AJC > Sports > Highschools > Blog > Archives > 2006 > February > 27 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USNorcross, can I still come to the party?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Dear Mr. Jodie Meeks:
We come to you with a burning quest: Is there room left on your Norcross High bandwagon? Sure would like to take a ride with you guys.
I know what you’re thinking. The Hoops Doctor’s take on the Blue Devils’ title chances was like a Space Shuttle launch — on again, off again. Hey, hey. Still friends, right?
Hope so, because the way you led Norcross to a return Final Four trip is almost enough to make me a Kentucky Wildcat fan. (Just kidding, because while living in Blue Grass, I had to choose sides and went for Louisville).
Nevertheless, it’s so inspiring for such a gifted young man to meet a challenge. The way you elevated your game is testament to your mettle.
Way to go — all the way, I say.
Sincerely,
Hoops Doctor
P.S.: Just to show it wasn’t at all personal, on my secret bracket I had Norcross reaching the Gwinnett Arena (you can ask my dog, Bailey).
HEAD-TO-HEAD:
Remember that Cobb-Gwinnett Challenge which couldn’t draw flies? Knew I was right to call for a DeKalb-Gwinnett Challenge instead. Six of eight Class AAAAA teams hail from DeKalb (Redan boys and girls; Stephenson girls) and Gwinnett (Norcross boys, Collins Hill and South Gwinnett)… . Four Class AAAA squads headed to Gwinnett Arena are also DeKalb’s (St. Pius and Marist girls; Columbia and Tucker boys).
FIT FOR CROWNS:
Gwinnett rules Class AAAAA… . Norcross (27-4) raised its game, and not just Meeks. As I wished, the Blue Devils picked up the pace, averaging just under 80 ppg in the playoffs. In its losses, Norcross scored only 61 ppg… . As for the girls, Maya Moore and Collins Hill are playing for legendary status; everyone else for second place (hey, the runner-up trophy is really nice)… . In Class AAAA, Columbia will ride UGA-bound Jeremy Price to the top, while St. Pius girls and coach Stephanie Dunn add another trophy… . Kendrick completes an unbeaten run to the Class AAA title; Westlake boys take a big trophy… . In the All-Gwinnett Class AA girls final, Wesleyan adds to its championship haul. Buford boys have something special going on, and it won’t stop… . In Class A, Southwest Atlanta Christian boys and girls prevail.
ON THE OTHER HAND:
Never discount coaches who have rings. You shouldn’t with Mike Allison and South Gwinnett or Stephenson’s Dennis Watkins Jr… . Ditto for Wheeler’s Doug Lipscomb, GAC’s Mike Mitchell, Randolph Clay wizard Joe Williams and East Hall’s Joseph Dix… . Plus, Frank D. Williams leads the Beach boys back from a 2005 region playoff disaster, and Redan’s Dalton Greene will have the Raiders playing some mad ‘D.’ “
NAMES WITH GAME:
Girls — Le Le LeSeur (Wesleyan); Drey Mingo (Marist); Mimi Dubose (Jefferson); D’Nay Daniels (GAC) and Porsha Phillips (Redan)… . Boys — J.T. Tiller (Wheeler); Gani Lawal (Norcross); Jahaziel Howard (SACA); Sylvester Egbe (Redan) and Jujuan Jones (Douglas County).
Permalink | Comments (24) | Categories: J.C. Clemons
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By Catman
February 27, 2006 10:04 AM | Link to this
Norcross in AAAAA??? The two best teams in the state met last Saturday afternoon at Morehouse. Wheeler had an off day shooting and still beat South Cobb (the team that beat Norcross by 10) by 11. The championship game will be over by halftime.
By Jo Mann
February 27, 2006 11:02 AM | Link to this
There is no doubt about it. Cobb County’s Wheeler is the best team in the state. It is a shame that So. Cobb had to play them so early. They are the second best team in the state. Your Redans and such couldn’t stay on the court with either one.
By Moms4Norcross
February 27, 2006 12:50 PM | Link to this
Ok Hoops Doctor, but no more vacilating. You are either with us or not! If you are with us…join the party
By Topcat
February 27, 2006 01:00 PM | Link to this
There is no doubt that Maya Moore is the best player in the state, but there will be no run away in the finals if Collins Hill meets Stephenson if coach Watkins keeps the pressure on for the entire game. No one so far that I have seen has the depht of Stephenson including Collins Hill. The Gwinnets will probably win but there will be no runaways. Mark my word!!!
By B
February 27, 2006 01:06 PM | Link to this
EVERYBODY TALKIN BOUT WHEELER AND NORCROSS. ONCE BEACH KNOCK OFF WHEELER BY 20 WE GONE TAKE OUT NORCROSS.
By Pardon
February 27, 2006 01:48 PM | Link to this
Sorry..not impressed with Norcross. I was at the game on Saturday. It was an off night for Meadowcreek. Had they been clicking on all cylinders, it would have been no contest. Meadowcreek would be playing Redan. This game proved that Chris Allen is the best player in Gwinnett County!!
