After a 16-15 season that ended with deep postseason runs in both the regional and district tournaments, the Clay County Lady Bulldogs are looking to turn that late spark into a new flame.
Bulldogs Head Coach Matt Walker returns alongside a host of upperclassmen and 11 total returning players. Walker said he enters the year with optimism and experience, two things he has worked on over the off-season.
“Obviously, try to work skill, the early part of the summer before the camp starts,” Walker said. “Once the camp starts, you’re really playing and try to build the team chemistry and try to find your identity as a team.”
Walker said the chemistry could become a key weapon for a program that surged late last season. The Bulldogs caught fire in the postseason, winning four playoff games in less than two weeks to reach both the District 7A and Region 4A championship games.
“You don’t get individual banners,” Walker said. “You get that by your teamwork and how much your teammates achieve. But they know they don’t want to be the number one individual and do it all. They know how important it is to have good teammates.”
Walker said he looks to maintain defense and depth, giving him the flexibility to press opponents, push tempo, and keep the energy high.
“Depth will work itself out through conditioning,” Walker said. “They can play themselves into a role or they can play themselves out of a role.”
Clay County will open the season November 20 at home against Watertown. Walker said he looks to use the early part of the schedule to get an idea for how much stamina and chemistry the Bulldogs can maintain.
