis, based on how they are performing.

“The rotation is going to be ever-evolving, because they’ve all got their own strengths and they’ve all got their own weaknesses.  It’s just going to be a big mix of them all to get the right production.”

Walker will also have a deep bench to pull from when he needs it with junior Hannah Raines, sophomores Zoe Hayes and Cherokee Upton, and freshmen Abby Head and Isabella Hale at the ready.

“With what we’ve lost and the talent we have throughout, there’s definitely a spot for several different girls to come in and contribute,” he said, “and each girl off the bench brings something different.”

Girls team at a glance

2018-19 RECORD:  27-9, finished as both the District 6-A and Region 4-A runners-up.  The Lady Bulldogs lost in the sectional (sub-state) round of 16 at Eagleville.

COACHING:  Walker is in his 4th season, has a 66-35 overall record, and is assisted by Mark Ashlock and Andrew Meadows

STARTING LINEUP:   Rachel Copass (Jr.-PG, 7.7 ppg, 4 rpg, 4.7 apg), Katie Arms (Jr.-G, 7.6 ppg, 4 rpg, 1.8 apg), Briley Burchett (Fr.-F), and a mix of Kelcee Rhoton (Sr.-G), Marlee Ashlock (Jr.-F), Eliza Jenkins (So.-G), and Lauren Weaver (So.-F).

KEY RESERVES:  Hannah Raines (Jr.-F), Zoe Hayes (So.-G), Cherokee Upton (So.-G), Abby Head (Fr.-G), and Isabella Hale (Fr.-F).

SYTLE OF PLAY:  “We want to be a tough and aggressive, defensive-first team that shares the ball,” Walker said.

KEYS TO SUCCESS:  “The development of our younger players will be key,” Walker said.  “We have several players in new roles and, with so many young players getting minutes, they must be able to fit in with different lineups.”

PRESEASON PICKS:  Clarkrange (#1), Pickett County (#2), Red Boiling Springs (#3), Clay County (#4), Gordonsville (#5), Jackson County (#6), Trousdale County (#7), and Monterey (#8).

6-A TEAMS TO BEAT:  Clarkrange who “has been the #1 team the last two years” and “returns their top players,” Walker said, along with Pickett County and Red Boiling Springs, who “return the most.”

Bulldogs

The Dawgs only return one starter from last year’s impressive squad, but senior Jake Ashlock is the perfect centerpiece to build a team around.

“He has embraced the leadership role, took it on his shoulders, and these other guys believe in him,” Edwards, who is heading into his 20th year at the helm, said of Ashlock.  “Last year he was mostly a facilitator, but now he is going to have to step up and be that guy.”

Ashlock’s classmate Mason Sharp has seen significant time off the bench in the past, but he will join the starting lineup this season as one of few players with experience.

“He’s not going to sneak up on anybody anymore,” Edwards said of his knock-down shooter.  “We are going to have to do some things to create shots for him and he’s got to create for himself, because he’s going to draw attention out there.”

Junior Gunnar Silk and sophomores Grant Strong and Jeffery Spivey will fill out the starting lineup and bring a wide array of talents.

“Gunnar is going to be our number-one defender and guard the other team’s best player every night, but he can score and facilitate too,” Edwards explained.  “And besides Jake’s scoring, I think Grant is going to carry a lot of the load, and Jeff is going to have to make some shots for us like Mason.”

Sophomore Eli Smith and three freshman—Alec Kerr, Keaton Arms, and John Hamilton—will fill out the short list of Edwards’ bench players ready to see action.

“Eli is another guy that can guard, Alec is about the same, and both of them are pretty good offensive players,” the coach said.  “Keaton is injured now, but he’s going to play a big role for us as another guy with some size and length inside, but right now its been John and he’s been doing a good job learning how to play at this level.”

Boys team at a glance

2018-19 RECORD:  32-3, won both the District 6-A and Region 4-A Championship and did not lose a conference game.  The Bulldogs lost in the sectional round at home to Fayetteville.

COACHING:  Edwards is in his 20th season, has a 418-185 overall record (293-93 at CCHS), and is assisted by Matt Walker, Andrew Meadows, and Josh Jenkins.

STARTING LINEUP:  Jake Ashlock (Sr.-F, 11.3 ppg, 8 rpg), Mason Sharp (Sr.-G, 4.7 ppg), Gunnar Silk (Jr.-PG), Grant Strong (So.-G), and Jeffery Spivey (So.-F).

KEY RESERVES:  Eli Smith (So.-G), Alec Kerr (Fr.-G), Keaton Arms (Fr.-F), and John Hamilton (Fr.-F).

SYTLE OF PLAY:  “It will be based on who our opponent is,” Edwards said.  “If we play somebody we can press and trap, we will.  If we play somebody with an experienced backcourt, we won’t.  It will be multiple styles, but we are still going to get the ball down the floor quick and run some sets too.”

KEYS TO SUCCESS:  “Development of depth,” Edwards said.

PRESEASON PICKS:  Clay County (#1), Monterey (#2), Red Boiling Springs (#2), Gordonsville and Pickett County (#4-tie), Trousdale County (#6), Jackson County (#7), and Clarkrange (#8).

6-A TEAMS TO BEAT:  Monterey, which “returns an experienced backcourt, plus a transfer guard from Livingston,” Edwards said, along with Red Boiling Springs—led by Missouri Western signee Dalton Marsh, and Gordonsvile, which returns “the core” of their starting lineup.