Senate Concurrent Resolution 636

(As Adopted by Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE VELMA JACKSON HIGH SCHOOL "FALCONS" BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM AND HEAD COACH ANTHONY CARLYLE FOR WINNING THEIR SECOND STRAIGHT CLASS 3A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

WHEREAS, Quinndary Weatherspoon guaranteed a dunk. Others guaranteed a second straight 3A Championship for Velma Jackson. Both assurances came to fruition as Velma Jackson and Weatherspoon defeated East Side 50-35 and won their second straight MHSAA Class 3A Boys State Championship Friday at the Mississippi Coliseum; and

WHEREAS, Velma Jackson Coach Anthony Carlyle said, "we beat a lot of the Jackson schools and some of the 4A, 5A and 6A schools. We are just trying to prove we are the best team in the state"; and

WHEREAS, for Velma Jackson (34-2), the win capped off an impressive season, where it defeated its 17 3A opponents by an average of 30.4 points. The Falcons also played six 6A and four 5A schools, beating eight of them including Provine, Forest Hill and Murrah and losing to 6A Madison Central and 5A Pearl; and

WHEREAS, after halftime, Velma Jackson cruised. East Side never cut the lead to less than five points and the Falcons used an 8-2 run at the end of the third quarter to push their lead into double digits for the remainder of the game. "We are going to enjoy this State Championship for a couple of weeks," Carlye said. "Once we get to April, and the beginning of May we will get back to work on winning a third consecutive title"; and

WHEREAS, the Velma Jackson High School "Falcons" Boys Basketball Roster is: Kendarius Smith, Justin Washington, Travius Brown, Nikolas Weatherspoon, Anfernee Brown, Jamuel Brooks, Ladarius Ousley, Quinndary Weatherspoon, Aaron Jones, Moses Greenwood, Arthur Eldridge, Nicholas Rivers, Janaurius Porter and Demarcus Grant; Head Coach Anthony Carlyle; Assistant Coach Randy Brown; Scorekeeper Nykeem Liddell; Managers: Corey Bacon and Patrick Fondren, Quentin McCullough, Michael Arrington and Terrence Mabry; Athletic Director Cedrick Wilder; and

WHEREAS, it is with pride that we recognize this team of student athletes who have brought pride 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 Velma Jackson High School "Falcons" Boys Basketball Team and Head Coach Anthony Carlyle for winning their second straight Class 3A State Championship, and we extend our best wishes to the team, coaches and parents for a 3-peat.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Carlyle and Velma Jackson Principal Bertram Goodloe, forwarded to Madison County Board of Education and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.