HUNTER COOKSTON
Writer
The Whitwell Middle School Lady Tigers basketball team won the district tournament, earning the right to host the first round of the region tournament. The Lady Tigers went on to defeat CSLA, 37–26, in front of their home crowd.
Whitwell got off to a slow start, scoring just five points in the opening quarter. All five came from Loralye Duke, who knocked down a triple as part of her scoring. CSLA had no trouble finding the basket early, putting up 12 points in the period.
In the second quarter, the Lady Tigers’ defense showed up in a big way, holding CSLA scoreless. Jaylee Bryant led Whitwell in the quarter with four points, while Shelby Holtcamp added a bucket of her own. Despite the defensive effort, the Lady Tigers trailed by one at halftime.
The message was clear after the break: score the basketball. Whitwell responded with 13 points in the third quarter. Bristyl Tate led the way with five, Mabrey Rogers added four, and Kinsley Bowman and Holtcamp chipped in two apiece.
Whitwell pulled away in the fourth quarter with another 13-point surge. Bowman and Holtcamp combined for eight points, Duke contributed three, and Tate rounded out the scoring with two.
The Lady Tigers put together an incredible season, even earning the opportunity to compete for a Region Championship. They ultimately ran into eventual state champion South Lawrence. Still, it was a tremendous year for Whitwell — one that provides a strong foundation heading into next season.
“We ran into a really strong program, when you lose to a team that won the state championship, it shows you how small the gap really is. Our kids competed, and that experience will fuel us moving forward,” Whitwell AD Kyle Holloway said.