House Resolution 168

A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING THE BOONEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL LADY BLUE DEVILS GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM FOR WINNING THE MISSISSIPPI HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION (MHSAA) CLASS 3A GIRLS BASKETBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

WHEREAS, on March 7, 2026, the Booneville High School Lady Blue Devils Girls Basketball Team reigned victorious at the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 3A Girls Basketball State Championship, capping an outstanding 25-4 season, and this win marks back-to-back state championships for the team, which has secured multiple titles recently; and

WHEREAS, Booneville took control in the opening half of the MHSAA Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship and held on to beat Belmont High School 54-31, and Booneville led 13-6 after one quarter, stretched the margin to 31-15 by halftime and never let Belmont get closer than in the second half, and the decisive stretch came in the second quarter when Booneville turned a 13-7 lead into a 22-7 advantage on baskets from Raylee Jones and Lamaya Southward, plus two free throws from Adler Doran, and then Southward then hit a 3-pointer late in the half as Booneville carried a 16-point lead to the break, and then Southward led Booneville with 20 points and 5 rebounds, while Jones added 11 points and 7 rebounds, and Kellan Johnson scored 5 points and grabbed 9 rebounds, and Booneville finished with a 42-30 rebounding edge while going 19 of 20 from the foul line; and

WHEREAS, the Booneville High School Lady Blue Devils Girls Basketball Team is comprised of the following exceptional student-athletes: Ki'raeah Philpot, Adler Doran, Jazz Philpot, Makylah Pippins, Logann Donahue, Kellan Johnson, Lyric Perry, Peyton Nunn, Lamaya Southward, who was named 2026 State Championship MVP and MHSAA Miss 3A Basketball, Rayne Alexander, Bella Nunley, Zyria Floyd, Raylee Jones, Cameya Hampton, Kennedi Shelley, Mylee Stacks, Ayla Hinds, and Alexa Lopez; Head Coach Michael Smith, and Assistant Coaches Chip Johnson, Micah Moment, Bryant Tynes, Maria Mauney and Ava Kathryn Smith; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize these student-athletes who have brought honor to Booneville High School, the Booneville 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 and congratulate the Booneville High School Lady Blue Devils Girls Basketball Team and Head Coach Michael Smith for winning back-to-back MHSAA Class 3A State Championships, and extend to the team, coaches, parents and sponsors our best wishes for future championships.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be furnished to Coach Michael Smith and Principal Brian Windham for the team, to the Prentiss County Board of Education and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.