Buford, Norcross dealing with injuries as playoffs loom

Losing a player such as Diamond DeShields is supposed to hurt but don’t tell the Norcross Blue Devils that. Despite losing the standout junior (wrist injury) that has helped lead the Norcross girls basketball team to back-to-back Class AAAAA state titles, the Blue Devils have been rolling. Patrice Butler recently went for 22 and 12 in an 81-40 victory over Meadowcreek. Tori Carter and Jasmine Kemp have also stepped their games up in DeShields’ absence. No. 2 Norcross faces No. 4 North Gwinnett in Suwanee this Friday. Norcross won the first meeting 48-37 on Jan. 17. ... Speaking of injuries, just as the Buford Wolves were welcoming back backcourt standout Andraya Carter, Gene Durden’s club loses MacKenzie Darrah to a dislocated right hip. According to the Gwinnett Daily Post, the injury occurred when Darrah was going after a loose ball in a win over Decatur. No timetable has been set for her return. ... The year of Archer just experienced another bright spot as the wrestling program claimed its first region title with a victory in the Area 8-AAAAA traditional tournament. Archer also qualified all 14 wrestlers for next week’s Class AAAAA state sectionals as five wrestlers took individual titles. Sam Bullard (106 pounds), Grant Aycox (120), Elliot Lee (182), Ernest Alexander (195) and Hunter McCleskey (285) all took titles to help Archer better runner-up Brookwood. Archer’s basketball team, ranked earlier this season, pulled off a stunner over No. 6 Berkmar 70-54. Randall Smith had 19 points and 10 assists in the victory to move Archer to 17-7, 12-3 in region play. Archer trailed at one point in the second quarter 26-16 but went into intermission up 31-30. Bryan Hamlet notched 13 points, including the junior’s 1000th career point. ... Finally Kanler Coker was selected as the Touchdown Club of Atlanta’s Offensive Player of the Year yesterday. The Flowery Branch senior quarterback passed for 2833 yards and 31 scores while running for 837 yards and 15 more in 2011. Coker is headed to UNC.