Prep Zone

By Jae

February 24, 2007 10:32 PM | Link to this

I have not seen Norcross fight harder than they did in this game. I was so proud that they were able to keep their cool and get the win after being down at the half. I love this school! Wouldn’t want to teach anywere else! GO BIG BLUE!!

By jo jo

February 24, 2007 11:31 PM | Link to this

Snooze on Beach if you want to,they beat powerhouse Wheeler last year, they beat #2 Meadowcreek & #10 Newton to night. Norcross and Beach will play for the Championship again this year with Beach coming out on top this year.

By Mustang Man

February 25, 2007 12:27 AM | Link to this

Yes, but Meadowcreek beat Beach later on in the season and they will beat Norcross Thursday in Macon. They have won 20 straight games including 10 against playoff teams! They’re on a roll and want some RESPECT!! Norcross has a loss and an OT win in their last 2 games and they are GOING DOWN Thursday night. We’ll worry about Beach a little later on. MUSTANGS RULE!!!!

By devils97

February 25, 2007 1:30 AM | Link to this

The Devils’ swagger is back.

Watch out. A week to prepare for Meadowcreek…..Devils are in good shape now.

Go Devils

By devils97

February 25, 2007 1:34 AM | Link to this

Mustang Man-

When was the last time Ghetto’Creek beat Norcross? Whatever, man……

Yall are on the wrong side of Buford Highway, and will always be.

By A SPORTS FAN

February 25, 2007 5:09 AM | Link to this

I DID NOT GO TO WHEELER OR NORCROSS, BUT HAVE PLAYED SEVERAL SPORTS IN OTHER STATES, AND HAVE SINCE BEEN AN AVID SPORTS FAN FOR “ALL” SPORTS ON “ALL” LEVELS, THE PROS, COLLEGE AND HIGH SCHOOL. I ATTENDED THE WHEELER VS. NORCROSS GAME, SINCE THIS GAME SHOULD HAVE BEEN A FINAL FOUR GAME, AND PROBABLY PLAYED FOR THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. IT’S A SHAME EITHER TEAM HAD TO LOSE IN THE FIRST ROUND, SINCE THEY BOTH WERE WORTHY OF BEING THE STATE CHAMPS. THE GAME WAS THE BEST HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL GAME I HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST “18” YEARS OF GOING TO GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL STATE PLAY-OFFS. ANY “PURE” AND “KNOWLEDGABLE” BASKETBALL FANS, KNOWS THIS GAME COULD HAVE GONE EITHER WAY. WHAT BOTHERS ME, IS I WAS STANDING ABOVE THE WHEELER BASKET DURING THE LAST SECONDS, AND IT WAS “OBVIOUS” THEIR WAS “ONE” FOUL, AND PROBABLY “TWO” FOULS AGAINST NORCROSS. NOT ONE OF THE “THREE” REFS HAD THE GUTS TO MAKE THE CALL, AND THEN THEY SET A NEW RECORD FOR RUNNING OFF THE FLOOR, AND OUT OF THE GYM. THE GAME SHOULD BE WON OR LOST SOLELY AS A RESULT OF THE PLAYERS, AND “NOT” A “MISSED CALL”, OR A “NO CALL.” THE “NFL” CHOSE TO HAVE THE “REPLAYS” TO “CORRECT” BAD/WRONG CALLS, “ESPECIALLY” IF THE GAME IS BEING DECIDED ON THAT CALL. THESE ARE “TWO” HIGHLY RESPECTED COACHES, AND I WOULD THINK THEY WOULD WANT TO WIN OR LOSE FAIRLY. I DON’T KNOW IF THERE ARE GAME FILMS OR NOT, BUT THE FILMS DON’T LIE, AND THEY TAKE OUT THE “HUMAN FACTOR” SINCE NOT EVERY REF WILL MAKE THAT CALL. I AM POSITIVE IF THE GAME FILMS ARE REVIEWED, THEN THE FINAL SCORE WOULD HAVE BEEN DECIDED AT THE FOUL LINE, AND NOT THE WAY A GREAT GAME ENDED. IF THE “TWO” FOUL SHOTS WERE MISSED THEN THE GAME WOULD HAVE ENDED THE SAME WAY, BUT FAIRLY. HAD “ONE” OF THE “TWO” FOUL SHOTS BEEN MADE, THEN THEY WOULD HAVE GONE INTO OVERTIME. HOWEVER, IF BOTH FOUL SHOTS WERE MADE, THEN WHEELER WINS THE “GREAT GAME” BY “ONE” POINT, BUT FAIRLY. I HOPE THE G.H.S.A. STEPS IN AND REVIEWS THE GAME FILMS, WHICH WILL SHOW AT LEAST “ONE” FOUL. ON THE WAY OUT OF THE GYM, I HEARD NORCROSS FANS SAYING THEY COULDN’T BELIEVE THEY DIDN’T CALL A FOUL AT THE END. BOTH OF THESE TEAMS COULD BE STATE CHAMPS, BUT EARN THE WIN ON THE COURT, NOT THE WAY THIS GAME ENDED. AS PREVIOUSLY STATED, BOTH TEAMS SHOULD NEVER HAVE PLAYED EACHOTHER IN THE FIRST ROUND, AND IF WHEELER MADE THE LAST “TWO” FOUL SHOTS, THAT THEY WERE DENIED, NORCROSS WOULD AGREE. AS A FAN, LET’S HOPE THE GAME FILMS WILL DICTATE THE END OF THE GAME, SO THIS VERY CONTROVERSIAL END, WILL NOT ALWAYS BE SOMETHING NORCROSS WILL ALWAYS HAVE TO “EXPLAIN” EVEN IF THEY GO ALL THE WAY. IF REVIEWING THE GAME FILMS IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE NFL, ESPECIALLY WITH THE GAME ON THE LINE, THEN IT SHOULD BE GOOD ENOUGH FOR GEORGIA’S STATE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT, WHEN “TWO” OF THE BEST TEAMS IN THE STATE, PLAY EACHOTHER. WOULDN’T IT BE A “CLASS ACT” IF NORCROSS’S COACH “AGREES” OR EVEN “SUGGESTS” THAT THE GAME FILMS SHOULD DECIDE WHAT “REALLY” HAPPENED DURING THE LAST SECONDS OF THE GAME? THE CONTACT AND “FOUL” HAS ALREADY APPEARED IN EVERY NEWSPAPER ARTICLE ABOUT THIS “GREAT GAME.” THE REFS SHOULD BE MADE “ACCOUNTABLE” FOR POSSIBLY CHANGING THE OUTCOME OF A VERY IMPORTANT GAME FOR “TWO” SUPERB TEAMS. WHEELER HAS WON AND EARNED MANY STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS, AND NORCROSS HAS BEEN THERE THEMSELVES, BUT THEIR “TEAMS” HAVE WON THE GAMES, AND NOT AS A RESULT OF “REFS” THAT ARE AFRAID TO MAKE THAT “BIG CALL” AT THE END OF THE GAME, THAT DECIDES THE OUTCOME!

