Georgia Public Broadcasting presents the 27 Georgia High School Association's state basketball championships.

Funding for the broadcast of this program is provided in part by Georgia's Electric Membership Corporation, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, IBEW Local 613 Atlanta, Wachovia.

The Georgia Student Finance Commission.

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Live from the arena at Gwinnett Center, it's the 2007 GHC State basketball championships tonight.

The five boys matchup between the Norcross Blue Devils at 2083, taking on the Centennial Knights at 26 and for hell over one.

Dave Gardner with you back here inside the arena, this place is rockin and we are set and ready to go.

Our finale tonight features two very good teams.

Norcross, nationally ranked last year's state champ, taking on the Centennial Knights, winners of 21 straight games and the region six champion.

And here to call it for you is the tandem of Charles Ward and Herb White guys.

Thanks, Dave, and welcome.

Courtside, everybody.

Inside the Arena Aqua Net Center on Charles Ward joined by Herb White.

Phil Proctor at the moment.

Herb, we had the tag.

That's what we call it, old school versus the new school.

I guess I know who's old school, right?

Charles Bob necessarily, yes, Blue Devils.

But in this venue before defending state champs against a team that's making its first final appearance this evening in a ball game that we expect to be a real good one.

Yeah.

Norcross has been ranked all year in the top teams in the country.

They've beat a lot of teams from around the country.

Certainly they were the number one team in their classification in Georgia.

The Centennial team, though, is not going to give anything away.

They won 21 straight games.

They forgot what it feels like to lose.

So it should be a great ball game as Centennial can play as well as they've been playing.

We should have as a game.

Let's start out by talking about the old schoolers of Norcross defending state champs and excellent ball club.

We'll pick up more after that.

After we pick up the starting lineup for both schools, we'll do that by sending it over to the announcer, David Witherow, right guard, a65 senior number 15, Tony Naismith at forward, a67 senior Number 21, Jordan Ben Mercy at Center six nine.

Senior Number 31 Garnet Low.

that's his last name, Gomersal.

And then forward a65 junior number 4201, meaning promises stop.

Now let's meet the starting lineup for the Centennial Knights at Fuller and a67 to go.

Number four, Roby jumps at guard, a 511 junior.

Number 21 Delonte do you see that guard?

a62 Senior number 32.

Alex Ritchie at guard on six by sophomore number 33 Broughton So Brown and that forward a66 senior number 55 Leonard Centennial is coached by Allen White hard starting lineup so both teams that means we're getting ready to tip it off.

We'll do so after we take a time out.

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We are back live getting set for the boys five eight championship contest.

But before we do that, let's go to our champ, Phil Proctor.

You know what?

It is rocking in here.

I'm going to pick up on what you were talking about, Charles on old School, New school, old school, Eddie Martin, three finals.

He's got several region titles.

Alan White Heart, he's got one.

And this is his first final and he won a it.

So I asked him, I said, Coach, what did you say to your team to get them motivated to play nationally right.

No course he said simple I'll sit.

All the pressure is on Norcross.

All we got to do is go out and play our game.

Hey, Charles.

In just a minute, we're going to hear the horn blow gossipy obsession.

Let's see if this keeps going from the teacher.

Well, we've got some top students out on this floor tonight, but the Blue Devils and the Knights of Centennial High School winners will be top of the five eight class state of Georgia centennial in the Hawaii Blue Devils in the Blue.

And the Knights will have the basketball first right corner with the jumper and immediately getting on the board as Robbie Johnson with the three pointer and a pure few of the butterflies.

Charles It's always important when you start out to get your rhythm early.

Johnson Starting it early for the nice Blue Devils.

Now.

MUHAMMAD Can those out front Gramercy down at the block.

CARLYLE The Wall lost it and the Knights back the other way.

Both teams open straight man to man.

JOHNSON behind the arc.

This one hit the front of the cylinder and he go back the other way.

The mercy running jumper is off the mark backside rebound though.

Good work inside by the wall but a whistle in the stuff Norcross ball out of bounds and they're going to have to keep the big guys for Norcross off the board they can see here's Eddie Martin sitting on the sideline veteran coach fifth year at Northside, a third straight final appearance for the Blue Devils.

The wall right side to the glass, but left at short gets his own rebound now triple teamed in the corner, finally dumps it off to Aminu.

He misses a shot the mercy is there for the follow though and this is off the mark as well Nice running the floor nice mini lay by Lorenzo Brown.

I don't think there's any doubt Centennial is going to have to shoot the ball well to stay in this ballgame and hopefully not give Norcross too many second shots ahead.

About five second shots.

A moment ago, De Monte goes with the steal for the ninth up the floor.

They come right side with the lay and it's Johnson that fell off.

But he'll go to the line tempo is the pace in his favor tonight centennial doing what you have to do when you're going out and playing a well regarded, highly ranked team that's supposed to beat the coach out of the way and heart.

In his first year at Centennial, 86% winning percentage in that first year.

That's what you like coming out on the blocks as a coach as well as Centennial taking it to them right now.

Defensively, they're swarming and they are nice plays.

Whenever the big guys from Norcross have gotten the rebound couple, the little centennial guys come in there and bother him around the shoelaces and that can help.

Johnson missed from the line Blue Devils got the score.

They had the basketball.

Naismith What a basketball name.

He'll work at left side all the way to the rack.

There's a whistle on the play and Tony Naismith, the senior, will go to the line.

So what kind of talent Norcross has?

They lose all the best players we've seen in a while and then makes last year goes to Kentucky and they don't miss a beat right back in the state championship game.

Naismith for the second miss them both.

The rebound becomes clear to Reggie approaching the six minute mark and a surprisingly low score by the Blue Devils centennial.

Whether they're in the the floor of round handles up top now Ritchie left side looking for the penetration leading jumper He got it the ball the left hander rears back and drops it for the nice back the other way in traffic.

It was a a mano on the foul offensively centennial will have the basketball back This is unbelievable crowd in here This may be the biggest crowd I'm seeing in the arena since we've been doing the ball games here.

Charles It is a nothing league for the Knights.

They force a time out by the Blue Devils 538 remaining first quarter.

Difficult to find an empty seat here in the Arena Equity center, Roslyn Norcross the great cities towns to come and coach White Hart, when they asked him who was the best team in the state, he didn't hesitate.

He said, we are.

He said, you know, I'm not trying to be cocky, said we probably don't have the best talent, but I think we play the best team basketball all.

And tell you what, right now they're showing us something and that's what it boils down to.

Five man sports talk was just loaded with talent.

Those big guys who can play go in Division one, they just need to settle down.

They'll make some noise in a minute.

I can guarantee you that noise right now being made by the Knights of Centennial High School, Del Monte doles across the timeline man to man defense.

Dole beat his man.

His shot was rejected.

Good block by Aminu basketball coming here to the Blue Devils Got to hustle Alex Ritchie knocks it out of bounds saving the transition to by Norcross and Norcross dying to get one out alone and throw out a slam Really get their crowd into it and get some juice going But good hustle by Centennial Muhammad for three.

