House Resolution 79

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE RAYMOND HIGH SCHOOL LADY RANGERS GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM, HEAD COACH SHAY JACKSON AND ASSISTANT COACH TAMMI WEST FOR WINNING THE MHSAA GRAND SLAM CHAMPIONSHIP, FOR ACHIEVING THEIR SECOND CONSECUTIVE MHSAA CLASS 4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AND FOR THEIR EXCELLENT 2009-2010 SEASON.

WHEREAS, the Dandy Dozen duo of Janairrika Bland and Valencia McFarland combined for 41 points to lead 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, Bland, a Southern Miss signee, scored 22 points; McFarland, an Ole Miss signee, added 19 points; and Kyesha Clark, an All-District performer, added 15 points for the MHSAA Class 4A State Champion Lady Rangers who finished the season with a 33-1 record by winning 21 straight games after its lone loss to Greenville High School; and

WHEREAS, the emotions overwhelmed Raymond Head Coach Shay Jackson shortly after her team's win in the MHSAA Grand Slam Championship Game, knowing that she had just coached her Dandy Dozen duo of Valencia McFarland and Janairrika Bland for the very last time stating, "They are just so special. It's not just how they play, but the kind of people they are. That's the way they wanted to go out, leaving their mark, and our seniors really wanted to leave an exclamation point."; and

WHEREAS, on March 5, 2010, Bland, an All-State performer, and McFarland, the 2010 Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year, scored 21 points each and Kinshasa Bradley, an All-South State honoree, scored 11 points to lead 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, the Raymond High School Lady Rangers Girls Basketball Team roster is 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, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend excellence, especially when evidenced by the youth of the State of Mississippi, 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 Raymond High School Lady Rangers Girls Basketball Team, Head Coach Shay Jackson and Assistant Coach Tammi West for winning the MHSAA Grand Slam Championship, for achieving their second consecutive MHSAA Class 4A State Championship and for their excellent 2009-2010 season and extend best wishes for athletic and academic success in all of their future endeavors.

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