House Resolution 78

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE PASS CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL PIRATES BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM ON WINNING THE MISSISSIPPI HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION CLASS 3A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

WHEREAS, the Pass Christian High School Pirates Boys Basketball Team made history by winning its first Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 3A State Championship before an estimated crowd of 3,200 at the Mississippi Coliseum; and

WHEREAS, the Pass Christian High School Pirates won the coveted Class 3A State Championship after a hard-fought 52-50 victory over Raymond, a formidable force at times to the Pirates' road to basketball glory; and

WHEREAS, this phenomenal feat of accomplishment for the Pirates serves notice to the rest of Mississippi, the nation and the world, that the tenacious spirit and desire to persevere characteristic of the "Hospitality State" remains impervious and unshattered, even in the midst of devastation, as theirs is an extraordinary story of ravage and ruin to a reign of victory; and

WHEREAS, for many of the players on the Pirates' team, the year of 2005 catastrophically disrupted the serenity of a life of normalcy as Hurricane Katrina brutally impaled itself upon the Mississippi Gulf Coast, literally dismantling the foundation of their home and school lives; and

WHEREAS, after six weeks of hurricane recovery, on October 17, 2005, only 11 of the original 26 basketball players returned to school held in makeshift classrooms on the campus of Delisle Elementary School, but grateful for the blessing of life itself, the team's impassioned desire to play superseded the fact that they lacked a facility to play or practice in, as well as having to travel for every game and wear only their practice uniforms; and

WHEREAS, despite the obvious, the Pirates channeled their inner strength and reliance upon one another to finish the 2005-2006 season with a record of 13-12; the 2006-2007 season with a 28-7 record; the 2007-2008 season with a 31-7 record; and this 2008-2009 season with an impressive 33-3 record, and the school's first ever state championship title in any sport; and

WHEREAS, prior to this year's astonishing title clinching victory and eleventh playoff appearance, the Pirates had appeared in playoff contentions in 1994, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, finishing one point short of the championship title last year; and

WHEREAS, many of the players who lost their homes came back to live in emergency housing for the purpose of returning to school at Pass Christian High School, and though the lingering scars from Katrina's devastation are scattered throughout their community, the Pirates' team knows about battling back, both on the court and in life, and they have served as ambassadors to the restoration of hope and a sense of pride to the City of Pass Christian; and

WHEREAS, the team has been superbly coached and inspired by Coach Wayne "Buddy" Kennedy, Jr., and Assistant Coaches Paul Woverton and Willie James, who have broadened the players' knowledge of the game and refined their skills in execution; and

WHEREAS, members of the Pirates are: seniors, Eric Dawkins, Michael Dedeaux, Blake Evans, Demetrious Lee, Phillip McAuley, Rashad Montgomery, Phillippe Moore and William Shaw; junior, Donovan Evans; and sophomores, Trae Ausmer, Denzel Bradley, Marcus Clark, Rick Dedeaux, Stanley Magee, Derrick Saucier and Marcus Toney; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend excellence and resilience, such as that displayed by the athletic superiority of the Pass Christian High School Pirates, especially when evidenced by the young people of our state, who are its future:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the Pass Christian High School Pirates Boys Basketball Team and Coach Buddy Kennedy for their outstanding 2008-2009 season, for winning the Mississippi High School Activities Association Overall Class 3A State Championship and for displaying tireless devotion to their athletic endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Pass Christian High School, Coach Kennedy, Assistant Coaches Woverton and James, the senior players on the Pirates' team and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.