30th anniversary reception to be held for GNTC’s David Stephenson Girls

A coaching career spanning 30 years will be celebrated on Feb. 18 in Rossville.

Georgia Northwestern’s men’s basketball team will close out the regular season that afternoon with a 3:30 p.m. game against Warren Wilson (N.C.) College and a reception for head coach David Stephenson will follow immediately after the game.

After graduating from Tennessee Temple Academy in 1985, Stephenson began coaching at his alma mater shortly thereafter. He has had stops at several schools in the north Georgia and Chattanooga area along the way, including Unity Christian, Grace Academy, Tennessee Temple (University), Berean Academy, Lee Highway Christian and North Georgia Christian.

He left North Georgia Christian after a successful stint to begin the program at Hamilton Heights before moving on to Silverdale Baptist. He has been the head coach and Athletic Director at Georgia Northwestern for the last 10 years.

“There was twice in my career when I said I was done and I didn’t want to coach anymore and I felt the Lord didn’t want me to coach anymore,” Stephenson explained. “Both times I was wrong and I got drawn back in (to coaching) by Him and I’m still doing it now.”

Stephenson has over 500 career wins on the court and has coached over 800 games. He has also served as a coach for soccer and track and field over the past three decades.

Any and all former high school or college athletes who ever played for Stephenson are invited to attend the game and the reception. The game will be held at the Rossville Athletic Center (301 Williams Street).

For more information, contact the Bobcat Athletic Department at (706) 7643814. Minghini and Addison Sturdivant each had five points in the road win.

Lopez paced the Lady Warriors with 12 points.

Trion girls 26, Heritage 22

The Lady Bulldogs trailed 14-9 at the break, but controlled the second half, outscoring the Lady Generals, 17-8, to pull off the upset last Tuesday.

Graci Murray had five points for Heritage in the loss and Sydnee St. John finished with four.

Dade County also defeated Heritage in Ringgold this past Thursday, but no final score or individual statistics were provided as of press time.