Preview: Northwest turns page after blowout loss

Published 10:25 pm Sunday, November 18, 2007

A new beginning can wipe out the memory of a bad loss that ended Northwest Whitfield’s 2006-07 girls basketball season.

Last February in Atlanta, the Lady Bruins were routed by St. Pius X, 66-20, to cap a 16-12 season that saw Northwest lose its final three games by a combined 76 points.

That won’t matter on Tuesday when the Lady Bruins open their 2007-08 season against Gordon Lee in the Dade County tournament in Trenton.

“It’s a new year coming up,” veteran Northwest coach Margaret Stockburger said. “The girls are excited about this season and don’t want to rehash anything that happened last year. Actually, I think once we started summer workouts they had pretty much forgotten all about getting beat that bad in our last game.”

One thing that probably helped put the St. Pius loss in the far recesses of their minds, is the fact the Lady Bruins were humbled by the eventual Class 4A state champions. In fact, St. Pius has won two consecutive titles.

Now on the Lady Bruins’ front burner is the question of who is ready to replace the 11 points and 10.6 rebounds that 6-foot-1 Samantha Avery took with her to Hiwassee Community College in Madisonville, Tenn.

While it’s a tall order, sophomore Christy Robinson will be counted on to get close to those numbers Avery put up last season.

Robinson, a standout volleyball player as well, has grown a couple of inches and, at 6-foot-3, is the tallest player Stockburger has coached.

That was until freshman Quaneisha McCurty transferred to Northwest from Chattanooga Tyner. McCurty is 6-foot-5.

“Christy,” Stockburger said, “is going to move in there to take care of Sam’s position. Christy had a great summer. We’re still trying to figure out where Quaneisha best fits. She has done a good job in preseason, but she’s still trying to get used to the system.”

Senior leadership will come from Bethany McArthur, who has signed with Lee University in Cleveland, Tenn., and Caitie Trew, who has committed to Martin Methodist College in Pulaski, Tenn.

McArthur, who averaged nine points and five assists as a junior, will play at point guard. Trew averaged seven points, four rebounds and two assists last season.

Juniors Callie Thomas, The Daily Citizen’s All-Area Softball Team Player of the Year, and Jasmine Thornton are solid returners.

Sophomores Baleigh Coley, Emily Trew, Caitie’s sister, and Jordi Cook appear ready to make significant contributions.

Sophomores Kelsey Kirk, Morgan Ridley and Kayla Piorkowski and freshmen McCurty and Tori Clemmons are expected to split time between the varsity and junior varsity squads this season.

“I think the strength of this team will be our depth,” Stockburger said. “We’re deeper than last year. And I feel like we’ll be quicker. We can pressure people and incorporate different ways to play our man-to-man defense. I’m hoping we’ll be a better rebounding team, too.”

Stockburger said the Lady Bruins must improve their ballhandling skills this season.