By Pardon you is more like it
February 27, 2006 02:03 PM | Link to this
Yea right…and Meadowcreek not clicking on all cylinders didn’t have anything to do with that Norcross defense did it? I don’t think you know a whole lot about basketball. After Wheeler wore out Norcross last year with good defense…Norcross has preached and worked a great deal on improving their’s. It’s a testament to how good Wheeler is honestly. Meadowcreek had a nice season but they were lucky they were even in that game at half. Keep watching more ball..you’ll learn!
By Ethan Howard
February 27, 2006 03:08 PM | Link to this
The “experts” can say what they want, but I am pumped about Meeks heading to KY. Let those McD boys carry on with the media lovefest. I’ll take Meeks any day of the week and twice on Sunday. In fact, wish we had him this Sun. vs. TN.
By abdul
February 27, 2006 03:09 PM | Link to this
ok hoops doctor are you ok? lol It is obvious Wheeler is going to be the State champs this year lol and to the guy thinking beach is going to win wow COACH LIPSCOMB will have them Wildcats focused oh and when wheeler wins the finals everyone on this blog should bow down to wheeler fans b/c you the hoop doctor were wrong all year along and nope there is no room on the wheeler band wagon
By *08* HARD WORK WILL PAY OFF *B-BALL*
February 27, 2006 06:14 PM | Link to this
I JUST CANT WAIT TO GO SEE THESE great girls team 2 play. since iam a basketball player and do alot of hard off.. and this summer is going to be great next year i will be a JUNIOR ON SOUTH COBB HIGH SCHOOL.. BUT WE ARE MOVING SO IF WE MOVE THEN MY NEXT HIGHS SCHOOL WILL BE HAPPY IAM PLAYING THERE… PLEASE LOOK OUT AND WATCH OUT FOR SOUTH COBB GIRLS TEAM NEXT YEAR… #12 AND #44 OTHER then that i cant wait 2 go see collin hill play and the other team.
By fosterjoiner
February 27, 2006 06:31 PM | Link to this
Hey B you need to get your head examined. There is no way Beach is going to beat Wheeler by 20 points. It might be a good game but Wheeler will win by more than 10 points. Beach probably will keep it close for a while but like South Cobb they will be put away in the fourth quarter. Hey doc you need to hope Beach pulls off the upset because I do not see Wheeler having a bad shooting game like they did against Norcross last season and will win the state championship by double digits. Norcross better concentrate on Redan and not looking ahead to Wheeler or they might lose. Good luck Norcross!
By Tammy
February 27, 2006 06:53 PM | Link to this
I am very happy for Norcross’ boys basketball team. One of their stars, Gani Lawal, actually played his first organized sports with my youngest son. Gani played football for the Riverdale Blackhawks (Georgia Youth League). He was a skinny, tall, raw bunch of talent. I personally thought that he would one day be a very good football player. I can see now that he has become a basketball phenom. He is a very grounded kid, and his parents keep him that way. School work is, has, and always will be first to them. I am so happy he will stay home and play for the Jackets. Gani, keep up the good work Devon (Freeman) and I wish you all the best.
P.S. Once a Blackhawk, always a Blackhawk.
By Redan
February 27, 2006 10:54 PM | Link to this
collins hill has just been hyped up all year long redan was shown no love but collins hill girls will get what they deserve this thurs this will not be like the state champ game last year redans comin out on top
By mike v
February 28, 2006 03:37 AM | Link to this
Behind Meeks, Norcross is the truth. We need to watch out for redan, but a Norcross- wheeler championship will be off the hook.
By Catfan
February 28, 2006 09:51 AM | Link to this
BEACH BEATING WHEELER???!!! Hey B, most of the Wheeler student body isn’t even going to this game. They can’t see spending $10 to watch the Wheeler layup and dunk drill(i.e. the Beach game). The Cats will be up by 30 at halfime. Enjoy the dunks!
By BEACH
February 28, 2006 12:28 PM | Link to this
YALL KEEP SLEEPING ON BEACH AND CHECK OUR TRACK RECORD.WE GONE SHUT DOWN WHEELER OFFENSE CAUSE DATS WHAT WE DO TO PEOPLE. SEE WHAT WE DID 2 TRI-CITIES HIGH BEAT UM BY 18.IF WE DIDN’T HAVE 2 PLAY SAVANNAH HIGH SO EARLY THEY WAS GONE TAKE NORCROSS SPOT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BRACKET.OUR BOI’S DONT GET BEAT 10 OR BETTER IT AINT HAPPEN YET.SO ALL THE CHEERLEADERS BETTER COME OUT 4 DIS 1.AFTER DAT WE GONE POP BOTTLES ON NORCROSS AND BRING DA STATE CHAPIONSHIP BACK 2 SOUTH GEORGIA.
By Pardon
February 28, 2006 12:51 PM | Link to this
Hey “Pardon you is more like it”— no need for the smart mouth and comments you know NOTHING about. I know a LOT about basketball. It’s okay— you’re a Norcross fan with very subjective views. Were you at the game— I doubt it, but I’m sure you will say “yes”. Teondre Williams going 1-for-12 was an off night. The defense on him was NOT great. The lucky team was Norcross. So no my friend — YOU will learn!!
