For all of Kori Penland’s remarkable career numbers, the one statistic that meant the most to her was the only one that really mattered - wins.

And the past four years have seen the Penland’s Gordon Lee teams win a lot.

Her individual numbers - chiefly 2,415 career points with an average of 21.8 points per game - will likely stand for years, but Penland would much rather reflect on the team’s bottom line.

“I really haven’t thought about (the numbers) all that much,” she explained. “I was focused on us winning more than me getting my points and things like that. As long as we won, that was the most important thing.”

For the fourth consecutive year, Penland and the Lady

Trojans were able to achieve both.

Penland scored over 23 points, dished out over five assists and collected nearly four rebounds a game in the final season of her stellar career, and the Gordon Lee girls were able to win a second straight Region 6-A championship and advance to the Class A Elite Eight with a 24-6 record.

And for the fourth consecutive year, Penland has been selected as the North Georgia Player of the Year.

The senior standout said the team’s chemistry was its most important element this past season.

“All the girls got along,” she said. “We had a lot of fun and we played well together. When we went to the playoffs last year, some of us were maybe a little scared because we hadn’t been there a lot.

“This year, being a year older and more mature, we were better and played better. Plus we had some freshmen step up and not play like freshmen. They played like they had been there before.”

Penland will leave Chickamauga has the most decorated basketball player - male or female - in school history.

In addition to the school’s career scoring mark, Penland was named as an All-State First Teamer three times, was one of just two Class A players selected for the North-South Georgia All-Star Game, and was one of just 1,000 players nationwide nominated for the McDonald’s All-American High School All-Star Game.

Not surprisingly, the Lady Trojans won a lot with Penland on the floor.

Penland’s teams won 83 games (73 percent) over the last four years while going 41-7 in region play.

The Lady Trojans advanced to the 6-A finals in all four of her seasons - winning two straight titles - while continuing Gordon Lee’s run of eight consecutive postseason appearances.

“She’s set the bar so high in her career,” said Gordon Lee head coach Kori Penland. “She has improved every year and never rested on her laurels. That says so much about her character. She’s already at such a high level, but she’s still looking for ways to improve her game. Obviously, it’s going to be very tough to replace her.”

The next stop for Penland will be the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, another program known for winning.

The Lady Mocs have won 12 Southern Conference championships and seven of the past eight.

The 2007-08 squad won a NCAA Division I-best 24 straight games before falling to Big 12 champion Kansas State in the NCAA Tournament.

Penland said she is excited about college and can’t wait to pick out her new roommates and start decorating her new apartment.

But most of all, she is looking forward to being part of another winning team.

“(UTC) is close to home, but winning was one of the main draws,” she said. “They are one of the best programs around.”

She added she is also looking forward to blending into an already stellar lineup.

“It’s like in AAU ball; you don’t have people scoring 25 or 30 points a game,” she explained “You’re going have five or six people get their eight, 10 and 12 a game with everyone passing the ball around. It’s a fun way to play.

“But it was fun to play at Gordon Lee too. I’ll miss all the girls and all the coaches. They made playing here a lot of fun.”

And there is no doubt, the Lady Trojans' program feels the same way.

The Rest of the Girls' Basketball Dream Team Jordan Bohannon (Gordon Lee) – Powerful junior post player led Gordon Lee with over seven rebounds a contest to go with over five points a game.

Holli Brooks (Gordon Lee) – The freshman stepped up big in her rookie season with the Lady Trojans, averaging eight points in just over 12 minutes a game.

Charlsie Broome (LaFayette) – Future Shorter College softball player averaged 24 points in her last four games to finish the season with 12.4 points and 7.4 steals a game.

Jasmain Carey (LFO) – No sophomore slump for the Lady Warriors’ best post player after scoring 11 points and grabbing almost 11 boards a game to make the All-Region First Team.

Emily Clements (LaFayette) – Another future Shorter College softball player gave solid guard play for the Lady Ramblers by averaging 8.6 points and 4.8 assists per contest.

Chelsea Colbert (Ringgold) - The senior forward was a stabilizing presence for the Lady Tigers as they began to re-establish themselves in north Georgia.

Natalie Collins (LFO) – The senior stepped up big when injuries hit the roster as she led LFO to the state playoffs with almost 12 points a game to grab All-Region honors.

Brittany Crump (LaFayette) - Senior sharpshooter capped a solid career by averaging 7.4 points a game for the resurgent Lady Ramblers.

Brittany Goforth (Ridgeland) – Dependable senior was named to the All-Region squad for the improved Lady Panthers, averaging a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds a contest.

Shakiyla McLin (Ridgeland) – The lightning-quick junior has developed into one of the region’s finest point guards and upped her numbers with 10 points, four assists and three steals a game.

China Moore (Ridgeland) – One of Region 7-AAAA’s most dominant low post defenders and rebounders, the 6-foot-4 senior averaged eight points, seven rebounds and five blocks a game.

Keri O’Neal (LaFayette) – The junior further established herself as a dominant post player with 13.5 points and 15.8 rebounds per game to be named second team All-Region.

Mary Pope (LaFayette) - The senior did a little of everything for the Lady Ramblers, averaging over seven rebounds a game while playing solid defense.

Kayla Weaver (LFO) – Had another season cut short by injury, but still garnered All-Region status by averaging 17 points, five assists, five steals and three rebounds in her six games.

The Dream Team was selected by Catoosa County News and Fort Oglethorpe Press Sports Editor Misty Martin and Walker County Messenger Sports Editor Scott Herpst