Norcross hunting for pair of hoops titles

Sonny Kennedy

The Parkview Panthers saw their undefeated season end over the weekend to the exact program that ended their undefeated season one year ago, the Norcross Blue Devils. Diamond DeShields and Shayla Cooper each scored 25 for Norcross, which needed two overtimes to take out Parkview 59-51. Parkview’s top scorer was Marissa Mandeldove with 17 as the Panthers spread out their scoring more than Norcross did. If the Blue Devils are to capture a third title in four years, DeShields and Cooper will likely need a third person to contribute as dangerous squads such as Alpharetta, North Cobb and Tift County remain alive in the AAAAAA bracket. … Tift County reached triple digits against Westlake in Saturday’s 100-83 victory. Brannen Greene, named Mr. Georgia Basketball by the Atlanta Tipoff Club, scored 23 points before fouling out and junior star Tadric Jackson scored a season-high 27 in the victory, but the Blue Devils might not have advanced if not for Ali Vaughn’s 19 points. While Jackson and Greene are an incredible one-two punch, many dominant teams need a third player to really provide the final spark necessary for victory and Vaughn served as that spark Saturday. Tift County, which allowed Tony Bagtas to score 34 for Westlake, will now host North Cobb, just as the girls will, this Wednesday. The Tift County girls, 55-38 victors over Newton, will host North Cobb beginning at 6 p.m. Wednesday, followed by the boys. … Finally, 18 programs still have both their boys and girls teams alive with a shot to sweep the basketball titles. Last year, both Miller Grove and Columbia swept the basketball championships while Norcross pulled off the feat two years ago. Since 2000, Wesleyan has swept both twice (2008, 2010) as has Columbia (2010, 2012). Southwest Atlanta Christian also accomplished the feat in 2006.

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