By Mustang Man

February 25, 2007 3:56 PM | Link to this

Nice, Devil97, Let’s start using racial slurs and “wrong side of the tracks” comments. Guess that shows your true colors now, doesn’t it? If the folks on your side of Buford Highway are pigheaded racist jerks like you I’d just as soon stay over here, thank you very much, but I know they are not and you are a vanishing breed. The quicker the better. I’ve worked with the kids there and I can honestly say the cooperation between all the ethnic groups there is quite impressive and show a lot about the quality of people, both faculty and staff, at Meadowcreek. Meadowcreek takes a lot of pride in it’s cultural diversity and we also take a lot of pride in how far we’ve come both academically and atheletically in the last few years. As for the comment “When was the last time Meadowcreek beat Norcross?” it is now 2007 and the past is irrelevant and has ZERO bearing on the current teams. I can understand why you revert to the past though becuase currently Meadowcreek has the better record, a much longer winning streak (22 games to 1!) and has won their 3 playoff games by an average of 18 oints. What’s Norcross done in the playoffs so far? Yeah, I know, it’s irrelevant because it all comes down to Thursday night’s game in Macon - not what happened a year ago or even a week ago, Rest assured, though, either Norcross or Meadowcreek will be victorious Thursday night while you will still be a racist, redneck LOSER. Good luck to your team, though, whatever their racial makeup is. Hopefully they are better men than you.

By David

February 25, 2007 3:58 PM | Link to this

Wow, dude. Lose the ALL CAPS and the “quotes” and I’ll take your post much more “SERIOUSLY.”

By Max

February 25, 2007 5:31 PM | Link to this

I could not see a foul at the end of the game because the all caps guy above must have been standing right in front of me. I know it was the longest time in the world to me and I do not doubt that there was contact. I heard an official say at an “unofficial” rules clinic many years ago that if it happens in the last 15 seconds it didn’t happen because they want the game decided by the teams on the floor and not the officials whistle. I didn’t play sports in several states, but I have coached high school basketball for 20 years now and in this instance you just suck it up and go on to the next game. Instant replay will never be the answer!

By Blue Devil Lover

February 25, 2007 10:04 PM | Link to this

The game of the year in Ga high school boys basketball. Out of McDonald’s 12 east coast all american player selected, we had the pleasure of watching 2 of the top all american in the country go head to head, Gani Lawal and J j Hickson. What a game.

Even though I am a Blue Devil fan, I though that last year’s game between Wheeler and South Cobb in the quarter finals was the game of the tounament.

Now can Norcross beat both MeadowCreek and Marietta back to the championship game against Beach again?

Don’t forget that Norcross has only lost three games this year…once to the current no. 1 team by a last minute shot, once by the no. 2 team in the country by 4 points and to the no. 4 state team by three point. They have beat 3 of the top twenty teams in the country with only 2 returning seniors. Not a bad year so far.

If Martin the coach can get DeMercy and Aminu working on all cylinders and if Neysmith has his usual defensive night against Chris Allen, Marietta better get ready because Norcross might be unbeatable this year.

