Senate Concurrent Resolution 595

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE NEW SITE HIGH SCHOOL "LADY ROYALS" BASKETBALL TEAM AND HEAD COACH BYRON SPARKS FOR WINNING THEIR FIRST MHSAA CLASS 2A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

WHEREAS, the tiny Mississippi Hill Country School put on a big show at the Big House. Appropriately, the New Site High School "Lady Royals" Basketball Team won the first Championship Gold Ball of the 2012 MHSAA State Tournament, representing the long tradition of basketball excellence from the northeast corner of the state, including Prentiss, Alcorn, Lee, Tippah and Tishomingo Counties; and

WHEREAS, Shelby Stricklen scored 16 points and New Site used an aggressive press to smother Walnut 56-44 on March 1, 2012, at the Mississippi Coliseum, winning the school's first girls 2A State Championship. Finally, the Lady Royals (30-4) did it. This was their fourth straight trip to the Big House and third straight showing in the finals. The victory was secured by a big second quarter surge. The Lady Royals won a 30th game and a 12th in a row, all by double digits. New Site defeated Walnut by 44 in the North State Finals; and

WHEREAS, credit goes to Coach Sparks' high-octane full-court press and half-court trap for all of those dominating victories. By halftime, Walnut had committed 19 turnovers, many of them coming during New Site's crushing second quarter. The Lady Royals outscored the Lady Wildcats 23-6 in the period; and

WHEREAS, red-clad New Site fans — they call themselves New Site Nation — filled nearly one side of the Coliseum and spilled over into one of the end zones. Randall Downs, the Superintendent of Prentiss County Schools and appropriately a former basketball coach, looked up into the stands and found championship players from decade after decade. Baldwyn is the birthplace of the late, great Babe McCarthy, who won four SEC Championships as the Coach at Mississippi State University and then twice was named Coach of the Year in the old ABA; and

WHEREAS, the 2011-2012 New Site Roster is: Marlee Taylor, G; Morgan Pearson, G; Christy Clark, G; Anna McElroy, G; Faith Mitchell, G; Hannah O'Connor, C; Cristin Pharr, G; Taylor Barnes, G; Ragen Butler, F; Nikki Taylor, G; Molly Walden, F; AnnaMae Barber, F; Shelby Stricklen, F; Callie Martin, F; Grace Elliott, G; and Coach Byron Sparks; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this team which represents Mississippi Hoops Country and has brought honor to their school, 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 New Site High School "Lady Royals" Basketball Team and Head Coach Byron Sparks for winning their first Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 2A State Championship and extend our best wishes to the team members, coaches, parents and sponsors for future athletic and academic success.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Byron Sparks and Superintendent Randall Downs for the team, forwarded to the Prentiss County Board of Education, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.