“We executed to start the game,” Norcross head coach Jesse McMillan said. “We had a long break between games, we had a lot of practice time where we put in a couple new actions and I was really proud of the way the guys executed in the first and second quarters. That really set the tone for the rest of the game.”
Berkmar (15-11) got its own offense going after the initial run as the game sped to a breakneck pace with 45 combined points in the eight minutes of the second quarter. But when it appeared Berkmar would take just a seven-point deficit into halftime after trailing by as many as 14, a late foul changed the atmosphere on both benches.
Norcross guard Jayden McGraw put up a heave from just inside halfcourt well wide, but a foul was called on his shot attempt with 0.3 seconds left in the half. McGraw sank all three free throws, giving the Blue Devils a double-digit advantage at the break.
“The fact that he came in and hit those three free throws at the buzzer was big,” McMillan said. “It gave us a lot of momentum going into the half.”
Norcross had five scorers in double-figures, led by Josh Smith Jr. with 18 and Fulvio Dos Santos’ 17. McGraw scored 14, and the duo of Duke Howell and LJ Byrd both had 10. Jayvon Rampersant led all Berkmar scorers with 15 points.
“It’s 26 straight years where we’ve made the state playoffs,” McMillan said. “The guys were aware of that and knew there was a little bit of history on the line, and they stepped up. It’s a young team, and they’re playing their best basketball right now.”
The tournament will continue Wednesday with the semifinals. Norcross and Meadowcreek will meet at 4:30 p.m., and top-seeded Peachtre... Click here to read full article
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