By A SPORTS FAN

February 25, 2007 10:42 PM | Link to this

HAVING YOU ONLY CRITICIZE THE CAPS AND THE QUOTES, MAKES ME AND EVERYONE ELSE THINK YOU MUST AGREE WITH THE FOUL(S) THAT WEREN’T CALLED, AT THE END OF THE GAME. SINCE MOST ALL OF THE SPORTS JOURNALISTS, AND TV AND RADIO SPORTSCASTERS, ARE AGREEING ABOUT THE CONTACT AT THE END, CAN YOU PROVE IT DIDN’T HAPPEN, OR ARE YOU WILLING TO HAVE THE GAME FILMS DICTATE THE FINAL 10 SECONDS, AND THE REAL OUTCOME OF THE GAME? STAY ON POINT, GET OVER MY QUOTES AND CAPS, AND I’LL OVERLOOK YOUR GRAMMAR. LET’S KEEP IT ON THE GAME, WHICH IS WHAT REALLY MATTERS.

By BJ

February 26, 2007 12:43 AM | Link to this

As a sportscaster here is what I will say - these things happen. I wasn’t at the game, but I’ve heard it’s fairly obvious that Wheeler should have at least been at the foul line and probably deserved to have won that game. I have a great deal of respect for their program and coach.

Let’s say this though. They took Louis Williams and an injury depleted South Gwinnett team out on a controversial call that probably should have went the other way. Do you think Wheeler will give that state title back? I doubt it.

Sports are very imperfect. These are two good teams. I’ve seen them both. Neither are all time great teams. None of the players are all time greats in the state. They are both VERY good. I can think of a single A team from just a couple of years ago that would have manhandled each of these squads. They had a GREAT player.

Bottom line - enjoy both of these teams for what they are - high quality basketball squads. Neither one likely much better than the other.

By Blue Devil Fan

February 26, 2007 8:23 AM | Link to this

Whether there was minor contact or not not does not take away from the great play of the game. In my opinion numerous fouls were committed and not called. So what is the point if a player trys to draw a foul at the end of the game and the referees don’t think the incidential contact warrants a play winning foul shot?

Wheeler had three chances and Norcross stop them all three times. Therefore Wheeler does not deserve to go to the next round.

If you were at the game you must agree that numerous fouls were committed that were not called on both sides that if called could have influented the out come of the game?

By A Different Devils97

February 26, 2007 12:45 PM | Link to this

I’ve got to agree with the Mustang Man and say that we Norcross grads need to stop saying bad things about Meadowcreek. We never had to when we were in school (mainly because Meadowcreek wasn’t any good at anything). We don’t have to now.

Let’s leave the trash talking and racial slurs to the teams that deserve them…Duluth and Parkview.

By Mustang Man

February 26, 2007 8:34 PM | Link to this

To “By A Different Devils97” Amen to that, brother!! Meadowcreek had the pleasure of beating Parkview 3 times this season and Norcross beat the living daylights out of Duluth twice. I’ve got nothing against Norcross - they’re a great team - I just didn’t like the other guy’s atitude. Win or lose, best of luck the rest of the way!

By fosterjoiner

February 27, 2007 12:32 AM | Link to this

Channel 5 had video highlights on the big game including the play in question. I saw Cory Towers getting hacked and a clear cut over and back with Hickson having position which led to the tip back and the throw down the court by Norcross. The over and back was not incidental contact and the foul should have been called. The camera was on the bench side of the court and had clear view of the hacks and the foul going over Hickson’s back. I believe the refs at any other part of the game would have been called but the refs did not want the game decided by free throws. At this point of the season the refs should call everything. These refs should be the best in the state and they should be under close scrutiny. Do not expect the GHSA to do anything about the refs. Any officiating mistakes at tournaments like this are always defended by the GHSA. They will also threaten the board of Education to put a stop the protest. I graduated from Wheeler but I have seen to many times in over 30 years of following high school basketball the refs do not want call anything in the final seconds. I also know a lot of refs who believe mistakes were made on the final play by the refs.

