Senate Concurrent Resolution 614

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE YAZOO COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL "PANTHERS" BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM AND COACH ARCHIE CARLYLE FOR WINNING THE CLASS 3A MHSAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

WHEREAS, on Saturday, March 11, 2006, the Yazoo County High School "Panthers" Boys Basketball Team beat Holly Springs 24-22 in a classic "stall-ball" game to win the Mississippi Class 3A Mississippi High School Activities Association State Championship at the Coliseum in Jackson, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Coach Archie Carlyle heard the frequent boos from about 3,000 fans or half of the crowd during the Class 3A Boys State Tournament Championship game. The fifth-year Yazoo County Coach did not care because he stamped his name in the record book and denied heavily favored Holly Springs some history of its own with an expected but still stunning stall-ball performance for the ages; and

WHEREAS, Andre Southern's break-away layup with nine seconds remaining lifted Yazoo County to a 24-22 overtime victory as the Panthers dethroned two-time defending 3A State Champion Holly Springs before an estimated crowd of 6,000 at the Mississippi Coliseum. Southern, a 5-foot-8 Senior Point Guard, scored 15 points as unranked Yazoo County (30-8) claimed its first state title and prevented Holly Springs (34-2) from becoming the first MHSAA boys team to three-peat since Durant did in Class 1A from 1993-1995; and

WHEREAS, nobody who knows Carlyle was surprised by Saturday's unconventional strategy (his team held the ball when Benton topped Ashland 34-29 for the 2A State Crown in 1985). The 46 points are the fewest in a Boys State Championship since the MHSAA went to five classes in 1984-1985; and

WHEREAS, both coaches, former Tougaloo teammates, are two men who knew all those years ago what they wanted to do in life. Carlyle came to Tougaloo from the Arkansas Delta Town of Dermott and has won more than 900 games and five State Championships at several different Mississippi high schools; and

WHEREAS, the Panthers finished the championship season with an outstanding record of 30-8 and won their Conference and Division Tournament on the way to the State Championship; and

WHEREAS, the team roster is as follows: Andre Southern (12, PG), Cody Mills (9, PG), Milton Gilbert (12, G/F), Jeffery Winstead (11, G) Fredrick Jones (11, F), Courtney Reed (12, G), Enrecez Cowans (10, F), Kerrence Hudson (10, F), Jonathan Ratliff (10, F), Desmond Luckett (12, F/C), Darryl Jones (12, F/C), Donarick Walker (10, C/F), Reginald Gilbert (11, C), Assistant Coach Michael Tardy, Scorekeeper Khorsculyar Williams, Managers Joshua Anderson, Larry Jones, Jeremy Ingram, and Adrian Reed; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize the special accomplishment of 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 Yazoo County High School "Panthers" Boys Basketball Team and Coach Archie Carlyle for winning the Class 3A MHSAA State Championship and extend to them the best wishes of the Legislature for their future athletic and academic successes.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Yazoo County High School Principal Chisolm, the Panthers, and Coach Carlyle, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.