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

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.