Suffolk News-Herald

Is the third time truly a charm? The Suffolk Blazers of the AAU senior league certainly hope so.

The team finished third at the state championships in early May, and again at the North Carolina AAU games from May 30- June 2. From July 25-31, the squad, already ranked 14th in the country, will attempt to come in high at the National Championships in Detroit.

&uot;We’re going to place well, if not win everything,&uot; said forward Ryan Brodie, whose 4.17 grade point average made him the top male in the 2002 – 3 graduating class of Portsmouth’s Norcom High School (he was also co-captain of the basketball team). &uot;If we play together – and we’re going to – we’re going to do well.&uot;

Shawn Wiggins, who played ball at Lakeland High School and recently signed to attend South Carolina State, wasn’t vexed about the Blazers’ chances at nationals. &uot;We have so many good players on this team that we don’t have to worry about anything,&uot; he said. &uot;We’re going to be playing against some good competition, so we’ll have to bring out ‘A’ game.&uot;