DULUTH, Ga. — When the GHSA Class AAAA girls’ basketball championship game was barely three minutes old Friday, it had all the makings of a classic blowout.
That overmatched Northwest Whitfield managed to lose by only 65-45 to now three-time champion Southwest DeKalb is a testament to how hard the Lady Bruins fought after being blitzed 14-0 at the start of the game. This was a Lady Panthers team playing its best game of the season when it counted most.
“We wanted to come in here early and make a statement, and we did,” said Southwest’s Kayla Lewis, a future Florida Gator. “That’s the best game we’ve ever played, so that makes it even better. We knew they were a good team, but we weren’t going to leave without the championship.”
The Lady Panthers hit nine of their first 10 shots, and center Chyna Miley blocked three first-half shots, including two early layup attempts by Northwest twin towers Quaneisha McCurty and Christy Robinson.
“We knew they would come out ready to play since they had won back-to-back state championships, but we thought we could control them,” Northwest senior guard Baleigh Coley said. “But when they hit their first 12 shots or whatever it was, it was tough. They hit everything they shot, and that just doesn’t happen against us. It was crazy.”
Senior guard Lewis scored 14 of her game-high 20 points in the opening period. Before the Lady Bruins (29-4) could score their second basket, Lewis already had scored on two impressive drives and hit two 3-pointers.
“She’s a great player,” Northwest coach Margaret Stockburger said. “We concentrated on trying to stop her, but she was lights out. She really put on a show. We tried to battle back, but it was such a big deficit. I don’t want to take away anything from Southwest DeKalb — I think they definitely were the best team today — but at the same time we’re a good team, too.”
GHSA Class AAAA girls’ finalFriday at Gwinnett Center ArenaSOUTHWEST DEKALB 65,NORTHWEST WHITFIELD 45Northwest 10 12 12 11 — 45Southwest 25 8 17 15 — 65Northwest Whitfield (45) — Piorkowski 5, Coley 9, Jordi Cook 10, Trew 7, Robinson 6, Clemmons, McCurty 8.Southwest DeKalb (65) — Alondra Rivers 10, Hambrick 2, Kayla Lewis 20, Chancie Dunn 19, Warner 6, Miley 8, Gibbs, Razor, White, Williams, Goodwin.3-point goals: Northwest 2 (Coley, Cook); Southwest 4 (Rivers 2, Lewis 2). Other highlights: Quaneisha McCurty 7 r (NW); Miley 6 r, 4 b; Brianna Warner 5 s (SD). Records: Southwest DeKalb 28-4; Northwest Whitfield 29-4.
The Lady Bruins chipped away at the lead, putting together a 12-4 run from late in the first period to midway through the second. When Miley was tagged for her third first-half foul, Northwest managed to cut the margin to 33-22 going into halftime. Though shaken, the Lady Bruins had some hope in their locker room.
“Our goal was to come out and at least cut it to five by the end of the third quarter,” Stockburger said, “but there were a couple of misses and they were able to get a couple of layups on the other end that extended the lead. We didn’t do what we needed to do to win this game.”
Southwest went on a killing 13-5 run to start the third quarter. Though Northwest got within 12 on a Kayla Piorkowski jump shot late in the period, the damage had been done and the lead did not get below 17 after the first two minutes of the final period.
Chancie Dunn added 19 points and Alondra Rivers had 10 for the Lady Panthers, while Jordi Cook led Northwest with 10.
“It was a great season,” Stockburger said. “We set a school record for wins, and though that’s not much of a consolation to the girls, I told them that there were a lot of teams in the state of Georgia not here, so they should be proud of what they’ve accomplished.”
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