Sierra Butler and No. 16 Norcoss beat No. 20 North Gwinnett for the Georgia state championship.
Photo by Larry Lawson
Norcross lost only to good teams, but did lose five times — and that's a lot for a nationally-ranked team.
*17. (19) Marian Catholic (Chicago Heights, Ill.) 31-1Illinois basketball was down a little this year, but Marian Catholic was clearly the class of the state.
18. (12) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) 29-2The Monarchs stumbled late, against Etiwanda and No. 3 Windward, but they do have that win over No. 7 St. Mary's and another over Ossining, which has played well lately. That keeps them in the Xcellent 25.
19. (24) Centerville (Ohio) 26-2Centerville beat Princeton with Kelsey Mitchell, and also knocked off Seton LaSalle, which is slightly more impressive than Twinsburg's win over Goodrich. A close call, but Centerville gets the slot in the Xcellent 25.
20. (20) North Gwinnett (Suwanee, Ga.) 30-2North Gwinnett beat No. 17 Norcross once (but lost twice), beat No. 24 Science Hill and knocked off perennial Ohio small-school power Hathaway Brown.
