Senate Concurrent Resolution 621

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE LAMAR SCHOOL "LADY RAIDERS" GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM AND HEAD COACH JOSH SHERER FOR WINNING THEIR FIRST OVERALL MAIS TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP.

WHEREAS, Ambreah Waters scored a team-high 12 points and added 10 rebounds to help lead the Lamar School "Lady Raiders" Basketball Team on March 2, 2019, to a 45-41 win against Leake Academy in the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) Overall Tournament Championship in the school's program history. Lamar School ended the year 2-1 in contests against Leake Academy, splitting two regular-season contests; and

WHEREAS, the fairytale ending could not have been scripted any better for Ambreah Waters, who played all 32 minutes after an injury playing soccer. She also tallied three assists and two steals; and

WHEREAS, in just two years, Lamar School Head Coach Josh Sherer has guided the Lady Raiders to the pinnacle of the MAIS, as they have gone 60-13 during that span. One week after losing the Class AAAA, Division II Championship to Simpson Academy, the Lamar High School Raiders rattled off four-consecutive wins in six days en route to claiming the Golden Basketball; and

WHEREAS, the Lady Raiders led by as many as 16 points in the fourth quarter before Leake Academy cut its deficit to four points with 41 seconds left in the game. Skylar Norman went to the free-throw line with 22 seconds remaining and made both attempts to give Lamar School a 45-39 lead and preserve the victory. "I thought there were two huge offensive moments: obviously those two 3s by Isabella Sherer, and then the two free-throws by Skylar Norman at the end," Josh Sherer said. Debreasha Powe finished with 10 points, three steals and two blocks while Katie Shaffer ended with eight points. Lamar School's four seniors, Shaffer Waters, Paula Gast and Sarah Pasha, helped create a decorated legacy that history won't soon forget, and because of their dedication to the program, Powe said she and the Lady Raiders' younger players made sure they did their part to send the "Senior Quartet" off as Champions; and

WHEREAS, the 2018-2019 Lamar School "Lady Raiders" Championship Roster is: Ambreah Waters, Addyson Sherer, Katie Shaffer, Hannah Beth Stephenson, Skylar Norman, Paula Gast, Debreasha Powe, Yara VanDrunen, Isabella Sherer, Sarah Pasha and Lydia Hutcherson; and Head Coach Josh Sherer; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this group of student athletes who have brought honor to their school, their community and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the Lamar School "Lady Raiders" Girls Basketball Team and Head Coach Josh Sherer for winning their first Overall MAIS Tournament Championship, and extend to the players, coaches, parents and sponsors our best wishes for future success.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Josh Sherer for the team and Lamar School Headmaster Shane Blanton, forwarded to the Lamar School Board of Trustees, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.