TUNNEL HILL, Ga. — Dalton coach Jeff McKinney could finally afford to let himself smile following Wednesday night’s 45-44 win at rival Northwest Whitfield. It’s not often a coach, this late in the season, gets to accomplish two major goals in one evening’s work.
Not only did the win keep the Lady Catamounts perfect at 23-0 and provided a rare season sweep of their county neighbors, it also — he hopes — taught his team a valuable lesson as the postseason looms. Twenty-two turnovers, including seven in the final period, and a horrid shooting night (zero 3-pointers) won’t cut it when the season is on the line.
“We were very sluggish,” said McKinney, whose team came in outscoring its opponents by an average of 35 points per game. “We didn’t take care of the basketball and you have to do that to win against good teams. We haven’t been in that type of ballgame, so it’s a good experience for us down the stretch.”
DALTON 45, NORTHWEST WHITFIELD 44Dalton 13 9 15 8 — 45Northwest 10 12 8 14 — 44Dalton (45) — Rector 5, Besley 3, McKinney 6, Howell 5, Thomas 3, Snyder 6, Quaneisha McCurty 17, Sharpe.Northwest (44) — Roberts 8, Baker 6, Jackson 2, Fraire, Halle Ford 11, Barber 3, Robertson 1, Clemmons 5, Fetzer 6, Blackwell 2.2-point goals: Dalton none; Northwest 1 (Ford). Other highlights: McCurty 13 r, 6 b; Rector 4 s (D); Carly Fetzer 8 r, 4 s (NW). Records: Dalton 24-0; Northwest 17-7.
If not for a pass that missed its mark by inches, the Lady Bruins likely would have taken a lead with under five seconds to play. The turnover, which came after a missed Dalton one-and-one free throw with 15 seconds to play, nearly capped a Northwest comeback after the team trailed by nine starting the final quarter.