[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 48 (Wednesday, March 26, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E448]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




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

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. ROBERT C. ``BOBBY'' SCOTT

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 26, 2014

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. 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 13, 2014, the I.C. Norcom Greyhounds beat the John Handley 
Judges of Winchester, Virginia, to win the Group 4A boys' state 
basketball championship. The Greyhounds completed their 2014 season 
with an impressive 23-5 record. I.C. Norcom won the championship with a 
nearly unbelievable comeback. Down sixteen points with seven minutes 
left in the game, the team went on a 21-0 run, outscoring the Judges 
33-12 in the fourth quarter. At the end of the game, the Greyhounds had 
prevailed with a final score of 59 to 52.
  I.C. Norcom's boys' basketball team has had a consistent run of 
excellence in recent years. With this year's championship, I.C. Norcom 
has won three state championships in the past five years, becoming a 
dominant force in Virginia high school sports.
  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 100 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. Seniors completing 
the Center's curriculum this year will receive Center of Excellence 
Diplomas which require five science course credits, one more than 
necessary under the advanced diploma. In addition, I.C. Norcom students 
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 Dr. Rosalynn Sanderlin, Coach 
Leon Goolsby and the rest of his coaching staff, on the occasion of 
this historic Boy's basketball Championship. On behalf of the citizens 
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 continued success in the future.

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