By A SPORTS FAN

February 27, 2007 1:52 PM | Link to this

COACH MAX, YOU RESPONDED BY MAKING “5” POINTS, AND I WILL RESPOND TO ALL “5” POINTS, IN THE ORDER THEY WERE MADE. 1.I KNOW YOU WEREN’T STANDING BEHIND ME, BECAUSE EVERYONE BEHIND ME, AND TO BOTH SIDES OF ME, THAT STOOD ABOVE THE WHEELER BASKET AT THE END OF THE GAME, SAW EXACTLY WHAT I SAW - ONE DEFINATE FOUL (YOU CALL IT CONTACT, BUT IT’S THE SAME THING) AND PROBABLY A SECOND FOUL. YOU DO REALIZE I JUST HAPPENED TO HAVE BEEN STANDING THERE, WITH A GREAT VIEW OF WHAT HAPPENED, BUT I WAS STANDING IN THE SAME PLACE WHEN IT WAS NORCROSS’S BASKET, DURING THE FIRST HALF OF THE GAME. YOUR SCARCASTIC REMARK OF NOT BEING ABLE TO LOOK OVER ME (BUT YOU STILL WERE ABLE TO SEE THE CONTACT) JUST TRIES TO SIDETRACK THE FOCUS OF WHAT “REALLY” HAPPENED DURING THE LAST “11” SECONDS OF THE GAME. I AM “NOT” SAYING NORCROSS “WOULDN’T” HAVE BEEN THE WINNER OF THAT GREAT GAME, BUT THE FINAL OUTCOME SHOULD HAVE BEEN DECIDED AT THE “FOUL LINE.” THE “REAL” ENDING COULD HAVE BEEN A “1” POINT VICTORY BY NORCROSS, A GREAT GAME THAT WENT INTO “OVERTIME”, OR A “1”POINT VICTORY BY WHEELER. IT’S A SHAME WE’LL “NEVER” KNOW THE RIGHTFUL WINNER OF “THE DREAM GAME” UNLESS G.H.S.A. REVIEWS THE GAME FILMS AND MAKES THE NECESSARY CORRECTIONS.YOU KNOW THAT NOBODY “YET” HAS ARGUED THE REFS MISSED THE CONTACT, AND DIDN’T CALL THE FOUL. A “DEAM GAME” ENDING IN A “NIGHTMARE” FOR EITHER TEAM, WOULD NOT BE THE WAY “2” CLASSY TEAMS WOULD ALLOW IT TO HAPPEN. A VICTORY “2” VERY EQUALLY, TALENTED TEAMS, MIGHT “NOT” HAVE BEEN DESERVED. I KNOW NORCROSS FANS ARE EMOTIONAL AND FEEL THEY OWNED THIS GAME, AND THEY DOMINATED IT, AS MOST BIASED FANS, OF ANY TEAM WOULD FEEL. HOWVEVER COACH, WE BOTH KNOW THIS WAS A VERY SPECIAL AND VERY TALENTED “2” EQUAL TEAMS, WITH “2” VERY RESPECTED COACHES, RISES FAR ABOVE ANY EMOTIONS OF WHAT SCHOOL YOU SUPPORT. AS I PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, ALTHOUGH I HAVE BEEN IN METROPOLITAN ATLANTA FOR OVER “20” YEARS, I NEVER GOT INVOLVED IN SCHOOL RIVALRIES, ON THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, GEORGIA VS. GEORGIA TECH, OR ANY OTHER LOCAL RIVALRIES, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SUPPORTING ALL OF ATLANTA’S PROFESSIONAL TEAMS.

2.I RESPECTFULLY AND STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH YOUR “UNOFFICIAL” RULES CLINIC, THAT STATED THE THE LAST “15” SECONDS THE REFS ARE “NOT” SUPPOSED TO DO ANYTHING, AND ALLOW THE PLAYERS ON THE FLOOR, TO DECIDE THE OUTCOME OF THE GAME. COACH MAX, MAYBE THERE IS A REASON THE CLINIC WAS “UNOFFICIAL” BECAUSE “COMMON SENSE” ALONE OVERWHELMINGLY “DICTATES” THAT WITHOUT THE REFS KEEPING TOTAL CONTROL UNTIL THE FINAL BUZZER, IT WOULD ALLOW TOTAL MAYHEM ON THE FLOOR, WITH PLAYERS BEING INJURED, AND IN LAST NIGHT’S GAME “2” McDONALD’S PLAYERS, AND DIVISION ONE PLAYERS, GOING TO GEORGIA TECH AND N.C. STATE, COULD HAVE ENDED THEIR FUTURES AND CAREARS WITH A MAJOR OR PERMANENT INJURY. (WHY DO YOU THINK MOST SMART BASKETBALL COACHES PULL THEIR STAR PLAYERS, AND BENCH THEM, WHEN THE GAME HAS ALREADY BEEN DECIDED BY A LOPSIDED SCORE - SO THEY DON’T EXPOSE THEM TO AN UNECESSARY INJURY.) COACH, CAN YOU NOT VISUALIZE IF YOU TOOK THE “3” REFS OUT OF THE PICTURE FOR THE FINAL “15” SECONDS (AS YOU HAVE SUGGESTED) IT WOULD BE THE STRONGEST AND MOST PHYSICAL PLAYERS LITERALLY “FIGHTING” FOR THE BALL, AND A BASKET (WHICH WOULD PROBABLY RESULT IN “20” FLAGRANT FOULS.) BY REMOVING THE REFS DURING THE FINAL “15” SECONDS YOU ALSO TAKE THE GAME OUT OF THE HANDS OF “2” OF THE MOST TALENTED HIGH SCHOOL COACHES, THAT THEIR TALENTS HAVE FREQUENTLY “CREATED” THE RIGHT PLAY, FOR THE “WIN” IN THE FINAL “15” SECONDS. IT’S SIMILAR TO THE TALENTED COACHES IN THE NFL AND THEIR “2” MINUTE DRILL, CALLING THE RIGHT PLAYS, AND HOPING THEIR PLAYERS EXECUTE, AND THEY HOPEFULLY WIN THE GAME. BOTH COACHES HAVE TAKEN THEIR TEAMS AROUND THE COUNTRY, LOOKING FOR TOURNAMENTS TO CHALLENGE THEIR TEAMS, IN NEW YORK, IN WASHINGTON, THE WEST COAST, CHICAGO, AND TEXAS, ETC. ETC. AND YOU SHOULD ATTEND SOME OF THOSE TOURNAMENTS OR EVEN BETTER, THE McDONALD’S TOURNAMENT, WHICH COACH LIPSCOMB COACHED LAST YEAR, AND GUESS WHAT, THOSE REFS WERE IN TOTAL CONTROL OF THE GAME, UNTIL THE FINAL SECOND, AND UNTIL THE BUZZER WENT OFF. GAMES WERE WON AND LOST BY A CALL MADE, PRIOR TO THE BUZZER, AND FOUL SHOT TAKEN WITHOUT ANY TIME LEFT ON THE CLOCK. I ATTENDED ABOUT “7” OF THE McDONAL’S CLASSICS, YOU SHOULD GO SOMETIME, AND SEE IF THE REFS EVER STOP DOING THEIR DUTIES AS REFS, DURING THE FINAL “15” SECONDS. “NEVER.”

