House Resolution 87

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE ST. ANDREW'S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL SAINTS HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM FOR WINNING THEIR FIRST MISSISSIPPI HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION (MHSAA) CLASS 3A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE SCHOOL'S HISTORY.

WHEREAS, the astonishing 2017-2018 St. Andrew's Episcopal School Saints High School Boys Basketball Team broke the school's athletic record and made school history when they captured the school's first-ever Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 3A State Championship win; and

WHEREAS, driven by a passion for victory and a determination to take home the trophy, the Saints played with emboldened hearts and un-matched athletic prowess leaving all nay-sayers in the dust, and pressed forward past the school's vacant athletic history to break new ground as the MHSAA Class 3A State Champions; and

WHEREAS, early on during the fourth quarter, the team shadowed their Holly Springs rivals by three points with no indication that the Saints would overcome Holly Springs' lead, until senior player Garrison Wade jumped five feet above his own height for the putback dunk; and

WHEREAS, Wade's putback dunk changed the tone of the game and the momentum of his team, and thereafter a newly renewed Wade scored eight unanswered points, and 10 of the team's next 11 points; and

WHEREAS, due to his athletic dexterity, Wade snatched every rebound and ended every critical play which led to the team's 48-42 victory over their rival, and ended with Wade totaling 19 points, 19 rebounds and three blocks; and

WHEREAS, ninth grade freshman player Rashad Bolden was a break-out star who found himself on the free-throw line time and time again in the final minutes of a one-score game, and managed to remain keenly focused to pull out six consecutive free throws to seal the victory on that fateful night; and

WHEREAS, the Saints' skills have been impressively molded by Head Coach Brian Cronin, who has believed in his team from the beginning, and diligently worked to expand their knowledge of the game and refine their execution; and

WHEREAS, Assistant Coach JeMario Rugley channeled the spirit of gusto and perseverance of his late father to instill competiveness and character within the players stating, "They did it for themselves. They did it for St. Andrew's, and they said they were gonna do it for my dad, and they did that"; and

WHEREAS, the 2017-2018 championship roster of the Saints High School Boys Basketball Team is comprised of: Nolan Turner, G; Rashad Bolden, G; Aaron Cooper, G; Fletcher Clark, G; Lleyton Carr, G; Hudson Bataille, G; William Harkless, G; Hughes Boling, G; Garrison Wade, G; Larry Day, G; Walter Johnson, C; Arness Georgetown, C; Noel Wiggs, C; Michael John Davis and Guanyang (Gary) Gao, C; and

WHEREAS, the team has been diligently supported by other Assistant Coaches: Michael Timmer and Ontario Harper; Managers Jonathan Buckley and Wynn Garriga, and Athletic Director DeWayne Cupples; and

WHEREAS, not only are these players champions, they are also scholars who work hard in their classes as critical thinkers, in their school as academic mentors and in their communities as positive leaders; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to acknowledge and celebrate the accomplishments of our youth that set optimistic and encouraging standards for others:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the St. Andrew's Episcopal School Saints High School Boys Basketball Team for winning their first MHSAA Class 3A State Championship in school history.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Head Coach Brian Cronin, members of the St. Andrew's Episcopal School Saints High School Boys Basketball Team and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.