After watching Micah Landers roam the sidelines for the last 13 seasons, the Cornersville Lady Bulldogs will start a new era on the hardwood this Fall under first-year coach Peyton Newton.

During Landers' tenure at CHS, the Lady Bulldogs won five regular season District 11-A titles, four District tournament championships, and the Region 6-A tournament crown in 2009 en route to earning the program's lone State tournament berth.

Building bonds

While Newton believes he is walking into a good situation, he knows there will be some pressure in succeeding Landers, who left Cornersville to become the assistant principal at Richland.

"The girls loved coach Landers and he was like a second dad to some of them, but the connections we're making are getting stronger. We're growing together and building those bonds," said Newton. "There is definitely some pressure to succeed here and succeed early because of what coach Landers did here."

Last season the Lady Bulldogs captured their fifth straight regular season District championship when they shared the title with Richland. CHS then came in second in the District tournament before being knocked out of the Region tourney in the first round by Loretto to finish the 2013-14 campaign with a 19-9 record.

Reliable returnees

Although the Lady Bulldogs lost three All-District performers from last year's squad in Kaitlyn Rogers, Kaleigh Welch, and Brittany Umbles, Newton has two reliable players to build around in senior shooting guard Brooke Holt and junior center Ashley Umbles.

Holt has been a good outside shooter throughout her career, but has improved her ball handling skills and has the ability to take the ball to the basket. She has become a better defensive player and has evolved into one of the team's leaders this season.

"Brooke has taken a leadership role this year. When things start going wrong during practice, she's stepped up and taken charge," said Newton.

Having garnered All-District tournament honors as a freshman, Umbles is the Lady Bulldogs' leading returning scorer and is expected to shoulder an even greater offensive load this year. Along with possessing a good low post game, Umbles can also face up defenders on the perimeter and knock down open jumpers.

"Ashley has a ton of potential. She has great hands and can finish around the rim. She's also long and will be a good shot blocker for us. She and Brooke will be the center of our offense," said Newton.

Perimeter

Joining Holt on the perimeter will be junior point guard Breanne Dunkleman and junior forward Britton Stewart, who both saw time as reserves last season. Dunkleman plays extremely hard and is a strong one-on-one defender and rebounder. She has become a better ball handler as well and has started to show more leadership skills. After playing in the post the first two years of her CHS career, Stewart is still adapting to the wing position, but is solid shooter and a willing rebounder.

Senior Haley Stacey will likely start at the other post position after serving as Cornersville's primary reserve last year. Stacey has a nice midrange jumper and has become a better scorer on the low block.

Junior guard Kelsey Wortham, sophomore forward Carson Coble, and freshman point guard Madison Hopkins are expected to be the first players to come off the bench for the Lady Bulldogs. Wortham and Coble are both solid shooters and defenders that are willing to mix it up, while Hopkins is one of the more athletic players on the team and has shown an advanced skill set for her age.

Others' chances

Freshman power forward Samantha Prosser also has a chance to work herself into the rotation. Prosser has good quickness and can finish down low, but needs to gain more experience at the high school level.

Hope Taylor (Soph.), Brooke Defoe (Fr.), Kennedy Wilson (Fr.), Carly Salsman (Fr.), Taylor Chunn (Fr.), and Bethann Oberlander are working hard as well to earn time on the court.

Despite having to replace three starters in the lineup, Cornersville should once again be one of the favorites to capture the District crown.

"With everything being new, I will happily take some lumps early if we can learn some lessons that we can bring into the District and Region tournaments," said Newton. "As long as we continue to improve, I would like to contend for the District title and win a first round Region tournament game."

Hopefully it will be business as usual for the Lady Bulldogs during the 2013-14 campaign.

Cornersville Lady Bulldogs 2013-14 basketball roster

Number Name Class

1 Madison Hopkins Fr.

3 Brooke Holt Sr.

10 Breanne Dunkleman Jr.

11 Brooke Defoe Fr.

12 Taylor Chunn Fr.

15 Ashley Umbles Jr.

20 Carly Salsman Fr.

21 Hope Taylor Soph.

22 Kelsey Wortham Jr.

25 Britton Stewart Jr.

33 Carson Coble Soph.

34 Haley Stacey Sr.

40 Kennedy Wilson Fr.

42 Samantha Prosser Fr.

44 Bethann Oberlander Fr.