1. COACH MAX, I TOO COACHED, BUT I DIDN’T THINK LAST NIGHT’S GAME NEEDED THE OPINION OF A “3RD.” COACH, AS OPPOSED TO A FAN, SINCE YOU ALREADY HAD “2” OF THE MOST RESPECTED COACHES ON THE COURT ALREADY, MAKING MANY ON THE COURT ADJUSTMENTS, THROUGHOUT THE GAME, THAT WERE VERY EFFECTIVE. I ALSO SUSPECT, AS A COACH, YOU REALIZE IT DOESN’T MATTER IF YOU PLAY OR COACH, IN “1”, “5”, OR “10” STATES, BECAUSE AS WE BOTH KNOW, THE RULES AND THE REGULATIONS IN BASKETBALL, BASEBALL, FOOTBALL, TENNIS AND OTHERS ARE THE SAME IN “EVERY STATE.”

2. COACH, YOUR COMMENT ABOUT “INSTANT REPLAY WILL “NEVER” BE THE ANSWER.” WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? THE NFL HAS USED INSTANT REPLAYS ALL YEAR THAT HAS CORRECTED REFS CALLS, CHANGED SCORES, AND CHANGED THE FINAL SCORES OF SEVERAL GAMES. HAVE YOU WATCHED ANY PROFESSIONAL TENNIS THIS PAST YEAR? RIGHT! THIS PAST YEAR THEY HAVE ALSO INSTITUTED INSTANT REPLAYS THAT HAVE CHANGED GAMES, SETS, AND MATCHES, IN ORDER TO NOT ALLOW “HUMAN ERROR” OF A REF OR A JUDGE “NOT” TO ALLOW THE WRONG PLAYER TO WIN. THIS DIDN’T JUST TAKE PLACE AT SMALL TOURNAMENTS, BUT THE “GRAND SLAMS” SUCH AS THE U.S. OPEN, AUSTRALIEN OPEN, FRENCH OPEN, ETC. I AM SURE YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH TRACK AND FIELD COMPETITION, WHERE THEY EITHER USE ELECTRONICS OR PHOTO FINISHES TO DICTATE THE “REAL” WINNERS. THE KENTUCKY DERBY, PIMLICO, AND AQUEDUCT AMONG OTHERS, HAVE RELIED ON PHOTO FINISHES. THE “OLYMPICS” HAVE APPROVED MORE INSTANT REPLAYS, OR REVIEWING FILMS, BEFORE ANNOUNCING THE WINNER. YOU MUST KNOW THE NBA AND MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL HAVE COMMITTEES EVALUATING THE USE OF INSTANT REPLAYS OR REVIEWING FILMS, IN THEIR SPORTS. COACH MAX, I HATE TO BE THE ONE THAT INFORMS YOU BUT, THE RECENT PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF SPORTS (LIKE IT OR NOT) HAS MORE AND MORE INSTANT REPLAYS, ELECTRONICS, PHOTO AND FILM INVOLVEMENT, SOLELY TO INSURE THAT THE RIGHT PERSON, OR TEAM, IS THE WINNER, AND NOT AS A RESULT AS A RESULT OF A REF’S WRONG, BAD, OR NO CALL, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT A GAME, ON THE LEVEL OF WHEELER VS. NORCROSS, SHOULD USE, SO THE “REAL” WINNER CAN MOVE FORWARD.

3. LASTLY, AS FAR AS BASKETBALL REFS IN OUR STATE IS CONCERNED, I HAVE BEEN IN NUMEROUS SITUATIONS WHEN I WOULD HEAR THEM TALK ABOUT CALLS THAT THEY HAVE “BLOWN”, SOME AFFECTING THE OUTCOME OF THE GAME. THEY DISCUSSED SITUATIONS WHERE THEY, OR THE SENIOR REFS OVERTURNED THE BAD CALLS, AND OTHER TIMES, WHERE THEY JUST LET IT STAND. MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY DISCUSSED HOW ONLY A FEW OLDER AND “SEASONED” REFS OR MORE EXPERIENCED REFS, WERE WILLING TO MAKE THAT “BIG CALL” OF “2” TOP RATED TEAMS AND WHEN THE GAME COMES DOWN TO THE FINAL SECONDS, WITH THE GAME ON THE LINE! OBVIOUSLY, SUCH REFS DO EXIST, AND WE GOT TO SEE “3” OF THEM, THAT DIDN’T HAVE THE GUTS TO MAKE THAT “BIG CALL”, THAT EVERYONE SAW, BOTH COACHES, THE NEWSPAPER JOURNALISTS, SPORTSCASTERS, AND EVEN COACH “MARTIN” FROM WHEREVER HE WAS WATCHING. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT “1” REF WAS OUT OF POSITION, AND COULDN’T SEE THE FOUL, (WHICH WOULD BE A STRETCH, SINCE THE REFS KNEW WHERE THEY NEEDED TO BE AT THE END OF THIS GAME) BUT THE OTHER “2” REFS, WERE RIGHT THERE, AS WE ALL WERE ABLE TO SEE.

