Senate Concurrent Resolution 604

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE GULFPORT HIGH SCHOOL "ADMIRALS" BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM FOR WINNING THE 2002 CLASS 5A STATE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP.

WHEREAS, the Gulfport High School "Admirals" Boys Basketball Team are the 2002 Class 5A State Champions; and

WHEREAS, the Admirals steamrolled through the regular season with a perfect record; and

WHEREAS, the Admirals finished with an impressive record of 37 wins and only 1 loss; and

WHEREAS, in their march to the championship, the Admirals won the Admiral Hardwood Club Holiday Classic, the St. Tammany Parish Shootout, the Division 8-5A Tournament and were runner-ups in the South State Tournament; and

WHEREAS, the Admirals avenged their only loss of the season by defeating arch-rival Harrison Central in one of the most exciting comebacks in the history of the State Championship Tournament; and

WHEREAS, showing the tenacity and resiliency that is hallmark of championship teams, the Admirals rallied from a 6-point deficit with two minutes to play and went on to defeat their arch-rivals by the score of 75-63 in overtime; and

WHEREAS, in the State Semifinal Game, the "never-say-die" Admirals staged one of the most torrid and improbable comebacks in tournament history when they rallied from a 10-point deficit with less than three minutes to play and went on to defeat Natchez 89-77 in overtime; and

WHEREAS, several individual team members received special recognition for their outstanding play during the season with Henry Salter, A.J. Magee, Tim Holmes and James Bryant garnering All-Gulf Coast honors, and Henry Salter also garnering First Team All-State honors; and

WHEREAS, other members of this outstanding team included: Tyshawn Brown, Chris Keyes, Purvis McBride, Aaron Durr, Nigel Jordan, Courtenay Brown, Duran Eckford, David Blakley, Terrall Brown, Allan Harper, Daron Moore and Malcolm Woods; and

WHEREAS, this championship team was molded by Coach Bryan Caldwell and Assistant Coach, Tori Holloway; and

WHEREAS, Coach Bryan Caldwell was recognized as The Clarion Ledger Boys Basketball Coach of the Year and The Sun Herald Gulf Coast Coach of the Year; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the Legislature to recognize and commend the outstanding accomplishments of student athletes:

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 Gulfport High School "Admirals" Boys Basketball Team and Coach Bryan Caldwell and Assistant Coach Tori Holloway for winning the 2002 Class 5A State Championship.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to the Gulfport High School "Admirals" Boys Basketball Team.