And those are the first points of the ball game for the Blue Devils three pointer by Tariq Mahana right side Brown dishes in the corner, Ritchie squares the three hits in front of the celebration.

Blue Devils want a run.

Muhammad Quickly across the timeline.

Right side on it is the mercy up top now for Naismith Naismith running his shot in the lane.

He missed it the mercy with the rebound down at the block got it over to Naismith.

His shot fell off Basketball will stay with Norcross.

Kross missed about six shots they make on any other night so far Stuff now Muhammad up top goals with the defense the pressure Muhammad fires another three pointer.

Just one hits the top of the sun and it'll be out of bounds.

Over to the nice Knights with their first state final appearance in six, five, eight champs this year, the Chattahoochee in overtime in the region Championship coach right heart calls that team basketball extremely team basketball rich these shots that exemplify the mercy they got the numbers back the other way here come the blue devils inside with a stop for the third year in a row.

Nice by three Johnson up top now Brown in traffic taken away by Norcross two on two basketball back the other way whistles on the penetration by Aminu how to hold out front I believe before the shot now they're going to give him to his first al-Farouq Aminu to the lob for the blue Devils He's got a little brother that plays at Georgia Tech Well got a lot will be playing next year Aminu a junior so family size of Texas however may be difficult to move away from there once he graduates from high school all over centennial leading at 7 to 8 3 minutes 47 seconds left in this first quarter.

We'll step aside for our time.

I'm back with more of the five eight championship from the arena when Edson in three weeks funding for this program is provided by the Georgia High School Association.

The GHC would like to thank Dodge for their outstanding support of high school sports programing on GPB.

Dodge dealerships across Georgia are proud to bring you the exciting action of GHC Championship basketball as the official vehicle of the GHC dodge salute to the hard work community spirit and the dedication of these two fine teams.

Thanks for tuning into GPB and please enjoy the rest of the game.

Dodge grabbed life by the horns, anxious to talk of the demise.

The demise in the 1968 first quarter.

Quick start for the Knights of Centennial.

Herb Yeah, and again, that's what you want to do when you're playing a team as highly regarded as Norcross and they've been here before and you haven't been.

So you want to let them know right away that you intend to play with them.

And we know Norcross is too good not to get a lot of points in this ballgame.

And we're just going to have to see what Centennial can do.

But this is a team that has a lot of weapons.

Centennial had all five of their starters in double figures, so they don't really rely on one guy to get it done.

Although Alex Ritchie is their leading scorer at 19 a ballgame and he does a lot of things for them.

He's their leading assist man.

He's our leading steals guy.

He's second in rebounding, so he's quite a player.

Alex Wilson Nice day to get something going last 2 minutes.

Blue Devils on a seven run.

Ritchie works at the left side of the Florida Johnson top.

Now Carr handles they go back to Ritchie at the post Just car quick step got it to the center.

Their shot fell off height scores on the rebound back to the rack of happens off the mark as well but there's a rebound of the sack by Brown He missed That's where you're going to have your problems getting some shots back up inside with all those big leaguers from Norcross Blue Devils back on there to the floor quickly down in the corner.

JONES That's the way you rattled it.

But it popped out those quickly, right side for the night.

Basketball knocked out of bounds.

It'll stay with Centennial Brown Through the BLOCK was a pass to Carr Johnson spins to 40 remaining first quarter Ritchie in the corner goes three in front of the cylinder Harris shot rebound comes clear to Aminu and the Blue Devils currently on a seven hour run the most recent to go to the wall to wall terms with a soft jumper that was off the mark and Carr clears for Centennial Ritchie with a quick step out from behind by Aminu to Alex Ritchie is going to beat Aminu to the point in the corner and Harmony commits the foul shot frontline of Norcross at six nine to wall 682 and 672 mercy and they can all get off the floor Charles Ritchie over 19 points per ball game two marks on the first free throw Mohamed back on the floor for the Blue Devils.

He replaces Allen, only common commoner in the lineup, which he has 75% from the free throw line to max on both three point lead for the night.

All right.

Mohamed Hamels up top for Norcross, transported from Centennial High School, whistles down low or try or get inside from a while.

Good defense by far, stripping the ball from the mercy of losing it out of bounds.

Joe Smith up front to the Hornet across the floor now for three is Jones got to look this time and put it down three pointer by Jones makes it a one point Centennial League banning Carter Daniels a centennial dumps it down low that's a block too far far too risky on the swing down low nicely down across the works on the way but give the assist to Channing Carter, the senior guard.

Jasper puts it in the corner.

Jones Again, it's just something that rolls out of their basketball.

Over to the nice Channing Carter quickly down the floor to Ritchie Squares with a three pointer for Amazon.com off the Mercy Players and he's fouled inside.

And as so often happens, Ritchie should have shot that ball in the first half.

They knew he had the open look, thought about taking it to the hoop, and then when he fired, he was right on down to the three, shook his head.

He knew he had a shot.

A quick one minute remaining, first quarter to solve for my hot handles.

The right side.

Jones may step down on the move off the ball and off, which is a turnover for the nice at the block this time.

Good defensive work by the longtime Lual inside Now Ritchie with the three pointer this comes off the line.

The wall runs down the basketball up the floor in traffic and costly for the nets.

They're going to call the travel.

But I mean, they kept that 2016 and he got us the time ball game Ritchie with a chance to get them off at the buzzer got it off at the rim but falls off after one.

We're right back where we start at 1212.

Just score a Blue Devils and the ninth timeout and we'll come back to start the second of the five eight championship.

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Norcross Cheerleaders cheering on the Blue Devils of Norcross High School and his father, a championship ball game and some of the fans here a capacity crowd at the arena witnessing this five eights contest between the Blue Devils and the Knights of Centennial High School.

After one they played at even 1212.

Dominique Brown, six five senior in four Centennial Inbound pass, Denzel Jones back up top He goes down inside the nice running by Mason for the Blue Devils with their first lead of the contest.

Carter bounces it at the block in traffic.

Brown coming back outside to Johnson.

Now inside the paint, it's Dominique Brown tied up on the floor and taken away by the Masters and the Blue Devils.

The wall inside the paint spins softly and the center goes in and out of this call.

The two earlier came out and they have got a wall for the foul afterwards.

He's got a great move when he's on the run to go down there and stop and hold that seven foot.

That's three times I thought he walked and they haven't called it yet so good control by the big guy and he's what makes their defense so interesting.

I don't care who you got Danny Lual to play them one on one.

They don't have to drop down and double team.

And so everybody else can play their man tough and gamble a little bit because they do have him as a shot blocker in there as well.

So he's really the key to that defense to Norcross.

But McConnell's all Americans, well, they are committed to Georgia Tech.

Nice.

Now working at left side of the floor, Brown dropping down inside traffic kept out of bounds by the Blue Devils Those will inbound it inside.

They try to go to Carter Carter had it Wilkins backside side taken away by the Blue Devils jump ball called and the arrow will keep it on the knight's side of the floor Centennial needs to get something going here.

