Norcross boys, Woodward girls basketball teams to play in State Champions Invitational

Norcross’ boys and Woodward Academy’s girls basketball teams, which won state title last week in Macon, have accepted invitations to play in the first State Champions Invitational scheduled for April 7-9 in Tampa.

Each is part of a four-team field. Only state champions are eligible, and it’s limited to teams from the seven states (plus Washington, D.C.) that allow post-season competition. Georgia became one of those in 2015.

Norcross will play Auburn of Washington on Thursday, April 7, at 6 p.m., and would play the winner of the Sidwell Friends (D.C.)-Calvary Christian (Fla.) game for the championship on Saturday, April 9, at noon.

Norcross won Georgia’s Class 7A title last week. Guard London Johnson, who scored 27 points in the final against Berkmar, is ESPN’s No. 28 prospect among juniors.

Woodward will open against Lake Highland Prep of Florida on Friday, April 8, at 2 p.m. and would play the winner of Centennial (Nev.)-Sidwell Friends (D.C.) on Saturday, April 9, at noon.

Woodward played Lake Highland, an Orlando school, in January and lost 74-70. Woodward has won 18 games since, including a 72-44 route of Forest park for the Class 5A championship. Woodward’s top player, Sydney Bowles, is committed to Georgia.