[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 71 (Monday, May 23, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E927]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    NORTH POINT HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL TEAM CLASS 4A MARYLAND STATE 
                               CHAMPIONS

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                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 23, 2011

  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to praise and congratulate the 
North Point varsity basketball team on winning the Class 4A Maryland 
state finals. The narrow victory over Patterson High School on March 
12th was not only a great achievement for the North Point Eagles but 
was the first time a Southern Maryland Athletic Conference team has 
taken the championship in 39 years.
  This year's championship is the perfect ending to the perfect season. 
After months of training, practice, travel and games, the Eagles earned 
a number one seed and a home regional championship game against Glen 
Burnie. North Point put Glen Burnie to rest in one solid quarter, 
gaining a 29 to 6 lead from which Glen Burnie could not recover.
  After 26 wins and no losses, North Point faced one last challenge--to 
beat Patterson High School in the state finals at the Comcast Center in 
College Park, Maryland. North Point took the lead early and then fell 
behind only to finish strong in dramatic fashion, triumphing by just 76 
to 72 over their respectable opponents. The ``epic Blast at Comcast'' 
completed for a 27 and 0 record for these student-athletes, making them 
the only one in Maryland to have a perfect season.
  Under the guidance of their coach, Jimmy Ball, this basketball team's 
strong defense made the difference. According to a recent news release, 
``North Point led by as much as 16 points but found themselves trailing 
Patterson 66-65 with 3:20 remaining. Senior Gerel Simmons scored seven 
points in the final two and a half minutes to seal the title. 
Sophomores Naim Muhammad, who recorded a double-double (20 points, 11 
rebounds), and Marquis Wright, who scored nine points and dished out 12 
assists, paced the Eagles defensive effort against a Patterson team 
that averaged more than 80 points a contest this year. Senior captain 
Devonte Thomas scored 10 points and collected eight rebounds while 
Simmons finished with 19 points.''
  Let me also honor the entire North Point High School community for 
they are an integral part of this team's victorious season. At every 
game the fans chant, in a unified voice, ``We are North Point.'' As 
Principal Kim Hill has said, the motto declares that ``We are many, but 
we are united as one.'' And as one team, one school, and one community 
they were able to accomplish victory. Congratulations to the North 
Point High School Eagles and the North Point Community.

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