AAAAA basketball: Norcross girls expect DeShields to return this week

Norcross hopes to find out Monday if star girls player Diamond DeShields can return to the lineup for Tuesday’s Region 7-AAAAA tournament game against Mountain View. Norcross, the two-time defending state champion in Class AAAAA, must win to advance to the state playoffs, which begin Feb. 24.

Norcross is 4-2 without DeShields, the 2011 state player of the year who suffered a fractured left wrist. If not Tuesday, DeShields is expected back by Friday’s semifinals, if Norcross advances.

‘’She sees the doctor today [Monday], and we’ll just have to see,’’ said Norcross coach Angie Hembree. “We’ve played six games without her. We’ve lost to two pretty good teams [North Gwinnett and Mill Creek]. We’re going to get her back this week. I think we’re going to be fine. It’s a marathon, not a spring. We’re hanging in there.’’

Norcross is a threat even without a player that many believe is the state’s best. Norcross has another junior, Shayla Cooper, a 6-foot-1 forward who is being recruited by almost every Big East, ACC and SEC school, Hembree said.

Three other starters have signed or committed. They are 6-2 Patrice Butler to Furman, 6-2 Jasmine Kemp to East Tennessee and 5-7 point guard Tori Carter to UNC-Charlotte.

With DeShields, Norcross would be one of the four or five teams to beat. Hembree sees No. 1-ranked McEachern as the favorite.

‘’McEachern has played a national schedule and gone undefeated,’’ Hembree said. “They’ve pretty much got a D-I in every position. If they can keep that going, I’d say hands down they’re the favorite to win it.’’

Hembree also pointed to North Gwinnett, which is led b Maryland-signee Lexie Brown.

‘’She’s one of the best guards in the country,’’ Hembree said. “She had a great performance against us [scoring 30 points last week]. She was on fire that night. Parkview has gone undefeated. Alpharetta I think is a sleeper I think.’’

Region 7 tournament schedule -

Tuesday
At Peachtree Ridge
#2 Norcross vs. Mountain View, 4 p.m.
#1 North Gwinnett vs. Meadowcreek, 7 p.m.

Wednesday
At Peachtree Ridge
#4 Duluth vs. #5 Peachtree Ridge, 4 p.m.
#3 Mill Creek vs. #6 Collins Hill, 7 p.m.

Friday
At Meadowcreek
Norcross-Peachtree Ridge winner vs. Mill Creek-Collins Hill winner, 4 p.m.
North Gwinnett-Meadowcreek winner vs. Duluth-Peachtree Ridge winner, 7 p.m.

Saturday
at Meadowcreek
Third-fourth playoff, 3 p.m.
Championship, 6 p.m.