Senate Concurrent Resolution 647

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE CHOCTAW CENTRAL "LADY WARRIORS" GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM AND COACH BILL SMITH FOR WINNING THE MHSAA CLASS 3A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

WHEREAS, the Choctaw Central "Lady Warriors" Girls Basketball Team has been to the Big House many times over the years, but since the team's last Girls Basketball State Championship in 2005, the tournament run always ended in heartbreak. Not any longer, and the 2016-2017 "Lady Warriors" made sure they left no doubt with a 75-42 win against Amanda Elzy on March 11, 2017, in the Mississippi Coliseum; and

WHEREAS, it was a remarkable display of basketball prowess, especially in a first half during which Choctaw Central (31-3) led by Amanda Elzy (29-2) 55-22. "This was by far one of the best games we've ever had," point guard Darien Tubby said. "That first quarter, we've never had nothing like that. They came out to play, and I'm so proud of them." Tubby had 18 points, Kyannah Grant had 15 and Kyarrah Grant had 11. That's a full days work for most teams these past two weeks in the Mississippi Coliseum, and for Choctaw Central it was just in the first half. "Our bread and butter is the press, and to try to run it up and down the court," Coach Bill Smith said. "We felt like we could run them, and by golly we did"; and

WHEREAS, Choctaw Central could have broken the record, leading by as much as 40 in the third quarter, but Coach Smith called it off. He pulled all five starters three minutes into the third quarter, and the starters entered the fourth only to individually get taken out of the game to raucous applause by a couple thousand fans in attendance; and

WHEREAS, the 2016-2017 Lady Warriors Girls Basketball Team Championship Roster is: Allison Meely, G; Candace Jefferson, G; Kaedre Denson, P; Jennavia Bollin, G; Maleighia Joe, G; Darien Tubby, PG; Reese Tubby, P; Lacrisha Williams, G; Sarah Allen, G; Jordan Bell, PG; Kyarrah Grant, G; and Kyannah Grant, G; and Head Coach Bill Smith; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this group of student athletes, whose dominant basketball performance brought honor to their school, their community and 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 Choctaw Central "Lady Warriors" Girls Basketball Team and Coach Bill Smith for winning the MHSAA Class 3A 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 Bill Smith and Choctaw Central Principal Fredrick Hickmon, forwarded to the Choctaw County Board of Education, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.