I HOPE TO SEE COACH EDDIE MARTIN SHOW HIS “CLASS” AND STEP FORWARD BY ASKING THE G.H.S.A. TO REVIEW THE GAME FILMS HE REFERS TO AS “CHAOS” AT THE END, AND SEE IF THE “CHAOS” WASN’T IN FACT “1” OR “2” FOULS THAT WEREN’T CALLED. OTHERWISE, EVEN IF NORCROSS WAS TO WIN THE STATE, EVERYONE, WILL ALWAYS REFER TO THE 1ST. ROUND WHEELER GAME, WHERE THE OBVIOUS FOUL, WASN’T CALLED.

COACH MAX, I HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THE “FINAL FOUR” IN ATLANTA THIS YEAR, AND LET’S SEE IF THE “3” REFS SWALLOW THEIR WHISTLES, DURING THE LAST “15” SECONDS OF THE GAME, OR ARE THEY IN CONTROL OF THE GAME, UNTIL THE BUZZER GOES OFF, ESPECIALLY DURING A “1” POINT GAME? GOOD LUCK TO YOU, COACH.

By A SPORTS FAN

February 27, 2007 2:27 PM | Link to this

BJ, I AGREE WITH SEVERAL OF YOUR COMMENTS AND DISAGREE WITH OTHERS. I DO AGREE WITH THE OBVIOUS “FOUL” THAT WAS “NOT” CALLED, AT THE END OF THE WHEELER VS. NORCROSS GAME. I WAS THERE, AND SAW IT IN PERSON. I KNOW THAT MOST “PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE” IN SPORTS, THAT WERE AND WEREN’T THERE, ALL AGREE, WITH THE “FOUL” THAT WASN’T CALLED, AND YOU JUST FURTHER CONFIRM THAT FACT. I WAS ALSO PRESENT AT THE SOUTH GWINNETTE GAME AT TECH, WHICH WAS ALSO A GREAT GAME TO WATCH. HOWEVER, THE MOST TALK ABOUT THAT GAME WAS, HOW WHEELER TOTALLY DOMINATED THAT GAME, THEN THE AWESOME COME BACK THAT SOUTH GWINNETTE MADE, AT THE END, AND “NOT” ABOUT AN OBVIOUSLY MISSED FOUL. I LOOKED BACK INTO THE NEWSPAPER ARCHIVES, AND DIDN’T SEE ANY ARTICLES WITH HEADLINES REFERRING TO A MISSED FOUL, THAT CHANGED THE WINNER OF THE GAME, OR IN THE ARTICLES. MOST OF THE ARTICLES TALKED ABOUT THEIR GREAT COMEBACK, AND HOW THEY JUST FELL SHORT, AND “NOT” A CONTROVERSIAL, GAME ALTERING ENDING CALL. IF YOU HAVE ANY PROOF TO THE CONTRARY, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. AS A SPORTSCASTER, IF YOU ARE RIGHT, WHICH I CURRENTLY DOUBT, IS IT YOUR SPORTS REPORTING PHILOSOPHY THAT “1” WRONG ENDING TO A GAME “ALLOWS” OR “JUSTIFIES” A 2ND. ONE AND A 3RD. ONE, OR DO YOU PUT INTO PLACE “WHATEVER” YOU NEED TO STOP THEM, SUCH AS AN OFFICIAL GAME FILM, BUT ONLY DURING THE LAST “5” MINUTES OF A STATE PLAYOFF GAME, DUE TO LACK OF MONEY, TO FILM EVERY GAME, AND ALL OF EACH GAME. LASTLY, WOULD YOU MIND SHARING THE “GREAT” TEAM, AND THE “GREAT PLAYER” YOU REFERENCED IN YOUR ARTICLE? THANK YOU.

By MD

February 27, 2007 3:06 PM | Link to this

As an unbiased fan, I had the good fortune of attending the game Saturday, and WOW is probably the best way to describe it! I have seen Norcross play before, but had never had an opportunity to see Wheeler with JJ Hickson. That guy is a beast! I was a little surprised a foul wasn’t called during Wheeler’s final possession, but considering how physical the game was all night, I thought no call was the right call. Norcross helped Wheeler stay in the game in the 4th by missing a lot of foul shots. I was also a little surprised Demercy stayed on the bench so long in the 4th. Even though he was in foul trouble, I thought Norcross could have used his height to help out in the post and keep Neysmith guarding out on the perimeter. Wheeler’s guards are what kept them in the game.

By Blue Devil Lover

February 27, 2007 3:35 PM | Link to this

Hey A Sports Fan. Should coach Martin also asked that they call all of the fouls not called correctly against Norcross throughout the game including when JJ broke Tony’s nose?

I could say the same thing about the Ptree Ridge game about the fouls not called but a touch foul against jj who is 240 lbs should not need help from the references. Wheeler got beat… game over and on to Macon.

