Controversy abounds for the Norcross boys basketball team. Last weekend in the Class AAAAA quarterfinals, the Blue Devils were facing the Eagles of Milton and were ahead when the final horn sounded. However, the officials huddled while Norcross players celebrated; after the huddle, the players were told that a foul was called before the final horn and Milton sank two free throws to steal a one-point win. Junior forward E. Victor Nickerson had given Norcross a 51-50 lead with 10 seconds left, but Julian Royal of Milton bottomed both of his free throws with no time left on the clock. Malcolm McDonald led Norcross with 17 points and Jeremy Lamb’s Blue Devil career ended with a 14 point night. Marty Johnson scored 11 points, including nine in the fourth quarter for coach Jesse McMillan.
The Norcross girls did advance to the semifinals with a huge fourth quarter against Campbell in a 65-54 win. The Lady Blue Devils led at halftime by nine points, only to watch Campbell surge back with defense. Kaela Davis, one of coach Angie Hembree’s talented freshmen scored 24 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter while senior Briana Jordan added 16 points. Diamond DeShields notched 16 points of her own, including six in the third. Norcross was scheduled to face Westlake in the semifinals this past Thursday. The results were not available at presstime.
MORE HOOPS PLAYOFF SUCCESS …
Joining the Norcross ladies in the semifinals were both the GAC programs. The Greater Atlanta Christian boys took out Spencer 77-43, behind Trent Wiedeman’s 26 points. Junior Malcolm Brogdon scored 16 points in the GAC win. The Lady Spartans meanwhile advanced to the semis with a 75-48 win over Blessed Trinity. Defending Class AA girls champion Buford moved one step closer to another crown as it whipped Rabun County 48-28. The Lady Wolves outscored the Lady Wildcats 14-1 in the third quarter and Lacey Pass led Buford with 14 points.
The Wesleyan Lady Wolves featured five players in double digits, including Erin Hall as the Class A power moved to the semifinals with a 92-45 win over St. Francis. Holli Wilkins managed a double-double as Wesleyan inched closer to a seventh state title in nine years.
The Wesleyan boys, the No.4 seed after two upsets in the Region 7-A tournament, have been living up to the No. 4 ranking it ended the regular season with after winning yet again on the road, this time a 65-45 win over Providence Academy. Griffin Schamp led the Wolves with 19 points and seven rebounds. Wes Carver added 12 points in the Wesleyan win. The No. 4 Wolves were scheduled to face No. 3 Wilcox in the semifinals.
In possibly the state’s biggest upset, Central Gwinnett continues to dazzle in the state tournament, following up its upset of defending champ Wheeler with a 67-60 victory over McEachern. Jordan Adams led the Black Knights with 32 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter as Central Gwinnett made free throws down the stretch to clinch the contest. Brian Williams had 13 in the win. The Black Knights faced Westlake in the semifinals but a score was not available at press time.
Finally, the Mill Creek girls lost in the quarterfinals to Milton 54-47, despite Moneshia Simmons’ 19 points and 10 rebounds. Jac’ Weathers had 15 points for the Lady Hawks.
SPRING SPORTS NEWS …
In other Gwinnett sports news, the Parkview baseball team represented the state well in the Georgia-Florida Challenge last week at Lowndes High School. The Panthers went 2-0 with wins over Florida Christian and Pensacola Pace. Parkview finished with a combined 31 hits in the two wins. … Duluth’s John Clark struck out eight in a complete game win over Cherokee last week Stephen Robinson (two hits, two RBI) and Eric Sutor (two runs) helped the Wildcats to the 4-1 win. … Collins Hill and Norcross both posted big shutout victories with the Eagles winning 10-0 over McEachern and the Blue Devils besting Dunwoody 11-0. … In soccer action, the Collins Hill boys improved to 5-0 with a 5-0 win over Brookwood and the Parkview girls got a goal each from Kim Spence and Kiki Nelson to best Chattahoochee 2-0. Both the Mill Creek boys and girls beat Grayson 1-0 with the girls win coming on penalty kicks. … Finally the Peachtree Ridge boys golf team won the Apple Mountain Invitational by 14 strokes over second-place South Forsyth. Aaron Jeong shot a 65 to take the individual medal and lead the Lions to the win.
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