Release Date:12/30/2009
News Title: Northwest Whitfield Lady Bruins Capture First Deep South Classic Championship


Northwest Whitfield High School, from Tunnell Hill, GA participated in the first Deep South Classic 18 years ago. In recent times the Lady Bruins have played in the past five Deep South Classics and this year go back to Northwest Georgia with the 2009 Deep South Classic Champions trophy in hand.

“It was a great tournament and I’m really proud of the girls,” stated Lady Bruins head coach Margaret Stockburger. “We enjoy coming here and this year winning is really special.”

Solid defense, particularly on the perimeter, led to Forest Park shooting a dreadful 29% from the field and a balanced offense with eight different scorers, three in double figures, paced the Lady Bruins to a 61-45 Deep South Classic Championship win.

In a low-scoring first quarter with many contested shots, neither offense was able to get into a comfortable rhythm. Forest Park used a 6-0 run to take an early 9-6 lead over the Lady Bruins, but Northwest Whitfield's scored four answered points off the bench to put her team back into the lead 10-9.

Forest Park's Veronica Carmichael hit an open three-point field goal to open the second quarter, but Northwest Whitfield responded with a 13-1 run, including seven of the tournament girls’ MVP Christy Robinson's nine points, to open up a 28-19 lead over the Lady Panthers. Northwest Whitfield's Quaneisha McCurty entered double figures in scoring on a turnaround jumper as time expired to send the Lady Bruins into half-time ahead 32-23.

In a well-played third quarter with only seven combined turnovers, runs of 7-2 and 5-0 extended the Lady Bruins’ lead to 48-31 at the end of third quarter. Northwest Whitfield’s Deep South Classic All Tournament Team member Jordi Cook, who had 11 points in the game, hit her second and third threes of the game while Tori Clemmons entered double figures off the bench, scoring her ninth and tenth points on a lay-up at the 3:48 mark in the quarter. All round play of Baleigh Coley in the championship game in handling the ball and playing steady defense, which was evident throughout the tournament, also earned her a spot on the All Tournament Team.

The Lady Bruins and Lady Panthers traded baskets and turnovers in the first three minutes of the fourth quarter with Northwest Whitfield maintaining a 17-point lead 52-35. The Lady Bruins then weathered an 8-2 Forest Park, including six points from Keyonna Allen that cut the lead to 52-41. Forest Park’s Ashlee Cole who was later named to the Girls’ All Tournament Team also had 10 points. Northwest Whitfield closed out the championship game on a 7-2 run, preserving a 61-45 victory.