House Resolution 67

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE EAST RANKIN ACADEMY LADY PATRIOTS VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM FOR WINNING THE MISSISSIPPI ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS (MAIS) AAAA DIVISION II STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AND FOR THEIR TREMENDOUS PERSEVERANCE IN THE MIDST OF TRAGEDY.

WHEREAS, after a season of unimaginable loss and heartbreak, the East Rankin Academy Lady Patriots Varsity Basketball Team reigned victorious at the MAIS AAAA Division II State Championship, displaying outstanding team spirit and true perseverance in the face of overwhelming tragedy; and

WHEREAS, playing with full hearts and incredible amounts of finesse and might, the Lady Patriots outplayed and ultimately outlasted the Lamar School Lady Raiders, winning convincingly by a score of 50-30; and

WHEREAS, the Lady Raiders struggled to get going offensively, as the Lady Patriots stopped the dynamic inside 1-2 punch of Lamar's Ambreah Waters and Debreasha Powers, and East Rankin's Bailey Thompson knocked in 10 points to give the Lady Patriots a 16-12 lead at the end of the first quarter; and

WHEREAS, the Lady Raiders had a strong defensive performance, but the Lady Patriots outscored them in the second quarter for a 22-17 halftime lead, and in the third quarter the Lady Patriots outscored Lamar 16-4 to take command of the game at 38-21 going into the fourth quarter, with Brooke Turnage scoring 9 points inside, as the constant pounding of the ball by the Lady Patriots took its toll on the Lady Raiders, who ultimately could not overcome the Lady Patriots' suffocating defense and were outscored 12-9 in the final eight minutes; and

WHEREAS, with extraordinary strength through troubling times, the Lady Patriots had a successful season in the wake of tragically losing a dearly loved teammate on December 23, 2017, when the Lady Patriots gathered for a Christmas party in Brandon, Mississippi, and around midnight, sisters Brooke and Leah Cunningham were involved in an automobile accident after they left the party, with Leah passing away and Brooke spending numerous weeks at both University of Mississippi Medical Center and Methodist Rehabilitation before being released in February; and

WHEREAS, the Lady Patriots displayed tremendous character after the heartbreak of losing their beloved teammate and friend, and they stuck together as a team and held each other up as they laid to rest their cherished teammate on December 27, and to honor Leah during the championship game, the team wore a memorial patch with her No. 14 on their jerseys and wore shooting shirts in her favorite color; and

WHEREAS, Head Coach Rod Delaney stated that the girls never gave up and continued to honor their teammate by the way they played the game, which made them true champions, and the Lady Patriots showed tremendous strength of character not only by the way they carried themselves as young women, but also by honoring Leah during their first game after the accident by carrying out her jersey and by carrying Leah and Brooke in their hearts throughout the season; and

WHEREAS, the Lady Patriots were hit with another hardship during their game at Copiah Academy on February 9, 2018, when a father of one of the players on the boys team, Mr. Stokes, passed out in the bathroom and was resuscitated by Lee Dawkins, another East Rankin parent, and to ensure that proper care was given to Mr. Stokes, the game was paused several times, and once again, the girls displayed the heart of champions as they gathered together as a team and lifted up Mr. Stokes in prayer; and

WHEREAS, true champions are made and molded during trying times of adversity, and through their exceptional devotion to the team and their outstanding determination in the midst of unimaginable hardship, these young ladies truly deserve the title of champions; and

WHEREAS, the Lady Patriots finished their outstanding season with a 29-6 record, and the key to their success this season was the exceptional dedication and tremendous team spirit by the following student-athletes: Bailey Thompson, Riley Scoles, Mollie Macon, Brooke Turnage, Taylor Turman, Rachel Dearman, Lauren Parker, Paige Loper, Neely Brunt, Kariana Simmons, Brooke Cunningham, Emilee Tadlock, Macy Leach, Harley Bowman, Anna Claire Shamburger, Kealey Bradford, Maile Tubbs, Anna Grace Boykin, Hanna Caldwell and Adyson Tadlock; and

WHEREAS, the Lady Patriots were exceptionally coached and tremendously inspired by Head Coach Rod Delaney and Assistant Coaches Grant Thompson, Trudy Case Dawkins and Seth Cheatham, each having broadened the team's knowledge of the game and refined their skills in execution; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to commend outstanding student-athletes, especially those such as the East Rankin Academy Lady Patriots Varsity Basketball Team, whose dedication to their team and tremendous perseverance and determination in the midst of heartbreak and loss bring honor to their school, their community and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend the East Rankin Academy Lady Patriots Varsity Basketball Team for winning the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools AAAA Division II State Championship and for their tremendous perseverance in the midst of tragedy.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Headmaster Dan R. Boyce, Head Coach Rod Delaney, the family of Leah and Brooke Cunningham and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.