Senate Concurrent Resolution 642

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO COMMEND AND CONGRATULATE THE PEARL HIGH SCHOOL "LADY PIRATES" GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM AND COACHES LACEY AND JASON KENNEDY FOR WINNING THE MHSAA CLASS 6A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

WHEREAS, Pearl High School "Lady Pirates" players and coaches hoisted the trophy following the "Lady Pirates" 59-48 win over Terry on March 9, 2019; and

WHEREAS, the Lady Pirates entered the year as one of the top teams in the state after making the Class 6A Final Four in 2018. They returned Dandy Dozen Jayla Alexander and Guard Olivia Knight and added another star player when MaKayla Minett transferred to Pearl. Head Coach Lacey Kennedy had spent six years building Pearl into a basketball powerhouse and primed for a State Title; and

WHEREAS, Pearl's game against region foe Terry for the Class 6A Championship wasn't easy. Despite what their 31-1 record heading into the title game might indicate, their season wasn't easy with their Head Coach Lacey Kennedy, an enlisted member of the United States Army Reserves, deployed to Qatar after the second game of the season. Then, they had to adjust to her husband and Assistant Coach, Jason, as the new Interim Head Coach. What kept them going through those tough times in a long season was the promise they made to their coach long before the first game of the season. At the beginning of the summer of 2018, the Lady Pirates promised they would get their Head Coach a Gold Ball; and

WHEREAS, after the final buzzer sounded, they let their emotions overflow knowing they had made good on their promise. Makayla Minett and others cried tears of joy. Jayla Alexander was all smiles. Olivia Knight leaped into Minett's arms in exultation. "It feels amazing knowing that the mission is complete for Coach (Lacey) Kennedy," Knight said. "She has something to come back to and we kept our promise to her." The team swarmed around the Gold Ball while chanting "For LK," short for "For Lacey Kennedy"; and

WHEREAS, Jayla Alexander, who had led the way for the Lady Pirates all season, finished the Title Game with 21 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and three steals. Jayla was named the game's Most Valuable Player for her efforts and got to go out on top in her last game as a Lady Pirate. But more important to her than anything, she helped deliver a State Title to their deployed Head Coach; and

WHEREAS, the 2019 Lady Pirates Championship Roster is: Olivia Knight, PG, SG; Nya Hatcher, G; Amyra Sanders, C, G; Akyra Bennett, G; Mackenzie Carter, F, G; Hayley Bounds, C, G, F; Keke Nichols, W; Ashlon Fagon, SG; Kaliyah Taylor, SG, PG; Clydesia Adams, F; Jayla Alexander, PG, SG; MaKayla Minett, P; Vicky Harvey, P; Jade Myles, F, G; Andrea Mack, G; and Victoria Walters, P; Head Coach Lacey Kennedy; and Associate Head Coach and Interim Head Coach Jason Kennedy; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this group of student athletes who overcame adversity to bring honor to their school, their community, their deployed coach 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 Pearl High School "Lady Pirates" Girls Basketball Team and Coaches Lacey and Jason Kennedy for winning the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 6A 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 Coaches Lacy and Jason Kennedy and Pearl Principal Chris Chism, forwarded to the Pearl School Board, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.