Senate Concurrent Resolution 610

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE CANTON HIGH SCHOOL "LADY TIGERS" GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM AND COACH OF THE YEAR MELISSA WORD FOR WINNING THE FIRST STATE TITLE IN SCHOOL HISTORY.

WHEREAS, Canton High School "Lady Tigers" Basketball Team defeated South Jones 67-45 to win the Mississippi High School Activities Association 5A State Championship on March 9, 2013. It is the Lady Tigers' first State Title in school history; and

WHEREAS, Metro Girls Basketball "Coach of the Year" Melissa Word says it was a long time coming but the victory is still a moment she will cherish a lifetime. "Winning a State Championship has been a dream come true." This State Championship win comes ten years after making it to the State Tournament and losing in 2003; and

WHEREAS, senior forward Ashley Beals was named "Most Valuable Player" of the game. She scored a game-high 21 points and added 13 rebounds plus five blocks in the Lady Tigers' victory. Guard Jamilah Sanders scored 13 points, while Andreal Fleming and Salleria Travis scored 10 points each for the Lady Tigers. Canton shot 51.8% from the field while holding South Jones to just 25.9%. Canton finishes the year with a 29-4 overall record; and

WHEREAS, Canton (29-4), ranked No. 9 in The Clarion-Ledger Super 10, played in front of a large, and at times, raucous crowd of supporters. Ashley Beals, who was named the game's Most Valuable Player, and her teammates seemed to feed off the positive energy especially in the second half; and

WHEREAS, Superintendent Dwight Luckett, Athletic Director Peter Brown and the entire student body, faculty, and staff congratulated Coach Word, Assistant Coaches Sandra McKinney and Shako Freeman, and the Lady Tigers' Team for a job well-done; and

WHEREAS, for the second time in her 15-year career, Canton's Melissa Word is Metro Girls Basketball Coach of the Year. This time, Word has a Gold Ball to go with it after leading the Lady Tigers to the Class 5A State Title, the first in school history. She was "Coach of the Year" in 2003 after Canton lost in the Title Game. Coach Melissa Word, a 39-year-old native of Ripley, Mississippi, has been teaching and coaching at Canton High School for the past 15 years. She says she looks forward to many more years of not only preparing students to win on the court but win in life by making sure they get a quality education in the classroom; and

WHEREAS, the 2012-2013 Lady Tigers High School Basketball Team Roster is: Salleria Travis, Kashundra Williams, DaBria Mayfield, Alesha George, Lyketra Baldwin, Unique Moore, Breanna Horn, Ashley Beals, Quellisha Burks, Jamilah Sanders, Carlys Baldwin, Shelby Taylor, Malliyah Weatherspoon, Andreal Fleming, Tai'Mire Thomas and Jamelia Owens; Head Coach Melissa Word; Assistant Coaches Sandra McKinney and Shako Freeman; Managers: Antoiwauna Southern, Zaquincenera Nason, Zamarian Nason and Kanoshia Grant; and Athletic Director Peter Brown; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize these student athletes who have 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 Canton High School "Lady Tigers" Girls Basketball Team and Coach of the Year Melissa Word for winning the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A State Championship, the first State Title in school history, and extend to the players, coaches, parents and sponsors our best wishes for future success.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Word for the team, forwarded to Superintendent Dwight Luckett and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.