They jumped out to that lead and the first rush of adrenaline.

But they've got to they've got to show they can keep playing with these guys.

Carter quickly got the jumper he missed three times, cleared by Naismith quickly up the floor.

Naismith dumps it in traffic and goes takes it away Those challenges at the mercy denied the knights with another run.

I'm going to have to get the hips in such as the mercy gets off the floor pretty good himself six seven long arms working out of a shot by those two.

But the Knights will have it trailing by two right corner Johnson with the jumper airball, Naismith clears and the Blue Devils can build on their lead.

No mercy saved over them on Mount Jones.

Quickly on the move.

Quick shots off them, off Centennial with a three on to cross before those now Ritchie's pass the three nice ball movement there you know who you mean the score is true passes and they found him Basketball coach Reinhart says this team is all about well keep passing it until they find the right person to master the fact it his own three point effort that comes off the mark nice by one with the basketball.

Brown running jumper had a square look but couldn't put it down on it.

Now for the Blue Devils the Hornets he missed on his on the ball six in a row for the travel double dribble Picked it up right now Centennial doing a pretty good job on the backboard They have everybody on the team rebounding and that's what they're going to need on the verge basketball back to the blue Devils tonight trailing by or leading it by one 513 remains first half amen across the floor to them General Jones now in the corner for three Naismith back of the seven, no whips blocking out by the Knights They get the rebound quickly up the floor Brown with the land right side and he goes across the basket Got to open Chris Whiteside for the lamb three point lead for the night nominee in the paint Got it to the slammer shots all off the he'll go to the line now without the shot to one the foul him on there Charles got a wild fadeaway let him have that one the low percentage shot by Aminu sends them to the line I believe he goes for 43 remaining in this first half of a state championship.

This sets down in the semifinals Aminu with 14 points once again a key in this ballgame is Centennial keeping them down to one shot in off the offensive board it seemed like Norcross with all the big guys they had they would just kill you on the offensive boards and this time the second goals Sunday the night back the other way.

Johnson in traffic taken away by the Blue Devils, the Hornet kicks it in the corner to Jones top three now fires a three and he missed it with Johnson clear as centennial down to Brown now Ritchie on the move back out to Johnson head fakes to the rack got it airborne missed on the later Blue Devils and Muhammad back the other way through it in which he took it away three on two for the night Ritchie Fisher's right side Johnson running jumper back of the center wasn't quite square for that one.

Now the numbers back the other way.

Three on one with Anthony Sloan so sloppy on that break.

Good Some good looks down here for Centennial.

They've had a couple of open looks.

Couldn't get them to go down a heck of a ballgame.

Under 4 minutes remaining.

First half and it'll be huge for Centennial if they can go in there, even with a cross team or a little bit of a lead, you know, it will be those left, Scott Johnson to the rack and control over four points.

The lead at the block in the wall terms he just man nice post up loose ball on the wall and a good move by Centineo he gets it in there just let him score no sense and find him getting his shot.

You're going to have to give him some of those nice bye to Ritchie with the basketball.

Now Dole is on the move and that's him free went to the rack he missed on the shot.

How many clears quickly up the floor to Jones and he was fouled by Lorenzo Bryant Aminu actually had a bad rebound position then with his leaping ability and long arms just went up over the centennial player and he snatched 241 left in this first half will step aside for a timeout 1917 Knights leading it over the blue Devils of Norcross Funding for this program is provided by the Georgia High School Association.

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State Farm is there 2 minutes, 41 seconds remaining in this first half centennial in Cross engaged in a good 158 state championship ballgame.

Coach Eddie Martin and his Blue Devils defending state champs.

Next meeting, the first time appearing nice of Centennial High and the Knights are playing very well.

Yeah they're playing a really, really good game.

And everybody said that's what they were going to have to do to stay in this ballgame.

We knew it.

I mean, Norcross is just loaded with talent.

Centennial is a talented team and they just don't have the size that Norcross does.

And the division one prospects are Norcross.

But Centennial is rebounding on their defensive board.

They're hustling and coming up with lot of loose balls, and they're running their offense and getting good looks.

And if you do that and a decent percentage of your shots, you can just about play with anybody.

Charles First year head coach Alan White, hard talk about motivating his team coming into this championship ballgame.

Redfield Parker alluded to that in his opening comments that the pressure really is on our men in that first final appearance, and sometimes that can make a difference in terms of how you approach coming into a ball game of this magnitude.

It's got to be nightmare for al-Farouq Aminu to buy a clothes I guarantee you don't get him off the rack whatever wingspan he's got, maybe okay with the slacks but the shirts Muhammad picked up out front by Alex Coatsworth just checked in on the swing Now this nominee Aminu to the rack at left a short sandwiched in there nicely just did not finish nice with a no look pass inside to Jeffrey's Jeffrey turns but he misses on the shot Cumberland faces in the lineup for the Knights of Centennial Jefferson Nice job clearing out and just giving Norcross one shot again at the other end but little intimidated.

He was looking around for that defensive presence inside and missed this one down here, approaching the two minute mark left in this first half it walking right side of Foxworth Russell on the play 5 seconds good defense by Foxworth and coach White Hart can get some good a good couple of minutes out of a couple of his subs to give his starters some extra rest.

That will be big for Centennial for sure.

That's what one call on that herb.

You're right.

This ballgame is a lot of basketball left and he's going to need all of his horses to continue with his blue double team.

All right.

Scott Brown across the floor now.

Bowles, again, those try the reverse, but the shot was rejected by the wall down in the corner for three.

It's 25.

That's plus honors answers with a big bang.

The whistles inside on the Blue Devils end of the floor.

He's got to hold.

Yes, yes, yes.

I'm Centennial.

I take a little bit of air out down on the other end on offense, Charles, and make it a two or three possessions game.

Got a good chance going with the lead at half time.

Naismith to inbound it Muhammad Up top to mercy Vincent Pass was tapped but it comes cleared Aminu back to the mercy Good pass He saw it in the wall he got the lead through the foul sacks was one for the folks there like he was hit on the arm able to still finish to play though for the Super Bowl to the line for it across the line and one Richie back into the ballgame seven points eight rebounds for out of the blue wall converts on a three point play with a free throw Jones back out on the floor for coach Eddie Martin and the Blue Devils offer a comment and it takes a see.

I get a real good shot here, Charles.

And if I do give Norcross another shot, maybe they come down and then I get the last shot.

But don't rush anything here.

Clock really is an ally for the Knights at this point.

They're going to make more cross come out and play him doing exactly what you said.

Sandy Ricardo just pulls it out from under a minute, remains by Coach Martin's going to be content to give them the last shot I he's going to swap out and try to put a little pressure Johnson will work it out from the left side across the floor.

They threw it out of bounds when working what you wanted there, Herbert just did not execute at the end.

That's just what you didn't want to do.

Now.

Norcross May Maher, who knows what they'll do, but you had a good chance to go in with the lead at halftime.

