Senate Resolution 26

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE 2019-2020 SIMPSON COUNTY ACADEMY "COUGARS" BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM AND COACH JAMES CRAIN FOR WINNING THEIR FIRST-EVER MAIS OVERALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

WHEREAS, the 2019-2020 Simpson Academy Cougars Boys Basketball Team did what no team at Simpson County Academy has ever done, won an Overall State Championship in basketball. This "working-together" team took command of the game from the first play. Simpson defeated Jackson Prep 45-32 before a huge crowd at Mississippi College. Simpson had a rocking student section that kept their team pumped! This victory followed a 2020 State AAAA Championship; and

WHEREAS, the Cougars (37-6) put on a clinic for the second day in a row, taking down Jackson Prep (24-11) to score their first Overall Title in school history with a 45-32 victory over the Patriots. Simpson Academy had defeated the No. 1 seed in the tournament, Madison-Ridgeland Academy, to move on to the Championship Game, so the Class 4A Champions certainly had the momentum on their side against Jackson Prep; and

WHEREAS, streaking out to an early 12-3 lead, the Cougars held a 16-8 advantage at the end of the first quarter and never relinquished it, leading 26-19 at the half, 34-27 at the end of the third quarter, and 45-32 when the final buzzer sounded; and

WHEREAS, Simpson ended the 2020 season with a 14-game winning streak. As the team was busy celebrating a Championship, Simpson Academy Center Josh Flynt summarized the team's performance perfectly, "When you are hot, you are hot"; and

WHEREAS, the Simpson County Academy 2019-2020 High School Boys Cougars Basketball Championship Team Roster: Joe Berry, Jaden Wedgeworth, Scott Maddox, Jered Smith, Todd Larkin, Drew Williams, Cole Groover, Travis Cockrell, Seth Cooper, Parker Jones, Zach Brown, Cameron Larkin, Warner Watkins, Dawsan Drennan, John Flynt, Crosby Mullins and Wesley Boyd; Head Coach James Crain and Assistant Coach Carey Crain; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this special 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, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the 2019-2020 Simpson Academy "Cougars" Boys Basketball Team and Coach James Crain for winning their first-ever MAIS Overall State Championship, and extend to the team members, coaches, parents and sponsors our best wishes for future championships.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach James Crain for the team and Simpson Academy Headmaster Billy Wayne Hankins, forwarded to the Simpson County Academy Board of Trustees, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.