Senate Concurrent Resolution 663

(As Adopted by Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE NEWTON HIGH SCHOOL "LADY TIGERS" GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM AND HEAD COACH CRANDAL PORTER FOR WINNING THE MHSAA CLASS 2A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AND FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING 2009-2010 SEASON.

WHEREAS, the Newton High School "Lady Tigers" Girls Basketball Team cruised into the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 2A State Championship game with a record-setting 63-point blowout win in the semifinals. Capturing the Gold Ball was much more difficult; and

WHEREAS, in the end, Newton pulled it out, gritting out a hard-fought 77-73 victory over New Site in a battle of the two top-ranked teams in 2A; and

WHEREAS, "New Site was everything we thought they were going to be," said Newton Coach Crandal Porter. "Disciplined. Tough. Well coached. For us to win this game says a lot about our team"; and

WHEREAS, Porter could just as easily have used those same adjectives to describe his team, which sealed the game late on some clutch free-throw shooting by junior guard Sha'kara Edwards who finished with 20 points to lead the Lady Tigers (31-3), ranked No. 8 in the Super 10 and No 1 in 2A. She was one of four players in double figures for Newton. Tineshia Evans, Newton's only senior, scored 19 points, including three big 3-pointers in the third quarter; and

WHEREAS, Coach Porter claimed his third state title after winning a girls championship at Newton in 2005 and a boys title in 2008. "With this group it's special because they had a lot of sacrificing to do," said Porter, the son of highly successful Lanier Coach Thomas Billups. "Something clicked and now look what they've done. Next year we'll restock and try to do it again"; and

WHEREAS, Newton blitzed Shelby Broad Street 99-36 in the Class 2A semifinals before an announced crowd of 800. The 99 points surpassed the 98 points scored by Shaw against South Leake in the 1988 Class 2A semifinals; and

WHEREAS, the Newton High School 2009-2010 Lady Tigers roster is: Tineshia Evans, Kenyatta Griffin, Oshima McKee, L'Keyla Walker, Ashtin McNichols, Tramekia Walker, Ashley Hardy, Sha'kara Edwards, Janiqua Murrell, Hailey Hodge, Karen Sims, Asa Evans, Ashley Wash, Shafony Blaylock, Deosha Moore, Tynika Bender, Sharece MaClendon and Kadejha Gardner; Head Coach Crandal Porter; Assistant Coaches Kotreece Bender, Pierre Lang and Kendrick Cooper; Managers Samia Wesley, Keshuna Moncreif and Jeremiah Chapman; and

WHEREAS, It is with pride that we note the accomplishments of this group of student athletes who have brought honor to their school, their parents, 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 Newton High School "Lady Tigers" Girls Basketball Team and Head Coach Crandal Porter for winning the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 2A State Championship and for their outstanding 2009-2010 season and extend our best wishes to the team, coaches, parents and sponsors for future success.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Head Coach Crandal Porter and Principal Sherrod Miller for the team, forwarded to the Newton Municipal School Board and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.