Naismith and the Blue Devils setting it for the last shot down to ten.

Mohamed back to Naismith dumps it down in the corner.

JONES With three hits in front of the rack.

But there's the wall for the rebound and put the blue down.

Devils Nicely done by the Blue Devils to execute No time remaining the wall to Burks on the lay and we are tied at 22 apiece as we head into the intermission.

Listen to Phil Proctor Herb with Centennial coaching out on the White Hart built.

All right coach you know we came in you talking about your team believing in the system to tell me about the execution we're not getting this well the execution is not as good as I want it to be.

But, you know, we need to be a little more patient.

If I think if we're patient on the offensive end, we're going to get some easy looks in the second half.

At least that's what I'm hoping.

So you're going to make many adjustments.

Are you going to come back out saying, no, We play the way we play.

There's not many adjustments that can be made.

We just got to play a safer game.

All right, Coach, good luck to you the second half.

Thank you.

Back to you guys.

Thanks.

Bills Coach Ryan hard saying it is what it is and right now it's 22 apiece as we head into the International Five Boys State championship from the center, the arena at Gwinnett Center.

Stick around.

We'll be back with the halftime after this.

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State Farm is there.

This is Georgia Public Broadcasting, your PBS station from Norcross and Centennial, all tied up in the five Hey, boys final.

It has been a great one.

Now it's time to go back courtside To Phil Proctor standing by with some special guest Bill.

Hey, Dave, I got the principal's with me.

This is Stan Foust, the assistant principal over at Centennial.

And all my love is Jonathan Patterson, the principal at Norcross.

And Jonathan said you got a tie on.

We'll start with you.

How long you been there?

This is my first year at Norcross High School.

Okay, so tell me, what has it been like leading up to tonight?

Well, I'll tell you, the whole year has just been incredible.

Obviously, we've got an incredible basketball team.

We've got some incredible kids on that basketball team.

LED by guiding the wall and McDonald's all-American kid and just a McDonald's all-American good all around.

So he's just an incredible, incredible kid at the fall of the year, we had a wonderful region championship with football and a wonderful cheerleading run at it.

We've had a great swimming program and also our fine arts program has just been incredible.

We've got Jimmy Awards all around, so we just had an exciting, exciting fall.

It's been an incredible experience to be the principal of Norcross High School.

Now, I know this was happening in Norcross High School, but tell me about the community.

How is it making an impact on the community?

Well, I'll tell you what, Norcross High School has got an unbelievable community around it.

If you look here at our fans tonight, we're just just an incredible group.

Just don't believe me.

Just look at our fan base.

I tell you, we've got a great group.

Parents have been all around painting the town blue, as is the Thunder in Norcross High School.

So now you guys win the night.

Are you going to get everybody the week off?

Next week?

Well, I hope to.

I hope to, yes.

We got to we got to pull that off and then we'll we'll see about that.

We'll talk about that on Monday.

Okay.

We might need to talk to the school board, but let me go ahead and talk to stand for a minute.

Stan, what's going on over this centennial?

Well, academics and athletics, we focus on academics first because we feel if we score strong in academics, athletics will take care of itself.

We are one of the top schools in the state for our SAT scores this year.

Athletics has been incredible.

We started off last year with our first state championship with a girls swimming team.

This year we hope to bring home the boys basketball title and we hope that's going to be one of many more.

We've got great support from our students.

I think last night we had 1200 students here.

The majority of our faculty is here and we've got great parental support at our school and it's Centennial family.

So tell me about that Centennial Community, because it's important for us to know what's going on over there as well.

Well, our parents support our school without them, we know we wouldn't be where we are.

We've got fantastic kids and teachers are dying to come to our school to teach.

And our staff is young, energetic.

We make every kid feel special and we really don't have any major problems on our school at all.

We a lot of school spirit this year.

This is our 10th year.

We've only been up in ten years.

I've been there since day one, and the spirit just gets better and better and better every year.

Well, I'll tell you what, I definitely appreciate it, Stan.

Thanks so much, Jonathan.

I appreciate it.

And you know what?

You guys are the principal assistant principal.

But I got to say this.

I want one of y'all to win.

Okay?

Hey, Dave, I'm going get out the principals corner.

This is where I get in trouble all the time.

Yeah, you make a habit of that.

Indeed.

Phil, great job right there.

And a great ball game at the half 12 to 12 after the first quarter, 20 to 22 at the break.

Indeed.

Yeah.

Great.

Half of high school basketball and hopefully the second half will live up to that as well.

Taking a look back at some of the first half highlights, we throw it back to the table.

Charles Ward and Herb White standing by, guys.

And thank you, Dave hanging in there for a long night from the anchoring spot.

We appreciate it.

Herb 2222 at the break.

I got to be surprised by the Knights of Centennial doing a great job in that first half.

Yeah.

After Norcross beat Wheeler in the first round of this tournament, people were ready to give Norcross the crown already.

But somebody forgot to tell the Centennial Knights that the Knights leading are trailing are tied at 22 at the break, his first half starts.

Only they kind of bear out the play of the nicey centennial.

Only four turnovers is a big category for them and doing a good job as they always do is distributing that basketball.

In terms of shot selection, yeah, they're doing what they have to do.

Turnovers is really key.

Only four turnovers for Centennial and they're staying pretty close on the on the boards with Norcross, a 15 to 11 lead for Norcross on the boards, but they haven't killed them on the offensive boards like they do so many teams in there.

You know, if Centennial can keep those two stats right where they are, they're shooting the ball about as well as Norcross.

So they're getting as many free throws.

So they've shot a couple more.

So that is even as you can look, guarding the wall, leading all scorers with nine points in that first half.

But right now we're tied at 22 apiece.

The Knights of Centennial and the Blue Devils of Norcross.

We'll take a quick time out.

We'll come back and get started with the third from the arena action, etc.

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This is Georgia Public Broadcasting, your PBS station on back back at the arena at Gwinnett Center getting set to start the third quarter five.

A championship state of Georgia.

Blue Devils of Norcross and the Knights of Centennial tied at 22 apiece.

As we get set to start.

The second half has some important first couple, three, 4 minutes for Centennial.

Charles, you know, Norcross is going to want to come out and try to establish some dominance, feel like maybe they didn't play their game in the first half.

So they're going to try to come out and prove something.

But if Centennial can withstand that and hang with them, you're going to have is the ball game to the end?

I believe so.

Let's see what happens the next four or 5 minutes here.

How?

First run after the breaks.

Always important.

Blue Devils will have first crack at it on offense and their capacity crowd here at the arena is Gwinnett Center.

Real testament to the popularity of basketball in the state of Georgia.

Muhammad left side to the mercy, No mercy on the move.

Russell On the inside with Ritchie caught him out around the free throw line helps call it on Robbie Johnson inside for the score and a mercy Well shoot converts on the first goal.

Andy Martin calls Jordan Love Mercy The X Factor.

The Mercy already committed to Florida State University, averaging ten points per game on the regular season for the bucks on both of the free throws.

