Senate Concurrent Resolution 639

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE MADISON-RIDGELAND ACADEMY "PATRIOTS" BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM AND COACH RICHARD DUEASE FOR WINNING THE MAIS CLASS AAAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

WHEREAS, MRA's Boys Basketball Team won the MAIS Overall Championship seven of the last 11 years. Just minutes after the final horn sounded on March 3, 2016, at Mississippi College's A.E. Wood Coliseum, MRA Coach Richard Duease made it a point to find Austin Waldrop. "This is how you are going to be remembered," Coach Duease told Waldrop, as he gave him a celebratory bear hug near the Patriots' bench. "You're going to be remembered as a winner"; and

WHEREAS, Waldrop and his fellow seniors indeed went out as winners, rallying for a 57-44 victory over Simpson Academy in the MAIS Overall Championship Game. The Patriots seized control with a dominant third quarter, outscoring the Cougars 17-3 en route to their second Overall Title in the past three seasons and 10th overall, all under Coach Duease; and

WHEREAS, the 6-foot-3 senior wing played some of the best basketball of his high school career at the most opportune of times, on the biggest stage. Playing in his final game in a Madison-Ridgeland Academy uniform, he led the way with a team high 15 points. He drained three 3-pointers, including one from way downtown to help kickstart MRA's impressive and decisive third-quarter run. In the semifinal, Waldrop poured in 18 points, including four 3-pointers, in MRA's 74-44 semifinal win over Jackson Prep; and

WHEREAS, MRA finished 32-3, including a perfect 8-0 run in the postseason. The Patriots, who also claimed the Division I-AAAA and AAAA State Championships in recent weeks, did not lose to an MAIS opponent all season. All three of their losses were to out-of-state competition, by a combined score of just 8 points. Their average margin of victory during the regular season was a whopping 28 points; and

WHEREAS, MRA spent the entire season ranked No. 1 in The Clarion-Ledger Academy AAAA poll and were in the Super 10 poll for a majority of the season. The Patriots are one of the best basketball teams in the state, public or private, and the Overall Title proved as further validation; and

WHEREAS, for Coach Duease, it was career boys win No. 988. He will go into the 2017 season just 36 wins away from becoming the all-time winningest boys basketball coach in Mississippi history. A.E. Wood Coliseum has become a home away from home for Coach Duease and the Patriots. MRA has advanced to the Overall Tournament 31 of his 34 seasons; and

WHEREAS, the 2016 Madison-Ridgeland Academy "Patriots" Boys Basketball Championship Team Roster is: Darrell McClendon, Austin Waldrop, Garrett Stringer, Henri Borne, LiLewis Davis, Kory Stephens, Donavan Lewis, Cory Jackson, Harper Hudnall, Devin Gilmore, Clint Moses, Cooper Ruwe, Griffin Agent, Jaemyn Brakefield, Spencer Wright, Braxton Eubanks, Owen Barry and Bruce Landing; Head Coach Richard Duease; and Assistant Coaches Brandon Bolen and Kevin Moses; and Stats, Rawlins Biggs; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize a dream season by a 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 SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the Madison-Ridgeland Academy "Patriots" Boys Basketball Team and Coach Richard Duease for winning the MAIS Class AAAA State Championship, 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 Coach Duease for the team, MRA Headmaster Termie Land, forwarded to the MRA Board of Trustees, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.