House Resolution 78

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING HEAD COACH SHAY JACKSON OF THE RAYMOND HIGH SCHOOL LADY RANGERS GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM FOR WINNING THE MHSAA GRAND SLAM CHAMPIONSHIP, FOR LEADING THE TEAM TO THEIR SECOND CONSECUTIVE MHSAA CLASS 4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AND FOR COACHING HER TEAM TO AN EXCELLENT 2009-2010 SEASON.

WHEREAS, Head Coach Shay Jackson, a resident of Clinton, Mississippi, coached the Raymond High School Lady Rangers Girls Basketball Team to a 68-56 victory over Horn Lake High School in the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Grand Slam Championship Game at the Mississippi Coliseum on March 13, 2010; and

WHEREAS, bringing her career coaching record to a remarkable 254-134, Coach Jackson led the MHSAA Class 4A State Champion Lady Rangers to a 33-1 record by winning 21 straight games after suffering its lone loss to Greenville High School; and

WHEREAS, on March 5, 2010, she instructed Raymond to a 64-58 victory over New Albany High School for the MHSAA Class 4A State Championship at the Mississippi Coliseum before an announced crowd of 2,500, earning the second straight title for the Lady Rangers, who won the MHSAA Class 3A State Championship last season; and

WHEREAS, Coach Jackson's championship Raymond High School Lady Rangers Girls Basketball Team roster was as follows: Miesha Bell, Janairrika Bland, Kinshasa Bradley, Kyesha Clark, Ashlee Johnson, Valencia McFarland, Danielle Morton, Arnissiyur Robinson, Kalah Thompson, Breanda Williams, Tamera Williams and Calissia Willis; and

WHEREAS, Coach Jackson is a 1985 graduate of Carthage High School, a 1987 graduate of Hinds Community College and a 1989 graduate of the University of Mississippi with a bachelor of science degree in education, and she is the proud mother of Betty and Marion Sephton and the late Terry Jackson; and

WHEREAS, many of the Raymond High School girls basketball players will remember the lessons learned through playing for Head Coach Jackson, such as pushing one's body past exhaustion, injury, pain and any other obstacles that were in front of their many victories; and

WHEREAS, the relentless preparation and wisdom instilled by Coach Jackson have equipped all her basketball players for other, sometimes inequitable, challenges they will all face in life; and

WHEREAS, turning young ladies into women, the Raymond High School program's future is bright with Coach Jackson at the helm and is further bolstered with the guidance and support of the Raymond community; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to commend and congratulate an outstanding coach such as Coach Shay Jackson who has brought honor to her school, 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 Head Coach Shay Jackson of the Raymond High School Lady Rangers Girls Basketball Team for winning the MHSAA Grand Slam Championship, for leading her team to their second consecutive MHSAA Class 4A State Championship and for coaching her team to an excellent 2009-2010 season and extend best wishes for continued success in all of her future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Head Coach Shay Jackson and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.