Not long ago, Norcross basketball ruled Georgia’s highest classification.
Norcross swept the boys and girls state titles in 2013, winning the program’s seventh and eighth state championships in an eight-year run that saw future pro stars such as Diamond DeShields, Jeremy Lamb and Al-Farouq Aminu come through the halls of this Gwinnett County school.
Norcross woke up the echoes this weekend at the Buford City Arena, where Norcross’ girls beat Campbell 54-51 and Norcross’ boys beat Newton 75-72.
The boys will play Berkmar, and the girls will play Harrison, in the finals Saturday in Macon.
Most didn’t see either Norcross team advancing this far.
The boys, ranked No. 7, beat No. 5 North Gwinnett on the road in the quarterfinals, then No. 3 Newton, which had been ranked No. 1 much of the season. Newton also had beaten North Gwinnett by 16 in the regular season.
The girls, ranked No. 4, blew out No. 1 Brookwood in the quarterfinals. They’d lost to two 7A teams, No. 2 North Forsyth and No. 3 Grayson, in the regular season.
Norcross beat Campbell with DeNaeja Morton’s 3-pointer with 40.1 seconds left.
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Norcross’ girls will play No. 6 Harrison for the title. Harrison has never won a state title but was a Class 6A runner-up in 2017 and 2018.
Norcross’ boys will be underdogs again against Berkmar, its arch-rival. Berkmar has beaten Norcross three times this season, but all were close. Berkmar’s last title came in 2001.
About the Author
