New coach, young talent on varsity girls basketball team

By Laura Clark

Published: November 19, 2008

The Nelson girls basketball team features just four returning players and a new head coach, Debbie Whitmore.

Whitmore, in her 32nd year of coaching, accepted the varsity job this summer after Lloyd Gray resigned. In the Nelson County School system, Whitmore has been coach of the middle school, varsity assistant, varsity, and most recently, junior varsity.

“So I’ve seen every angle,” she said. “I don’t know everything about basketball, but I’ve learned a lot since I left varsity before, and I hope I can take these girls, who are really good athletes, and work with them so we can get the basketball program back up.”

Her squad includes nine players she coached the past couple years. The junior varsity was 13-7 last year, and players said it was a nice surprise to learn Whitmore was moving up with them.

“I think she just kind of fell in love with us and wanted to be with us until we were finished with school. She’s perfect,” said junior co-captain Mariah Kurpel.

Nelson returns four players from last year’s 5-15 team: senior center Kim Mattox, senior forward Chelsea Crouch, junior guard Kestrel Kerl and sophomore guard Natalie Campbell.

The rookie varsity players are: Kurpel, junior point guard Jessica Goins, junior forward Tashia Crawford, junior shooting guard Asia Harris, junior center Bri Stinnett, and sophomores Keona Loving, Brittany Crawford, Erika Toliver and Keke Sheffey.

The Govs tallest player is 5-foot-11 Stinnett, so Whitmore said her team will have to be “fast and furious.”

They’ll be looking to force turnovers with a full-court press and man-to-man defense.

“We’ve got some fast people,” said Goins, also a co-captain. “Box out and keep the ball in our control. We’re short, and if we box out, they’re obviously going to push us out of the way and (we hope) we get the call.”

Whitmore is focused on shooting, conditioning and finding the right chemistry among players as the season begins. Kurpel said her emphasis as a captain is inspiring her teammates to love the game. She said the Govs’ offense should be strong.

“We have a lot of good shooters from the wing, baseline, foul line,” said Kurpel, whose shot is the baseline jumper.

The team’s depth and parity among players will also be a big asset.

“We’ve got a lot of players competing for the same positions, but the best thing for us is when we take five out, the five that are coming in are going to be equal or better,” Whitmore said. “And the three other girls are going to fit anywhere on the first or second team. They’re all producers.”

The team’s third co-captain, Tashia Crawford, said she thinks her team can make this a championship season, especially if they work together.

“Last year, when we went to the state championship to see the boys play, we saw the girls who were there, and we were like, we could beat them,” Crawford said. “We knew we had something special. If everybody does their part, we can go far.”

Also new to the basketball program are varsity assistant coach Kallan Parsley and junior varsity head coach Judy Camden. The season begins with two scrimmages Thanksgiving week. See Page B2 for the full schedule.

In her 32nd year of coaching, Debbie Whitmore moves back to varsity from junior varsity. Her squad includes nine rookie varsity players. Photo by Lee Luther Jr.