He's a good swing, man.

He's got a nice jump shot.

He can put it on a throw and take it to the basket.

Brown sourcing Antonio now Johnson running jumper he thought she missed on the shot there for the flip back was far but this off is off the mark as well Back the other way Aminu Alley oop pass got the and nicely done from behind goes to the rack shot put off but a nice backside tips but with just over.

Centennial full court man to man on it with those guarding close Naismith out front in traffic got it over to the wall and the wall in from across back the other way quickly Brown brown in traffic tied up by Naismith the foul on Naismith and Norcross.

But Norcross is going to try to take the ball to the hoop and pass it around inside, use their height, their size, get some easy baskets.

Charles More not easy, but closer.

Brown the sophomore to shoot missed on the first first minute and a half or so of this third quarter so easily the Blue Devils are knocked off as brown converts on the second of two Blue Devils enjoying that largest lead of three point Naismith.

So to have it now at the block on the turn the wall fighting with up to the Seminoles on it to fall off the block car right back up the wall wall rejects that shot out of bounds car just has nothing inside the wall right now and that's six nine with the long arms tough to get it over them.

Johnson Out front at the block.

Carr lost the ball off his foot.

Basketball.

MUHAMMAD Right side.

NAISMITH Now back to the wall there with a stop on the road for the Blue Devils.

RITCHIE Back the other way for some city in double teamed in the corner 30 to 25 Now jump shot.

That one's going to be short basketball corralled by the wall and the blue Devils.

There comes Muhammad quickly across the time line and after that the block for the mercy of the nets.

He takes it away.

Brown right side to the rack, his shots off Gramercy players, three on two, right side the wall with the reverse.

No, that's right.

Harden may want to think about a timeout.

He's got to get it, man.

He hurt you.

522 in the third.

I don't know how he hurt me because he could hardly hear anything in here with the ball.

Fans didn't answer it.

After the break.

Norcross starting to work in transition.

They lead it now, 34 to 25.

Nice break here.

They had the three on two Larry Smith with the push dish inside in the wall.

You know he's going to finish that.

Yeah, 23 for 25 Blue devils leading it 522 remaining in the third quick timeout back will stay here.

Yeah I think Coach White Hart now it's just me If I'm him I might call off the full court pressure right now.

Try to slow down this pace, get back down into a half court game, maybe pack it back in.

I don't know if he's got his own, but at least get back down.

Make sure you don't have the three on two and two on one for Norcross.

Just jams it down your throat and that gets the crowd going, this demoralize.

And so we'll see what happens.

But this is what you had to worry about.

Norcross coming out and just taking it inside to the basket and just overpowering you.

Nice averaging 72 points per ballgame.

Offensively.

The question will be can they play from behind with this group from Norcross Brown will inbound it for Centennial right side dumped it down at the block car car head fakes to the rack Nicely done by Leonard the stadium is back up the floor at Emerson they play catch with him out the block off and another step inside.

That's the problem with trying to pressure this team.

Their big guys handle it like guards and they just pass right over you.

They were on the floor.

Well, they are the Blue Devils and get the basket nine point lead right block whistle on the play Johnson was blocked headed to the basket by the 4230 pressure on Denzel Jones getting set to check the check in that step ball Roddy Johnson from the line Johnson a 65% advance on the first avenue of the park.

Jones onto the floor, seven points, three rebounds thus far for the junior second of two and a runner spins out of it.

But the rebound becomes clear to Jones and the corner with the jumper and Brown goes up looking rattles around.

What a nice good trip for the Knights.

Then they needed those three hot handles Norcross leads by six.

We're under 5 minutes remaining in the third.

Dole is applying pressure all the way through, looking for a whistle.

They give him a difficult travel call down there, but it's a three second violation.

A 419 remains in the third.

We'll step aside for a timeout.

Blue Devils leading at 3236 30 over the Knights upset.

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4 minutes 19 seconds left in the third quarter.

Blue Devils Lacrosse leading at 3630 over the Knights of Centennial five, a state championship contest.

I was still a little bit of that run for Norcross and got back two of the points, and that was big for them.

I'll see what they can do with the rest of the 419 remaining in this quarter.

And again, I think it's better for Centennial to try to slow this pace down because Norcross is not going to miss many of those shots for a foot and a half above the rim, Not the dunk goals will inbound.

It.

Coach Whitehurst knows his club and they've won 21 straight away Hearts Brown up top Johnson with good defensive pressure by diversity ball Carr right side banging with two at the basket Look at that run the ball and indeed the foul big conversion there by Leonard Carr Got to give Carr credit he's had about six shots blocked but he put his head down and went by the big guy nice soft kiss off the grass and we're really putting the pressure on Ritchie.

They've got somebody sticking with him.

They're going to try to keep him from being a factor in this quarter.

Still on the play by the nice and on the way and go always over how one point lead now for Norcross good defensive work by centennial at the block Jones now with the jumper from about ten feet away he comes right back up the ball comes to Ritchie with the pass in the corner with holes now across the floor.

Brown, Brown to the rack.

Wilson on the play blocking foul on the wall.

You got a high level of basketball being played in this quarter.

Charles Just some exciting action by both teams and Centennial not listening to me.

They're staying with the pressure and thinking they can play with this Norcross team in the 1994 Good game 3835, the score here at the Arena Brown from Hawks on the first 3 minutes 30 remaining in the third Brown's hard on the second mercy on a hoop inside to the wall and traffic got to the rack but he missed play as well And Shaquille O'Neal half the block it was kicked by Brown nice loose on the floor inside the paint session Harrell with a nice system setting further down Monterey goes down there for getting on again on the shoelaces.

Lonnie Goal brought the ball down.

Goal stepped in there and might have missed the layup.

Two point blue double lead nice and down the basketball brown out front.

At the three minute Mark Ritchie will draw the double team in the corner down at the block to Carter spins on the wall out of there over the sixth overall foul with the big shot That's the kind of shots that make you think you got a chance to win the state championship and here comes the steal herb inside Brown was fouled although get him for the carrier Yeah he was trying to work around the defensive Jordan to mercy Look at this.

Look at this.

One, two three down Could have got the foul call on that as well.

Heroic effort there by Leonard Carr.

The hook shot always works to the shooter's favor.

You keep it away from your body and away from the defender.

Nicely done by Leonard Carr, tied at 38 whistles down low.

Now they're going to get Ritchie for stepping in.

Pretty good play going for the ball there.

2 minutes, 16 seconds remaining in the third Aminu in the corner guarded by Johnson Now Muhammad outside over to the mercy of the mercy with the left hand He missed the naismith's there for the kick back for the Blue Devils goals works to the right side now kicks it back out the car he'll try from three point range Carr misses on that one though.

Naismith gets the rebound, Ritchie takes it away for Centennial and a timeout taken by the nice before the jump ball called Great move by goes right there Quick hands 37 coaches have to be on top of their game as well so just a huge effort by Centennial got down nine points as soon as it hit nine.