By A SPORTS FAN

February 27, 2007 3:41 PM | Link to this

TO THE BLUE DEVILS FAN’S ARTICLE ON FEBRUARY 26, 2007 AT 8:23AM. I AGREE WITH YOU, THERE WERE OTHER BAD CALLS DURING THE GAME, ALTHOUGH I THOUGHT “80%-90%” OF THE GAME WAS WELL REFFED. THERE WERE SOME BAD CALLS DURING THE GAME, THAT MAY NOT HAVE MADE THAT GAME GO DOWN TO “1” POINT AT THE END, AND THEN THE LAST “11” SECONDS, AND THE FOULS THAT WEREN’T CALLED, OR BAD ONES, THAT WERE CALLED, WOULD NOT HAVE MADE THE FOULS NOT CALLED, AT THE END, AN ISSUE. WHERE YOU ARE WRONG, AND MAY NOT REALIZE BASKETBALL RULES, THE “MINOR CONTACT” OR THE “INCIDENTAL CONTACT” THAT YOU SAW WERE “FOULS”, EVEN IF IN YOUR MIND, THEY WERE “LITTLE” FOULS. IT’S LIKE THE “ZERO TOLERENCE” LAW FOR ALCAHOL, IF YOU TELL THE OFFICER YOU ARE A “LITTLE DRUNK” OR DIDN’T DRINK VERY MUCH, IT DOESN’T MATTER, IT’S “BLACK AND WHITE”, YOU ARE EITHER AT “ZERO TOLERENCE” OR “NOT.” SORRY, BUT THAT’S THE RULES OF THE GAME. YES, THE TYPICAL PLAY AT THE END OF THAT GAME, IS TO GET THE BALL INSIDE, AND EITHER MAKE THE BASKET, OR PLACE THE OTHER TEAM IN THE POSITION, WHERE THEY CAN’T AFFORD TO FOUL, SO THEY CAN’T PLAY IT AS CLOSE AS THEY WOULD, DURING OTHER TIMES. YES, NORCROSS STOPPED THE BALL FROM GOING IN “3” TIMES, BUT IT WOULD BE AMAZING, IF THEY WERE ABLE TO DO SO WITHOUT FOULING A WHEELER PLAYER OR “2”, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. “NOBODY” IS CONTESTING THAT “FOUL”, THERE WAS AT LEAST “1” FOUL, THAT WASN’T CALLED, IF NOT “2” FOULS, AND THAT SHOULD HAVE ALLOWED THE FINAL SCORE, TO HAVE BEEN DECIDED AT THE FOUL LINE, OR POSSIBLY IN OVERTIME. THAT PLAY AT THE END OF THE GAME, WITH ABOUT “11” SECONDS LEFT, IS A “CLASSIC” BASKETBALL SITUATION, WHERE “1” TEAM TRIES TO GET THE BALL DOWN LOW, AND EITHER PUT THE BALL IN THE BASKET, AND/OR DRAW THE FOUL, AND THEN DO IT AGAIN, AND AGAIN, UNTIL THE BUZZER GOES OFF. THAT’S WHY THE ODDS OF NO BASKET, AND NO FOULS, IN THAT SITUATION IS “VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE”, AND IT DID NOT HAPPEN IN THIS CASE EITHER, THERE WAS A FOUL OR “2” BY NORCROSS, SO SAYS THE TV GAME FILMS, AND EVERYBODY ELSE, BUT IT WASN’T CALLED, AND THAT “1” BAD “NO CALL” BY THE REFS, “ABSOLUTELY” HAD A DIRECT IMPACT ON THE WINNER, AND LOSER, WHEREAS THE OTHER FOULS, DURING THE GAME, MAY HAVE HAD AN EFFECT ON THE END OF THE GAME. IF YOU WERE JUST A BASKETBALL FAN, NOT A WHEELER OR NORCROSS FAN, YOU WOULD BE SAYING THE SAMETHING, AND HOPING THE STATE G.H.S.A. OR COACH MARTIN WOULD STEP FORWARD AND “CORRECT” AN OBVIOUS “NO CALL” THAT GAVE HIM THE WIN. I AM SURE HE WOULD RATHER BEAT WHEELER, FAIR AND SQUARE - SO LET’S SEE WHAT HAPPENS? AS JUST ONE “CLASS” EXAMPLE, DID YOU EVER SEE ANDRE AGASSI “OVER-RULE” THE CALL BY THE JUDGE, THAT WAS AGAINST HIS OPPONENT AND GIVE HIS OPPONENT THE POINT. THAT’S JUST ONE EXAMPLE, THERE ARE MANY, MANY MORE! THANK YOU.

By Mack

February 27, 2007 4:52 PM | Link to this

Even though Norcross was able to pull out the win against Wheeler, they will not beat Meadowcreek on Thursday. Norcross will not have an answer for Chris Allen, just like they didn’t last year in the elite eight of the state playoffs last year. The only reason Norcross won is because Teondre probably had his worst game of the year against Norcross. History will not repeat itself. The mustangs have been playing well all year and they will get their revenge from last year. As far as Beach is concerned, they will not even get a chance to play Meadowcreek because they will lose to ML King on Saturday. I don’t like to count my chickens before they hatch, but both M.L. King and Beach will win on Thursday and meet on Saturday. After moving up from 3A last year, no one was expecting ML King to challenge for the state championship this year. They proved themselves to be legitimate by playing in probably the toughest Region (3 out of the top 4 teams in their region won their opening state tournament games) in the state and winning their region championship and their opening state tournament game. They have enough size and talent to definitely surprise Beach on Saturday. I see ML King and Meadowcreek in the championship game this year. I am sure most of the people that have posted messages will think I am crazy, but I have watched the best players in Georgia play AAU all summer as well as throughout this season. Ali for ML King did not play AAU, but he is definitely one of the best players in Georgia. So when Meadowcreek and ML King play in the championship this year, remember you heard it from me first.

