[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 19, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E888]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        IN RECOGNITION OF THE I.C. NORCOM BOYS' BASKETBALL TEAM

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. ROBERT C. ``BOBBY'' SCOTT

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 19, 2010

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise with great pride to call 
attention to a group of young students who have distinguished 
themselves, their school, their community, and the city of Portsmouth, 
Virginia.
  The I.C. Norcom Greyhounds boys' basketball team had a remarkable 
season and I believe the Greyhounds deserve formal recognition for 
their accomplishments. On March 12, 2010, the I.C. Norcom Greyhounds 
won the Group AAA boys' state basketball championship. The Greyhounds 
completed their 2010 season with an impressive 25-4 record.
  I.C. Norcom won the championship in memorable fashion. Down ten 
points with 7:48 left in the game, the team rallied back to trail 54-53 
with a minute left to play. A buzzer-beating shot by Shelton Haskins 
with 1.5 seconds left sealed the 55-54 victory over a previously 
unbeaten team from Petersburg High School.
  I.C. Norcom made history throughout the tournament. They were the 
first Portsmouth team to ever reach a semifinal game. In a similar 
comeback victory against Chantilly High, Norcom advanced to the AAA 
Championship, again the first team from Portsmouth to do so. The win 
gives the school and the city of Portsmouth its first Group AAA state 
basketball title.
  I.C. Norcom was founded in 1913 as the High Street School, the first 
public high school for black students in Portsmouth. It was renamed in 
1953 in honor of its first supervising principal, Israel Charles 
Norcom, a pioneering educator, civic leader and businessman. Now, more 
than 50 years and three locations later, I.C. Norcom High School is 
still an innovating and inspiring place for Portsmouth students.
  In addition to excelling on the basketball court, the Greyhounds are 
also doing great things in the classroom. I.C. Norcom houses a Center 
of Excellence in Math and Science, which provides students with 
additional classes in science, math, and technology. Fifty seniors this 
year will be receiving their Center of Excellence Diplomas which 
require five science course credits, one more than required under the 
advanced diploma. In addition 23 I.C. Norcom seniors have been 
participating in the First College program--attending Tidewater 
Community College this semester and taking up to 14 college credits 
before they graduate. I.C. Norcom is doing a great job cultivating 
excellence both on and off the athletic field.
  I would like to extend my enthusiastic congratulations to the I.C. 
Norcom players, their families, principal Lynn Briley, coach Leon 
Goolsby and the rest of his coaching staff, on the occasion of this 
historic Boy's basketball championship. On behalf of the people of the 
Third Congressional district of Virginia, I.C. Norcom alumni, and the 
entire city of Portsmouth, I commend them for this historic win and 
wish the program years of success in the future.

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