[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 46 (Friday, April 1, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E606]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




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

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                     HON. ROBERT C. ``BOBBY'' SCOTT

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 1, 2011

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, they have done it again! I rise 
today to once again congratulate the Boys Basketball Team of I.C. 
Norcom High School in Portsmouth, Virginia, on winning the Virginia 
High School League Group AAA State Basketball Championship.
  On Friday March 11, before a sellout crowd at Virginia Commonwealth 
University's Siegel Center, the Greyhounds of I.C. Norcom beat L.C. 
Bird of Chesterfield 54-45 to win their second consecutive State 
Basketball Championship. They are the first consecutive year champions 
since 2004, and have brought the second State Basketball Championship 
to the city of Portsmouth.
  Not content to rest on the accomplishments of last year, Coach Leon 
Goolsby pushed the Greyhounds to even greater heights this year. The 
team's 30-1 record this year, the best in school history, improved on 
last year's 25-4 record. This year's team was able to win four titles 
(Eastern District Regular Season Champions, Eastern District Tournament 
Champions, Eastern Region Champions, and State Champions) while last 
year's team only captured three of these four. Under the tutelage of 
Coach Goolsby, the Greyhounds have grown and matured into being one of 
the top three Boys' Basketball teams in the Nation in multiple national 
polls.
  Perhaps more impressive than the number of I.C. Norcom's wins is the 
way in which they won their games. The Greyhounds have consistently 
rallied from behind beating opponents who thought they had their games 
won. I can say from first-hand experience that this persevering ethic 
makes their games even more exciting to watch. I had the opportunity to 
see I.C. Norcom play in both the State Tournament Semi-final game 
against Highland Springs, and the Championship against L.C. Bird, and 
in both games, the team trailed at the half. But like clockwork, the 
Greyhounds, with a smothering defense and deft offense came back in the 
second half of both games to win by a comfortable margin.
  These consecutive state championships will be the newest milestones 
in the long and storied history of I.C. Norcom High School. It was 
founded in 1913 as the High Street School, the first public high school 
for black students in Portsmouth. I.C. Norcom was renamed in 1953 in 
honor of its first supervising principal Israel Charles Norcom, a 
pioneering educator, civic leader and businessman. Now, more than fifty 
years and three locations later, I.C. Norcom High School is still an 
innovating and inspiring place for Portsmouth students.
  I.C. Norcom is doing a great job cultivating excellence both on and 
off the athletic field. 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.
  Once again, I would like to extend my congratulations to the I.C. 
Norcom players and their families, Principal Lynn Briley, Coach Leon 
Goolsby and the rest of his coaching staff. On behalf of the people of 
the Third Congressional District of Virginia, I.C. Norcom alumni, and 
the entire City of Portsmouth, I say job well done on a second 
consecutive championship, and I wish the program years of success in 
the future.

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