Norland High School has had impressive girls' basketball seasons like this before.

Norland has had teams ranked No. 1 in the state. It has had teams that were undefeated through the regular season. And teams that appeared destined to bring home the school's first state title in the sport.

The story never has ended happily.

So don't blame coach Carla Harris-Curry if she has received her team's 21-0 record with one game left in the regular season, and its No. 1 ranking in Class 6A, with tempered excitement.

''People probably shouldn't believe it'll be different this year,'' said Harris-Curry, who whether as coach or assistant has been a part of Norland's four empty-handed trips to the state tournament since 1993. 'It's our job to believe it. It's definitely a goal we talk about. I tell the girls, `We've had undefeated records here before. The only way to distinguish yourself is be the ones that finally win that state title.' ''

Fans might be getting a little more optimistic since this year's team is different from past teams.

This year's Vikings have no clear superstars.

There's no Mechelle Murray. There's no Tombi Bell.

And yet the Vikings are dominating the state more than any team has since the days they and players like former University of Miami star Yalonda McCormick donned the maroon and gray.

Norland has beaten teams by an average of more than 40 points per game. The victories aren't limited to Miami-Dade County either.

The Vikings have defeated Delray Beach Atlantic, Palm Beach Lakes twice, Jacksonville Andrew Jackson and Winter Haven, all of whom are state-ranked.

Norland also handled Hialeah, which ousted it from the playoffs last season, as well as Class 5A top-ranked Fort Lauderdale Dillard and defending Class 6A state champion South Broward in the preseason.

''I think it's the lack of a clear main player that teams can focus on,'' Harris-Curry said. ``It's been good for our own girls. They aren't waiting for someone to bail them out in a tough spot. Everyone's taking accountability for making big plays.''

The Vikings have versatile 5-10 guard/forward Jasmine Hicks backing up an improved backcourt that Harris-Curry credits for the team's perfect start.

Junior guard Cleandra Roberts -- the team's leading scorer, averaging 12 points a game -- and junior Stephanie Coney (3.7 assists per game) are in their second year as starters.

Senior guard Tracey Williams played for the Vikings' state-qualifying teams her freshman and sophomore seasons before transferring to Parkway Academy, where she won the Class 3A state championship this year. Her return to Norland this season has been a big boost, Harris-Curry said.

And how deep is this team?

Senior center Leeza Burdgess is the team's top college prospect, a 6-5 center going to the University of Pittsburgh. And Burdgess doesn't even start.

Burdgess does get significant playing time alongside 6-3 senior Tameka Guz, who's signed with Long Island University. They make up one of the tallest frontcourts in the state.

''It's been much easier for both of us this season with our guards playing more comfortably in our system,'' Burdgess said.

And led by Christa Curry, who is leading the team in steals (3.7 per game), the Vikings are still playing stingy defense, averaging 26.8 steals per game as a team. It has helped them turn games against overmatched opponents into routs, and win the close games against some of the state's best. This past Friday, Norland held on to a one-point victory against Delray Atlantic with two steals in the final 17 seconds.

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