TUNNEL HILL, Ga. — Moments after watching her team complete one of its most impressive performances of the season in the program’s most important game in two decades, Northwest Whitfield girls’ basketball coach Margaret Stockburger already was thinking ahead.
Though she didn’t know who the Lady Bruins’ opponent would be in today’s 3 p.m. GHSA Class AAAA championship game at the Gwinnett Center Arena, the veteran coach had a good idea. To win its first state title, Northwest (29-3) will have to defeat Southwest DeKalb, a 26-4 team coming off two consecutive championships.
“As usual, they have some (NCAA) Division I players on their team, and they’re very much like the team that beat us last year,” Stockburger said, referring to their 2009 quarterfinal matchup. “(Kayla) Lewis is a really good player. She’s their key and they revolve a lot of things they do around her. She can score at will if you let her, so we have to limit her touches if we can.
“The post, (Chancie) Dunn, is going to Clemson, and she’s really good. We also have to keep them off the boards. They know what it takes to win it all. Still, we’ll be ready to play regardless. It’s more about what we do and what we can keep them from doing.”
The Lady Panthers again have a terrific backcourt, led by University of Florida recruit Lewis. What makes this team more of a matchup problem for the tall Lady Bruins is the presence of 6-foot-2 post Chyna Miley and 6-foot forward Dunn. The decided advantage Northwest has had on previous tournament teams with 6-5 Quaneisha McCurty and 6-3 Christy Robinson will still be a Lady Bruins’ edge, but not as obvious.