By Blue Devil Lover

February 27, 2007 6:16 PM | Link to this

Let me summarize what I have heard today.

Norcross should not have beat Medowcreek last yr in thr quarter finals but they did. Norcross should not have beat Beach last year for the state championship but they did. Norcross should not have beat Wheeler on Saturday but they did.

Hey guys let have a reality check.

By matureadult

February 27, 2007 10:26 PM | Link to this

Sports Fan - I am speechless. Surely you can’t actually believe that drivel about “asking GHSA to review the tape”?

haha! Classic idiocy. Its everywhere.

By Blue Devil Lover

February 28, 2007 10:38 AM | Link to this

I don’t understand why you “creekers” don’t do your homework. Norcross only give up on avg 45 pts playing Oak hill no 1, St patrick no 3, Rice no 4, Mount Vernon NY, no 25, Kingwood Tx no 14, in the country and P’tree Ridge three time no 4 in the state, Arlington Country Day (FL), Bryan Station (KY), Madison Central (KY). These teams arn’t just teams east of 85 lime Berkmar who creek had to go into OT with.

So I don’t get it. How will the creek keep up if they have no defense and Norcross has the best defense in the southeast if not the east.

By steven

February 28, 2007 1:50 PM | Link to this

look wheeler lost i went there i love em but for the last five years we ruled high school bball in GA…we gotta let someone else eat sometimes…

By Blue Devil Lover

February 28, 2007 2:15 PM | Link to this

Thank u steven. U r a smart person.

By Mustang Man

February 28, 2007 6:54 PM | Link to this

Wow, we should just call Macon and have them give Norcross the trophy! If we were basing the tournament on the past then Norcross wins - oh, I forgot, Meadowcreek has the BETTER RECORD. Sure, it’s not a balanced schedule but you can only win the games you play. Once again, Meadowcreek has a 22 game winning streak including TEN wins against playoff teams. How do you do that with no defense? They’ve won their 3 playoff games by a total of 54 points! No defense? Better check the water east of 85. What we ALLl should be yelling about is why do three of the top eight teams in the state (Wheeler, Meadowcreek and Norcross) have to play each other in the first two rounds? Who sets the tournament seedings anyway? If I was Wheeler I’d be making some phone calls!!

By Bball

February 28, 2007 7:10 PM | Link to this

hey mustang man. gasports disagees with you. they have 20 game winning streak for the creek since dunwoody.

so if you are going to use facts make sure they are correct.

By Bball

March 4, 2007 2:17 PM | Link to this

Hey mustang man. I stil have not heard from you since the game in Macon.

By NHS '07 I LOVE IT

March 4, 2007 10:39 PM | Link to this

this page is pure entertainment!!! i know hindsight is 20/20 but looking back on all of these posts just makes me laugh until my sides ache. some of the predictions are holding up but soo many are as off as they can be.

I was at the Norcross v Wheeler game- i must say it was the most emotional game i’ve seen in my high school career. its so many shoulda coulda woulda’s from the game, and they are just that because you cant change the past. you cant go back and call a foul. you cant say that he would have made the free throws. you cant predict what woulda shoulda coulda happened. & even though people know this, norcross will continue to be discredited, especially if we bring home another state title. i was sorry to see a team as talented as wheeler go home so early, but i would have been even more sorry to see my blue devils go home first round. wheeler is a great team. norcross is a great team. someone had to go home, and this year it was wheeler

round 2 v peachtree ridge, a 100 mile trek through tornado weather and traffic to watch meadowcreek get handled…i was hoping for a closer game but you cant be mad at the pleasure of shutting a lot of people up. i cant make any kind of judgment calls on chris allen because i dont think i’ve seen him play prior to that game, but all i can say is that he did not live up to the reputation i’d heard IN THIS GAME. was it an off game for him? i have no idea. but you couldnt be mad at the crowd for chanting WHERE’S CHRIS ALLEN, even when he was on the court. better luck next year meadowcreek, and i wish i could say the same for allen’s shot at all american.

Round 3 v marietta- i cant say i was at the game but from what i heard norcross started off slow and then came back with a vengance. not much to say about that except i hope norcross keeps up the momentum all the way back to the gwinnett arena, where i would love to see us battle MLK for the title.

THE FINAL FOUR- TIFT, NORCROSS, MLK, and CENTENNIAL. all i can say is Beach and Peachtree Ridge talked a big game to not make it to the final four. good luck in the future to the teams no longer in the battle, but BEST WISHES to the norcross blue devils and plans of bringing home another trophy for us to celebrate. never been so proud to be a norcross blue devil! sorry i took so much of y’alls time LOL

By NHS '07 I LOVE IT

March 4, 2007 10:50 PM | Link to this

QUICK CORRECTION haha i feel pretty dumb putting round 2 v peachtree ridge meaning meadowcreek. but hey, a rival is a rival, and a win is a win. just wanted to correct myself before someone else did. once again GO NORCROSS