Clay’s Ashlock Serves As Tone-Setter For Bulldogs

The Clay County Bulldogs are currently sitting at 6-1 and have enjoyed a lot of success early in the 2019-20 season, but if you ask the players, they really want to improve their defense.

Head Coach Rob Edwards echoes the same sentiment.

“You can never be too good on defense and we’ve never beaten anyone 100-0,” Edwards said. “We always try to work on defense everyday, and we try to get better individually and team-wise.”

One player that really helps in that regard in Senior center Jake Ashlock. One of the few players one might classify as a true center, Ashlock has made his name in being a physical presence in the paint and on the glass. That physicality transitions over to the defensive end, where Edwards believes that Ashlock has to be a tone-setter in order for his team to improve.

“He has to be the tone; obviously, he’s our biggest and strongest guy,” Edwards said. “He’s a senior and a three-year starter, so he’s the guy that everyone looks to to set and lead by example.”

Ashlock scored his 1,000th point on Dec.11 against Gordonsville, and his coach said he’s enjoyed coaching him.

“For me, it’s been a pleasure to coach him,” Edwards said. “He’s a good basketball player and a good all-around athlete. He’s a good student in the classroom, and he’s just one of those kids that you enjoy having the opportunity to coach.”

Ashlock and the Bulldogs will be back in action on Dec. 17, when they take on Payton West and the Monterey Wildcats.