They turned around, came down and got three points the hard way.

And since then they've claw their way back into this ballgame.

It's a two point game.

We got more basketball action coming our way tomorrow from making the girl see the play.

It'll be Landmark Christian versus Hopkinsville, that one at 11 a.m. on GPB.

Then the boy single-A, Whitefield Academy versus Lucas County, that one at 1245 girls to Wesleyan and to see it 3 p.m. the boys Double-A Manchester in Dodge County coming away at 445 girls, triple-A Franklin County and he's tall.

Tomorrow night at 7 p.m. and then boys triple play it'll be Jordan versus Westlands, our East Hall at 845 tomorrow night.

All of that action right on GPB nights and car at the block two brown now back up top Johnson for three banked it off the glass didn't draw and basketball all over to the blue Devils three on two Aminu one traffic basket was good and he was somehow Aminu got that basketball up to the Iraq and got it to fall I think Ritchie thought there's no way he's going to make that so he didn't really foul him hard if he thought he was going to make it he'd probably hit him a little harder.

But good job Aminu to hang in the air and double clutch.

Wow, it is so rangy in terms of his size, but he runs the floor very well for the Blue Devils he missed on the free throw, but the mostly clears Blue Devils with a lot of luck.

The wall was stuff big trip here for centennial approaching a minute remaining third 3438 Blue devils leading it.

Got to try to get some picks for Ritchie get him open he's free for three missed the backside side will clear still had a hand in his face They played that thing pretty good Whistle in the forecourt Muhammad fouled by Del Monte those two senior for less than a minute remains third quarter as Denzel Jones checks back into the lineup for the Blue Devils.

Morgan Jones spot up shooter Blue Devils taking the air out of the ball.

They try to see if they can get the final shot off here at the Mercy, the left side all the way to the rack.

Ritchie snapped it out of there, going to call a foul.

Got a little bit more than the basketball.

His team no across the call athletes that can handle the ball the mercy of six seven by this time and then just took it to the hoop for mercy on the first two converts on that for the Blue Devils starters, at least six five or better in terms of height.

And the mercy is one of those at six five to senior tonight, three points, four rebounds.

Good defensive work for the mercy as well missed on the second car clear score centennial with a good one here Brown up top the mercy after the way he wasn't looking back down the end of the floor.

The lesson for the league was excellent defensive work by Jordan.

The mercy heads up so Brown wasn't paying attention.

That Hurt tapped it.

The Naismith who gave it right back to the mercy and he converted for three.

It's brown right on it.

But he missed.

The third quarter comes to a close they slug it out right now Norcross leading at 4738 at the end of three.

We'll take a time out.

We'll come back to the arena at Gwinnett Center to finish this one off the Boys five eight championship.

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One is not over by any stretch of the imagination.

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This is Georgia Public Broadcasting, your PBS station and one we have played three here at the arena for that center, the boys five a championship contest.

Well, cross leading it as we head into the fourth 4738 over a scrappy bunch of nights from Centennial High.

That centennial fought their way back into that thing, got that nine down in the middle of that quarter and I can take it out of you sometimes you look back up there in your nine down again let's see what centennial has got left.

I don't have any quit in their heart.

Let's see what their bodies have left the mercy to inbound that to get us going in the fourth Charles Ward, Herb Whyte and Phil Proctor with a58 play ball.

No in the last 235 for Norcross whistles on the play pushed off by the Mercy Norcross is coming out and they're keying on Richie.

They've decided they're going to take him out of the game as much as they can and he's got the mercy six, seven.

He's giving up five inches.

And his 19, he's the leading scorer.

So they're going to try to shut him down as much as possible.

So what's it over the Browns now to Richie for mercy guarding the closely down Brown bounce pass the car fire at the last shot of their ball foul called on the inside it's not only only from there but he knows how to use his body car a66 to let's have that football bill to him that's the one advantage he may have on the call a lot on the inside so that he can push him around with the muscle.

He's getting it done from the free throw line when he's getting the opportunity, embarks on the first big percentage of the score first in this quarter.

Tarik Muhammad coming back out on the floor for the Blue Devils and on the night, eight points and five rebounds averages ten points.

The all is just picked up as no Mahomet as the Blue Devils across the timeline they lead at 4739 Muhammad trapped at the sideline.

Now up front, Tony Smith Richie guarding going to get a whistle there.

Richie trying to catch up with his second 719 remains The mercy will inbound it Blue Devils defending state champs at 258 as Aminu lost it centennial back the other way and they want to stop the run so Brown said barely got it to stay down that's one you don't want to miss trying to dunk it he's got to break there and we got a five point ballgame Charles Muhammad left side all the way through slices.

Anybody misses Parker's car two big plays on the defensive end.

They could take it down to three, so slip down.

But it comes clear to Johnson Johnson in traffic and.

It takes him the car comes back with it inside the three foul by Naismith.

Back to the lines.

Atlanta for the seven.

Let's take a look at the play before his car.

Seen it up there.

Brown out on play left That's when you won't look at in the future if you've missed it, I guarantee you car misses on the first of two possession game right now centennial staying with that pressure and it's paying off a little bit higher for the second same result had it in and it jumped out of there.

The lead remains fast for the Blue Devils to mercy.

Quickly up to Florida, to wall to wall in traffic offensive over the wall a block down there.

my goodness.

090 was double teamed at the corner, not literally try to jump out of the coverage.

It could have gone either way.

That's play well will go to the right just perfect form.

The six foot nine senior big free throws as they run from the line 4942 blue devils leading in goals and the nice there on the floor.

Ritchie in the corner now Carr the block inside got into the last he missed the and is tied on the surface as he calls the jumper from outside the wall is hobbled a bit so the Blue Devils Centennial continues to scrap and come up with a loose ball, even after it looks like Norcross has the rebound on the left corner and the block low wall on call.

Carr rejects it for a whistle.

Here's the low down there for a66 man.

I guarantee you they got to get him some help.

They are manning up down there, though, here on the wall.

Take a look at this.

Actually got his money's worth on that call.

Not for the faint of heart.

The wall for the hawks on the line is going to get a well-deserved rest.

Will Carr takes the seat the wall for the second shot that hard which is clear so the knights Brown Johnson on the move slices through the blue wall with the rejection ominous but they're going to get him to the foul drop if they're going to get to the wall or no it is after they're getting out it was trailing on the play clear the shot the block with this basketball but he got that body on him.

That's when he's blocking from behind.

They're usually going to give the offensive player the call.

Needless to say, huge free throws.

JOHNSON got the first five of the night starters, averaging double figures for ball games.

Johnson has already got double tonight, ten points.

