MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2016 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Michel, Branning, Caughman, Chassaniol, Dearing, Jackson (32nd), Kirby
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE 2015-2016 JACKSON ACADEMY "LADY RAIDER" BASKETBALL TEAM AND HEAD COACH JAN SOJOURNER FOR WINNING THE MAIS AAAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AND FOR THE MAIS OVERALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.
WHEREAS, Jackson Academy Coach Jan Sojourner beamed as she watched her Jackson Academy "Lady Raider" Girls Basketball Team celebrate on February 20, 2016, at A.E. Wood Coliseum in Clinton. The "Lady Raiders" (32-1) capped a most remarkable season in school history by defeating arch rival Jackson Prep a fourth time. The team finished the season ranked in the Super 10 by The Clarion-Ledger. This Jackson Academy team is only the 2nd MAIS girls team to finish in the Top 10; and
WHEREAS, top-ranked Jackson Academy entered the AAAA Championship on a 28-game winning streak and with three double-digit wins against Jackson Prep on the season, including the Division Championship, but this time the two teams needed overtime to settle the score. To beat a team four times in a season is very difficult, and Jackson Academy Head Coach Jan Sojourner was concerned her team's lack of having only two seniors might play a factor considering Prep had six. But Bradford and juniors Conley Chinn and Emily McNair scored 19 of the team's 28 points after halftime to bring Jackson Academy the AAAA Title. "I'm just so very proud of our girls," Sojourner said; and
WHEREAS, sophomore guard Déjà Bradford took on a much bigger role on a much grander stage scoring 30 points to lead Jackson Academy to a 55-41 win over Jackson Prep in the MAIS Overall Tournament finals on February 27, 2016. Perhaps more impressive than winning the MAIS AAAA Division I Championship, AAAA and the MAIS Overall Championship is the way the "Lady Raiders" did it by finishing the season with 32 wins in a row with just one senior in the starting lineup; and
WHEREAS, the Jackson Academy "Lady Raiders" have had 6 Overall Championships dating back to 1983-1984 and the last one before this year being the 2001-2002 year; and
WHEREAS, Head Coach Jan Sojourner's record at Jackson Academy is 732-304 with 5 Overall Titles in 31 years. She has won 20 or more games in 25 of her 31 seasons at Jackson Academy. Her overall totals are 834-340 in 36 years of coaching which ranks her as #5 in all time wins in Mississippi Girls Basketball History; and
WHEREAS, the 2015-2016 Jackson Academy "Lady Raiders" Basketball Team Roster is: Déjà Bradford, Taylor Tucker, Niya Stapleton, Robyn Hadden, Emily McNair, Sara Brooks Adams, Conley Chinn, Malon Stratton, Chelsea Francois, Brehan Whitehead, Lauren Sheriff, Haley Barber, Armoni Williams, Joyia Petty and Grace Ardelean; Head Coach Jan Sojourner; Assistant Coaches Ronnie Rogers and Riley Busching; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this 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 2015-2016 Jackson Academy "Lady Raiders" Basketball Team and Head Coach Jan Sojourner for winning the MAIS AAAA State Championship and for the MAIS Overall State Championship, and extend our best wishes to the team, coaches, parents and sponsors for future successes.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Jan Sojourner and Headmaster Pat Taylor, forwarded to the Jackson Academy Board of Trustees, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.