House Resolution 98

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE BELMONT HIGH SCHOOL LADY CARDINALS GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM AND HEAD COACH CHRIS HIGGINBOTTOM FOR WINNING THE MHSAA CLASS 3A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AND FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING 2009-2010 SEASON.

WHEREAS, Coach Chris Higginbottom's Belmont High School Lady Cardinals Girls Basketball Team beat division rival, Ripley, 60-55 in overtime March 5, 2010, claiming the Class 3A crown with a come-from-behind victory over a familiar foe; and

WHEREAS, not only did Belmont (33-1) end its nine-year state championship drought, but it beat Ripley (23-10) for a fifth time this season; and

WHEREAS, in those five victories, including the title game for the Gold Ball, the Lady Cardinals had to come from behind; and

WHEREAS, the title was Coach Higginbottom's first in his five years as coach at Belmont High School located in northeast Mississippi, where basketball championships are everything; and

WHEREAS, the Belmont girls' program now has nine state titles and 31 appearances at the State Tournament, with three trips under the fiery Coach Higginbottom; and

WHEREAS, in the Grand Slam Overall Tournament, Class 4A Champions Raymond High School won a 71-59 victory over 3A champ Belmont before a Mississippi Coliseum crowd of 600; and

WHEREAS, Anna Brooke Page scored 21 points and Leslie Robinson had 14 for the Lady Cardinals (33-2), who saw their 30-game win streak come to an end; and

WHEREAS, the Belmont Lady Cardinals High School Girls Basketball Team 2009-2010 roster is as follows: Anna Brooke Page, Mallory Torrence, Tonna Deaton, Zoe Hammock, Domonique Allen, Leslie Robinson, Kelsie Montgomery, Morgan Pearson, Paige Brooks, Skye Judd, Angelia Allen, Jameka Bennett, and Andrea Pharr; and they were well coached by Head Coach Chris Higginbottom and Assistant Coach Amy Gober; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend such a superb 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 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the Belmont High School Lady Cardinals Girls Basketball Team and Head Coach Chris Higginbottom for winning the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 3A State Championship, their ninth state title, and for their outstanding 2009-2010 season, and extend best wishes for continued success in all of their future athletic and academic endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Coach Chris Higginbottom, Principal Mark Hood, Tishomingo County Board of Education and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.