Second shot was off the mark Blue Devils throw it away Richard comes through with it, presented it up over there Johnson Johnson in the corner set Dominic Brown across the floor to Reggie Jumper running in the corner Nice defense now he's just tough tough just a great shot over a67 defender to mercy all over him and Richie found the range and it just like that because some a nine point lead to a three point lead left corner firing a three Miami it's off the mark Dominique Brown clears four centennial one possession game those alley oop pass to room but too high control they make that Charles the roof comes off the goodness civic center as a center at Gwinnett they had it set full court pressure now by the knights Mahomet and the mercy try to walk it off the floor for the Blue Devils under 5 minutes remaining Aminu in traffic back to Muhammad May Smith out front Lorenzo Brown defensively and a timeout taken by the Blue Devils and Norcross for 29 remaining in the third and the blue devils leading it 50 to 47.

They've gone from a nine point lead to a down to three scrappy bunch from Centennial 36 Thursday nights at 7:30 p.m..

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Coach Eddie Martin in his fifth year with the Blue Devils of Norcross, has taken them to three straight final appearances in the state of Georgia.

This group, the defending state champs, ranked number one in the state, also ranked number seven nationally this year against Charles Dear basketball fan, this is as good as it gets.

It's just an outstanding ball game by both of these teams.

And look for Norcross try to penetrate get something inside again Gramercy will inbound the basketball ometer for the Saints left side lost and I'll the ball over to the left side which is Stafford Jefferson good defensive effort by Tony Smith of a cover for the Blue Devils That's a super block Naismith at about six four went up and took it away across the time line We got whistles down low and they're going to get Dominique Brown holding up Ritchie going to the rack.

But Naismith denying well for the Blue Devils that Ritchie knew it was there trying to hesitate just a little bit.

Naismith wouldn't have it.

And couple more big free throws for Garnett.

A wall.

The wall rattles the first quarter.

Good for Red Cross, 28 points and seven rebounds.

A wall giving 29 goals up front for some here Now, Ritchie, you can take him off the dribble right here.

Raise this with the jumper.

as they move spins out of there.

Blue Devils got the numbers back the other way.

There's no messing with the ball with the top four.

Norcross got to come away with points here if you're centennial that's brown and traffic got it airborne this fight for zone rebound and got the lay up left side behind it quickly up the floor for Norcross though the mercy left side in traffic back to the wall at the rack he just wow that's a great play by the mercy and a great play by Dominique Brown, a hard foul, but he gets them to the basket and put in 322 left in basketball game for a wall a good hard fall by Brown as you indicate at the moment that as long as you hit the offensive player up high, the wall missed on the first check and back again Brown with a good job inside while he was in so the hard foul by Brown they pay off the walls and it's the final 31 points tonight Look at the field there 12 of 15 from the floor granite they've all been inside arm so a true possession game Charles goes inside they left him alone with the runner softly set up but he missed the wall clears for Norcross Danielle needs a stop here Mahomet across the timeline or at the three minute mark remaining slices.

Now over to the wall.

Parts of the glass whistles on the play and Johnny Lual wall.

Just taking this basketball game over for the Blue Devils.

He won't be denied six foot nine.

He's got that quick first step.

And once he gets in the paint about all you can do is foul him.

Carr picks up the foul.

That was his fifth heck of a ballgame for that man there in the six battling all those guys for Norcross inside a lot of heart indeed it was coach Allen White hearts obviously giving him the praise for a good job on the right So night departs our car departs nominee Brown back in the ballgame and the big guys from Norcross see him they know there's not going to be anything easy.

The last two safety blue wall from the line missed on first big free throw because this makes it a three possession game.

Charles seven points to 53 with three left in the contest.

And this time the second it's tacked around and the mercy clears for the Blue Devils in traffic basketball stays with Marcus to his advantage for the Blue Devils showing itself there.

And the longer the game goes, the more tired you get, the more the size matters.

Centennial with an excellent opportunity.

Low ball missed on both free throws, but you kind of get that rebound referee giving the players a little bit of a break.

Why put up some frustration on the floor they don't mind a few extra seconds and just a rough week there.

Mercy in the corner to the wall pumps one now to the rack missed on the shot given slot for loose.

And finally picked up and cleared by Johnson Instantaneous.

Ritchie puts it down in the corner to Brown back to Richard now Brown hard to the glass.

He somehow got it over the rim and got the man on the move back up the floor.

He's just another Bruin on the defense one from Silas.

Within the ten feet of the basket.

There was absolutely nothing he could do.

Aminu was just tough around 12 feet smart play not the foul man got to have a bucket to 15 remains still only a six point differential those kicks it to Ritchie squares for three Ritchie rocks it with the right big one by Alex Ritchie Here come the Blue Devils Aminu in the corner up to Naismith Naismith in traffic he responds Unbelievable court shot by Ritchie the corner over there the three just outstanding basketball shoot on the pressure You can tell everybody in the building knew he was going take the shot and he still got it off and drained it Incredible Naismith shooter on big free throws missed on the first Well another here and it's a one possession game Charles Smith double fours on the night four points four rebounds in the second looks off and is off the wall Had a shot at the put back but he missed the 26 and he goes right side looking for a shot back up top don't stay sluggish Johnson squares the three he had a nice look and put it in came out the wall clear sitting across a minute 30 remaining you play up the hope they're going to miss one the lead is three to mercy in and out Russell now in the paint the mercy had a strip and it comes clear whistles inside Third violation of the Blue Devils.

All right, Coach White Hart, you're going to call it time.

Is he just going to run something here?

They're going to go with it.

Those handles of basketball, I believe I'd be thinking about getting Mr. Ritchie a shot.

Three point lead from across Johnson.

It's on the double screen for Ritchie, but Johnson going to go to the rack, the wall with the shot the most.

He's three behind the defense and he's trying to set the double screen far side for Ritchie.

But Johnson took it to the rack instead.

Now in the corner, Ritchie back up top.

Johnson had a tap for Richard Gary Charles that's I want to make sure the official called it.

We're under a minute remaining.

Half.

Yeah.

I think Johnson would have been better off letting that other play develop a moment ago, maybe given Ritchie the shot.

He's made some huge ones timeout, taken the floor, taken by the Blue Devils and Norcross.

They lead at 5954 on the first.

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Great day of basketball here from the Arena Aqua that center and the culminating contest of this five eight championships cannot ask for a better contest.

Yeah I thought it was going to be tough to top that for and I don't know if we topped it, but we sure got in there.

Two great, great basketball games we've done today.

Charles It was a couple of lucky guys and a lot of lucky fans here in the gym and also people watching across the state.

Indeed, you're right.

And just a cool hat off to the fans that make the trip up to the mat to support these young kids, both boys and girls.

It's really a good testament to the popularity of basketball in the state of Georgia and how much is really enjoyed.

Yep, and we want to keep doing these games.

We'd like some of those folks out there to join with us to become members of Georgia Public Broadcasting and get on the team.

Watching is fine, but for the members even better, Johnson can focus on the first Johnson, just a junior, 65% free throw shooter.

But if what you do at crunch time, it matters.

See, if they jump into that full court pressure after the basket Johnson missed the wall clears for cross from right a foul now over to Aminu Aminu back to Muhammad that 30 seconds finish now Muhammad's fouled on penetration the early Muhammad a sophomore 16 to transfer from Centennial last year into the no cross program three I guess they wouldn't mind if he was wearing the dunk the other three jersey tonight lost on the first which is not going to talk about how I feel about people transferring schools personal matters for another day missed out on both on the wall there for the put back but he looks soft at the basketball centennial back the other way.