By GA Hoops Fan
February 28, 2006 02:17 PM | Link to this
Beach can not beat Wheeler. I am not for either team, I can promise you that Beach can not play with Wheeler. Its obvious that the State’s southern schools in AAAAA have not been up to the challenge the past couple years. Evidence..Not one Southern H.S. made it to the final 4 last year, even with a favorable draw! If they mixed up the games between North GA and South GA in the first and second rounds, there would hardly be any teams left after the first round for S.GA. If I remember correctly, ALL 4 Dekalb teams beat the S.GA schools in the first round last year. Pitiful…prove something on the court before running your mouths. The days of the mighty Savannah schools is over.
This whole S.Cobb should still be playing is non-sense. Would you not have been playing Wheeler eventually anyways? Would you rather have a 4th place trophy than an 8th place trophy? Everyone gets there chance to prove, and S.Cobb lost. Great squad, maybe a tough draw, but why complain? Be happy with a great year, and that Wheeler was just better.
By the way, when Norcross lost the game to S.Cobb earlier this year, the game was Norcross’ 3rd of the week and had just played a tough region game the night before (region game is much more important than a non-conference). If I remember correctly, the game was played somewhere in Cobb as well??
By BEACH HIGH
February 28, 2006 03:44 PM | Link to this
JUST CAUSE THOSE WEAK AS TEAMS IN ATLANTA CANT BEAT WHEELER DONT MEAN WE CANT. THE ONLY REASON THAY WON ALL THOSE GAMES CAUSE THE OTHA TEAMS PLAY SCARED AGAINST THEM.WE DONT PLAY LIKE HES DOWN HERE.JUST GO AHEAD AND THINK ITS GONE BE A BLOW OUT WE DONT PLAY DAT.EVERYBODY TALKIN BOUT NO ONE CAN PLAY WITH WHEELER.YALL AINT SEEN THIS TEAM PLAY AT ALL.THESE BOI’S AINT GETTIN BLOWED OUT I CANT REMEBA THE LAST TIME WE DID.JUST WAIT CAUSE WE GONE SEND WHEELER HOME AND OUT THE NATIONAL RANKINGS.FROM THERE WE WILL TAKE OVA AT #7 IN THE NATION AND #1 IN STATE.I’M NOT GONE EVEN SPEAK ON NORCROSS OVERATED A*S HIGH SCHOOL.I REMEBA WHAT HAPPEN 2 THEM LAST YEAR JUST NOT WROTH MY TIME.AFTER WHEELER ITS A RAP ON THE STATE CHAPIONSHIP.
By Catfan
February 28, 2006 03:49 PM | Link to this
Hey BEACH,
None of the Wheeler players or fans speek your language. We hired a translator and he told us this is what you said:
“YALL KEEP SLEEPING ON BEACH AND CHECK OUR TRACK RECORD” (Translation - Wheeler is not taking Beach very seriously).Our fans don’t because our players and coaches do
“WE GONE SHUT DOWN WHEELER OFFENSE CAUSE DATS WHAT WE DO TO PEOPLE” (Translation - Beach will do what no Georgia team nor 6 USA top 20 teams have been able to do, i.e. shut down Wheeler’s offense).What, are they going to do, put a lid on the basket?
“OUR BOI’S DONT GET BEAT 10 OR BETTER IT AINT HAPPEN YET” (Translation - We have not lost by more than 10 yet). like in the first second after you jump out of an airplane without a parachute, declaring that you’re not dead yet
“SO ALL THE CHEERLEADERS BETTER COME OUT 4 DIS 1” (Translation - You should come to see this game). why?
By Moms4Norcross
February 28, 2006 04:02 PM | Link to this
Ok Hoops Doctor…I will be looking for you Thursday evening at Gwinnett Arena. Would you like me to bring you a Norcross Final Four t-shirt?
By abdul
February 28, 2006 05:22 PM | Link to this
I WILL BE AT THE GAME Mr.BEACH HIGH and i will be looking for u when wheeler rapes beach wow any of the guys reading this on wheelers sqaud are already mad i got some in my class and we were reading this and they couldnt stop luaghing b/c they kno that there fans out there like you that will run their mouth and they got a goal to prove u wrong… look for j-flo blow up the score board on beach
By Wheeler fan in SoCali
February 28, 2006 07:51 PM | Link to this
The Beach fan is delusional. His smack sounds like whistling in a graveyard - you know you are scared silly but you try to put on a brave face. Take it from me, the Wheeler Wildcats will make you their “Beaches”. Ha Ha, I crack me up…
By fosterjoiner
March 1, 2006 12:11 AM | Link to this
Hey Beach the last time we played you the shoe was on the other foot. You were the number 1 team and we won by 10 points on the way to our first state championship. Beach it might be a great game but Wheeler has more than one good player on their “team” and can have one bad player and win the big game. Good luck, we will see you at the game.