Senate Concurrent Resolution 607

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE VICKSBURG HIGH SCHOOL "GATORS" BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM AND COACH DELLIE C. ROBINSON FOR WINNING THE CLASS 5A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

WHEREAS, they weren't ranked all season but the Vicksburg High School "Gators" Boys Basketball Team promoted themselves by winning the Class 5A State Championship Game on Friday, March 7, 2003, by defeating the Starkville Yellow Jackets 61-54 in overtime in front of a raucous Mississippi Coliseum crowd of 5,500; and

WHEREAS, the Gators were the first team from Vicksburg to win the State Championship since the 1979-1980 season when the highly ranked team finished 40-5 and beat Callaway in the finals, and the 2002-2003 edition of the Gators was the first unranked team to win the Championship since 1985 when Grenada beat Horn Lake; and

WHEREAS, Head Coach Dellie C. Robinson claimed his first State Championship in 24 years of coaching, and led his team to an outstanding 30-8 record for the season; and

WHEREAS, the Gators did well in tournament play, placing Second in the Warren-Central Invitational, the Coca-Cola Classic, winning the Division 4 Championship, then finishing Second in the North State Regional Tournament before beating Moss Point, Hattiesburg and Starkville in the State Championship Tournament; and

WHEREAS, the following team members received individual honors: Devin Jones (All-District, All-North State and All-State); Lemeria Scott (All-District, All-State); Jamaal Thomas (All-District); and Roy Williams (All-District); and

WHEREAS, the "Gators" team members are as follows: Devin Jones, Lemeria Scott, Jamaal Thomas, Roy Williams, Sedrick Williams, Walter Beamon, Julian Tolliver, Cedric Parson, Johnny Markham, Fred Thomas, Lakerious Williams, Albert Elmore, Alfred Patton, Michael Watkins, Michael Smith and Brandon Harper; Managers: Delmon Robinson, Lewis Thomas, Patrick Tucker and Christopher Jones; and

WHEREAS, the team was ably led by Coach Dellie C. Robinson and Assistant Coach Kerry Simmons who instilled great self-confidence in their team through persistent defense, and made their team the best team in the state; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this outstanding achievement by 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, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the Vicksburg High School "Gators" Boys Basketball Team and Coach Dellie C. Robinson for winning the Class 5A State Championship and for their outstanding 2002-2003 season, and wish them continued success in their academic and athletic endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Robinson, Principal Charlie Tolliver and the team, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.