They can cut into that lead here.

Wow.

From 17 seconds there, Richard was prompted by Muhammad.

See the nine or ten?

That's ten fouls on Norcross.

That'll put him at the bonus.

Three shots, 16.5 remaining free throws are important here.

Well, you got to decide who you want to foul here, Charles.

I'd call a timeout after the first three pointer sat here on the foul show that he's going to make both of these what he's good on the first 15 points tonight for Alex which he missed on the second and third foul the put back he missed on the first half he was a foul inside possible four point swing on the right side of the floor here at Brown to convert on this free throw Dominique Brown what a job coming in off the bench yesterday.

Chris you called it hard after a foul Dominique Brown inserted back into the lineup getting yeah, Danny the wall just mistimed his jump the ball hit the rim one time more than he was counting on Brown a great job stepping in there gets the rebound goes back up and drops the foul Unbelievable 30 seconds remains for Brown because he's right there from the line We will be tired.

I have to ask Coach White hard should Centennial pull this out if he called the missed free throw the bounce around and then the three point shot off the rebound.

Be interesting to find a heck of a play don't forget, even if he makes the free throw here though, Norcross got 13.4 seconds to come down and get something going.

And so but what an unbelievable turn of events here.

Nine down again, we were talking about it.

What did these kids from Centennial have left?

And they've shown us Dominique Brown, the senior to the line.

I guess this is the biggest free throw of his life.

Probably so Brown missed tackle on the wall handles for your cross that followed in the back backboard.

Big rebound there.

I thought it was going to bounce around and centennial trying to come up with another one.

But even if he makes both of these Charles Centennial still a shot.

9.6 seconds left.

So go to Mercy, the senior with a nice stroke.

See what he can do.

He mostly misses on the first.

So now centennial, assuming he makes this or is shooting for the win, I think he's going to get a time out if he should make this 12 point lead by now across Coach White Howard having a conversation with the coach Jordan d'Amboise for the second time he missed them both went becomes clear that Alex Ritchie and the Knights of Centennial when you talk about drama, it's unbelievable.

It's just unbelievable basketball here they it's what can you say, Charles Nobody really gave Centennial chance.

I must have talked to 25 people before this ball game.

Everybody said not a match.

Well, you said coming into it, they had to play one of their best games of the season.

They've done it.

Unbelievable scrappiness.

They've come up with so many loose balls, come up with so many rebounds against the taller Norcross team.

And Norcross has not played a bad game.

They've played a good game.

Centennial just played right there with them so far.

And now they've got a chance to Blue Devils leading it by one.

They are the defending state champs.

This is the first trip to the finals for the Knights of Centennial High, looking for their first ever state title in basketball schools.

Only ten years old.

All right.

Well, let's see how it's played here because it's going to happen.

They got to bring it the length of the floor.

Well, cross may take it there.

They're in the bonus.

So no crosses got to play it fairly loose.

Any free throw any foul puts Centennial on the line for two here hold onto your seats now.

Nobody sitting in their seats to hang on to where you're standing.

You'll have to carry the length of this floor as indicate her.

But no fouls be given up by the Blue Devils.

They show full court pressure.

They're going to make it hard for Centennial to take it up the floor.

Ritchie inbounds it.

He'll handle down by Ritchie in traffic.

Todd Harrison the most in schools in the world class and the Blue Devils will welcome the 2007 five in the state championship.

That's great.

They had a shot at it.

The Knights did on their side of the floor, but Ritchie had it tapped away.

Good defensive work by the Blue Devils and they repeat as state champs five eight division.

Yeah.

Ritchie got the double team.

He didn't force the shot.

He did the right thing.

Look for somebody else.

Just got the pass tipped and it was all over.

And fans, we don't need this, don't need the taunting of the fans.

Blue Devils second straight division five eight title State of Georgia.

And boy, did they have to scrap to get it was a great, great basketball team game by both teams.

Norcross showing why they're one of the great teams and just a absolutely unbelievable effort by Centennial to hang with these guys Blue Devils win it 5958 over the Knights of Centennial.

We'll step aside for a timeout with the postgame problem in the arena.

Edwin at Center.

Let's consider it a chance for you.

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Your PBS station on your tomorrow Norcross, your five state champs state of Georgia I feel Proctor standing by with head coach Eddie Martin That's right, Charles.

I got the winning coach here.

Coach, how's it feel?

It's unbelievable.

I mean, it's unbelievable the fact that, number one, obviously we had some luck on our side right down the stretch right there.

There's no question about it.

But when we lost that region championship game to patient Ridge, that put us into the bracket that we were in, I don't think a lot of folks thought we could do this.

And we put it on those kids back and they they carried it the whole way through.

They've accomplished something.

It was this hard to do with the route that we had to take this year.

What is it going to mean, the second championship to the Norcross School, the community and even you?

Well, it's you know, it'll take a couple of minutes to sink in, I'm sure.

But there's no question last year was exciting because it was the first one.

But this year has a little bit of excitement, not a little bit a lot of excitement to it just because everybody expected us to do this.

And when everybody expects you to do it and then you still accomplish it, you've accomplished a feat right there.

Talk about the performance of Got in the Wall down the street.

Hi.

I'm okay, right?

I miss him already.

I miss him already because he is unbelievably work ethic.

Whatever he does, he bust his tail on it and everybody else feeds off that.

And I'm just tickled to death that I had the opportunity for two years to work with him.

Well, Coach, I want to congratulate you.

You can go celebrate with the team very much.

All right, Charles, here is the winning coach to state titles.

Back to you, boss.

He's been here three times and the results have been real good for the Blue Devils of Norcross.

2007 boys, five eight state champs, state of Georgia.

Back to back for a good group from Norcross Eddie Martin in his fifth year.

Congratulations to them.

But hats off to the Knights of Centennial High.

Great, great basketball game.

And like Coach Martin said, a very, very difficult thing to do to win two in a row.

The Blue Devils will say so long to God in the wall.

But sure, he surely made his presence felt in this championship ballgame.

The wall played just as well as as he did for the Blue Devils.

They win at 5958 over the Knights of Centennial High 27 Champs Division five, the Blue Devils of Norcross High School from the Arena Equine Arts Center.

Charles Warren on behalf of Herb White and Phil program, all of us at GPB reminding you to tune in tomorrow for more basketball action from Macon.

But until then, good night, everybody.

Funding for the broadcast of a 2007 Georgia High School Association of State Basketball Championships has been provided in part by Georgia's Electric Membership Corporation, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, IBEW Local 613 Atlanta, Wachovia.

The Georgia Student Finance Commission.

By viewers like you and the Georgia High School Association, who wish to thank the Georgia Dodge Dealer State Bar and Verizon Wireless for their support of high school sports programing on DVD and.