Northwest fans faithful to end

DALTON — Even though they stumbled in the championship game, Northwest Whitfield’s fans still felt their varsity girls basketball team was a winner.

“I feel like winning and losing is just a title,” said Paige Henderson, 17, after the Class 4A tilt was won by Southwest DeKalb, 65-45. “I feel like our girls, in their hearts, they won this season. They had a great season, and at least we made it to the state championship.”

Bruce Haggard, who has followed the Lady Bruins all season, was also stoic.

“It was a game of quickness, and Southwest DeKalb is a very good team,” he said. “That’s tough to overcome sometimes, and that quickness took our shot away from us. Northwest had a great season, and they can be proud.”

And the fans were also mighty proud. Obviously outnumbering the Lady Panthers’ fan contingent by at least a 3-to-1 factor, Northwest packed one side and part of the ends of the expansive Gwinnett Center in Duluth. Many of their number — especially in the student section — stood the entire game, waiting for the girls to climb out of an early 14-0 hole in the first quarter.

It didn’t happen, but the spirit in the stands to do so was willing.

“I’m a former player, and I always support this group,” said Liz Dennis. “I’ve known Jordan (Cook), Baleigh (Coley) and Emily Trew since they were six years old. Margaret’s (Stockburger) done a great job with them, and she’s a good motivator.”

Drew White, 16, said he came “to watch the girls win state.”

“We’ve probably got a lot more student support,” he said. “I think it helps a lot when they’re out there on the court.”

Bus driver Reece Horne handled transportation honors and said the girls were “laid back and relaxing” on the ride down to Duluth. Asked if he gave any advice, he replied, “I just told them, ‘Get ‘em, Bruins!’ That’s it.”

Bill Smith said he’s watched the team a lot in the past month.

“Their preparation is unbelievable,” he said. “From my perspective this has been the best-coached team and these girls have been the most disciplined. They are the most disciplined team out there that I’ve seen.”

Sarah Thomas, 14, played on the freshman team.

“They’re fun to watch,” she said. “We practiced with them at the beginning of the year, and they were really helpful.”

Principal Carolyn Towns looked at more than 1,000 fans in attendance before tipoff and declared, “What can I say? What an exciting day! We had a pep rally this morning, and some eighth-graders visited and had a great time. We brought 180 kids on buses, and 300 to 400 more drove or came with their parents. We had 55 faculty or staff to come, and I’m thankful the (school system administration) gave us coverage for that in the classroom.”

Whitfield County Commissioner Harold Brooker was spotted coming into the game and said in a prophetic aside, “Our girls need a lot of help right now.”

By half-time, the blue-and-orange squad was down by 11, and fans were giving their analyses of what it would take to climb back.

“We’re going to have to be a lot more aggressive, and we have to get inside and rebound more,” said Bill Moore. “But I think the crowd can pull us through, oh yeah.”

Stephen Vess said the team was “a little nervous” at half-time.

“I can tell you we’re nervous,” he added. “I had to come out and get a Coke. But they’re a third-quarter team, and I hope they come out OK.”

Teacher Shannon Blanchard noted the girls were “a little frustrated, but I think they’re fighting and are going to get back into it.”

But the Southwest DeKalb gang actually began to pull away after intermission. However, it didn’t stop the Northwest faithful from staying to the end to see the girls accept their runner-up trophy.

“They worked hard, and deserved first in my opinion,” said diehard fan Evan Bates, 17.

“I didn’t feel like they played as well as they could have,” said Connie Mastin. “But the other team was tough.”

Her husband, Zenas Mastin, echoed the theme.

“We got behind early and couldn’t catch up,” he said. “It was a more physical game than they’re used to.”

Connie Mastin concluded, “But they’re a great team — the best we’ve had in many years.”

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