Larry Fleming
larryfleming@daltoncitizen.com
DULUTH — Northwest Whitfield’s Lady Bruins have seen this kind of shooting from teammate Jordi Cook before.
So they weren’t surprised at all when Cook torched Dutchtown for a career-high 27 points.
“Me and Jordi have this thing,” 6-foot-5-inch post Quaneisha McCurty said after the Lady Bruins routed Dutchtown 75-56 on Wednesday to reach the Class 4A state championship game.
“If they collapse on me and (6-3 post Christy Robinson), we figure she’ll shoot lights out from the outside,” McCurty said.
Cook practically flipped the switch off on Dutchtown, piling up 21 of Northwest’s 48 second-half points. The senior made 7 of 9 3-pointers in the game, including 5 of 6 in the second half.
Wasn’t that amazing?
“Not really,” McCurty said. “Jordi can shoot off the dribble or just standing out there. She’s really tough with the ball in her hands.”
McCurty and Robinson combined for 28 points — McCurty had 19 — against the Lady Bulldogs. McCurty also pulled down 11 rebounds.
“We’re never amazed by what Jordi can do because she’s such a wonderful shooter,” Robinson said. “When she gets a shot off, we’d bet money it’s going in.”
For a majority of the game and practically all of the second half, Cook was in a scoring duel with Dutchtown’s Brittney Strickland, who led all scorers with 29 points.
It was such an intense battle that Cook didn’t know how many points she had until after the game.
“I knew (Strickland) was a great player having a great game,” Cook said. “I didn’t really know I had 27 points until (Lady Bruins coach Margaret Stockburger) told me in the locker room. But that was probably my best shooting game.”
While Cook created a lot of the buzz, the Lady Bruins collectively had one eye on Wednesday’s overriding accomplishment. They’re in the state championship game for only the second time in school’s 35-year history.
In March 1990, Northwest played Hart County in the Class 3A title game at Georgia Tech’s Alexander Memorial Coliseum and lost 59-49 when Stockburger was an assistant on Ron Wheeler’s staff.
“I’m speechless,” said Stockburger, who stayed at the Arena at Gwinnett Center to scout Southwest DeKalb and Forest Park in the other semifinal. “I’m so proud of the girls and I’m humbled to be in the championship game.”
It was Northwest’s fifth straight victory since a 53-41 loss to Hillgrove in the Region 7-4A semifinals. Northwest was seeded No. 1 for the region tourney after going undefeated in league play during the regular season, but was denied a chance to repeat as region champions.
The Lady Bruins have used that setback to their advantage to get within one win of the school’s first state basketball championship.
“We’ve been motivated ever since that loss,” Robinson said. “I’m so proud of everyone and we stand behind each other. It’s amazing that all our hard work all these years has paid off.
“But we’ve got one more game to play.”
Northwest football coach and athletic director Mike Falleur hugged Stockburger shortly after the game and praised the veteran coach.
“Margaret runs such a great program,” he said. “To get to this point is an outstanding job on her part and we’ve got such a great group of girls.”
