By Larry Fleming
Numbers tell the story.
In 2008-09, Northwest Whit-field’s girls basketball team won 28 of 31 games to tie a school record, went 14-0 in Region 7-4A and didn’t see the end of the season until Southwest DeKalb ousted the Lady Bruins in the Class 4A state quarterfinals — and coach Margaret Stockburger has 10 upperclassmen returning from last year’s squad.
“We were very successful last season,” Stockburger said. “But we didn’t have as much success as we wanted. Nobody does unless you win a state championship. We had a little outing last weekend and talked about our goals. We want to win region again and go as far as possible in the state tournament. If it’s all the way, that would be wonderful, too.”
The Lady Bruins open their season against Loganville at 6 p.m. Saturday in Lilburn at Parkview High’s Thanksgiving tournament.
Coach Ryan Richards’ Bruins, who pull the trigger on their season against Heritage-Catoosa at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in Ridgeland’s Thanksgiving tournament, missed the state tourney last season with a 33-31 loss to Sprayberry in the region tourney. The Bruins are hoping to get back into the postseason with a taller lineup that will only get better if a player — or players — steps up to fill the scoring void left by Tanner Reno’s graduation.
Once again — it will be their last time together at Northwest — the Twin Towers of 6-foot-4-inch junior Quaneisha McCurty and 6-3 senior Christy Robinson, the two most recent Daily Citizen All-Area Players of the Year, will be a big part of the Lady Bruins’ drive toward another shot at a state title.
They are forces on both ends of the court. McCurty averaged 13.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, blocked 79 shots and had eight double-doubles — all team-high totals — as a sophomore to earn player of the year honors. Robinson, the 2007-08 player of the year, averaged 8.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and blocked 50 shots as a junior. She recently signed a basketball scholarship with Samford University in Birmingham, Ala.
“Their skill levels have gotten better,” Stockburger said. “Their range of shooting has moved out some and they’ve gotten stronger, which will help them on both ends of the court. And they’re both a little quicker.”
Stockburger’s top 10 players are all back from last season’s squad. The Lady Bruins lost only seniors Callie Thomas and Jasmine Thornton.
Baleigh Coley, a point guard who has signed with Columbus State University, was also an All-Area selection after last season and her floor general skills were a vital part of the team’s success a year ago.
Emily Trew and Jordi Cook, both guards, will be back in action, as are Tori Clemmons and Kelsey Kirk, Summer Jackson, Sydney Roberts and Kayla Piorkowski.
“I have six seniors and four juniors back from last year’s team and that’s probably the biggest number I’ve had in a long time,” Stockburger said. “Those 10 will be a big part of what success we have this season. We’ll also be dressing four sophomores — Taylor Baker, Marissa Fraire, Brook Everett and Carley Fetzer.”
Richards’ main objective, at least early in the season, is to find an outside shot artist to replace Reno, who took his school record 77 3-point shots made to Reinhardt College.
“That could fall on several players to replace Tanner,” Richards said. “Alex Thames could step into that role. Jarrett Bruce, Ryan Logan and Baker Chiddister might be the ones. It could be by committee.”
One aspect about the Bruins that will be different from a year ago is overall height. This year’s players are simply bigger, the coach said.
“We may start a lineup that’s 6-1 (Logan), 6-2 (Thames), 6-3 (Chiddister), 6-4 (Michael Kelly) and 6-5 (Nermin Delic), and that’s by bar the biggest lineup we’ve ever had” Richards said. “Four years in the weight room for these guys have paid off. It’s a size advantage we haven’t had. We maybe lost some speed, but we definitely gained height.”
Bruce, Connor Jones and Lance Andrews also will push for playing time and Richards expects that the lineup will fluctuate throughout the season.
Richards is applauding the perseverance of Deon Washington, the seventh senior on this year’s roster. Washington was cut from the team three straight years, but now has blossomed into a “fine athlete,” Richards said.
“He’s filled out and gotten stronger,” the coach said. “When people watch him, they’re probably going to wonder what we were thinking the last three years. His dedication has been great and all we can say is he’s a late bloomer.”
The Bruins went 17-7 last season and know an 18th win would have sent them to state.
“We want to get back to the state tournament,” Richards said. “And we want to advance in the state. Every day we go on the floor, we’re working for that.”
Last season when opposing teams had success shutting down Reno, it was sometimes difficult for the Bruins to score. Richards doesn’t see that happening this season.
“We’ve got several guys who can put the ball in the hole this year,” he said.
