Senate Resolution 73

(As Adopted by Senate)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE BOONEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL "LADY BLUE DEVILS" GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM FOR WINNING BACK-TO-BACK MHSAA 3A STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS AND HEAD COACH MICHAEL SMITH AS THE ONLY MISSISSIPPI HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL COACH TO WIN CONSECUTIVE STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS BASKETBALL.

WHEREAS, behind the play of 2023 Miss Basketball Saniyah Cook and a dominant second quarter, the Booneville High School "Lady Blue Devils" Girls Basketball Team raced past Forest 58-31 on March 4, 2023, to claim the MHSAA Girls Class 3A State Championship for the second consecutive season at the Mississippi Coliseum; and

WHEREAS, it was Booneville's (30-3) fourth State title in school history; and

WHEREAS, "I thought we had a really good game plan going in and we knew they were going to press us," Booneville Coach Michael Smith said. "But they could press us in two or three spots, but not all five. We wanted to make sure Saniyah only had one or two players guarding her, and that was the pressure release. That took them out of what they were wanting to do." Coach Michael Smith is the only high school coach in Mississippi history to win consecutive State Championships in both girls and boys basketball; and

WHEREAS, the "Lady Blue Devils" jumped out to a 9-0 lead to begin the game, but Forest went on a 6-2 run to end the opening quarter to cut the Booneville lead to 11-6 at the end of the first quarter. But just when the packed "Big House" crowd thought Forest had settled down, the "Lady Blue Devils" went into another gear. Forest scored the first basket of the second quarter 10 seconds into the period to cut the Booneville lead to 11-8. Booneville proceeded to score the final 19 points of the quarter, highlighted by back-to-back three-pointers from Ava Kathryn Smith, to take a commanding 30-8 lead. In the second half, every time Forest tried to cut into the Booneville lead, the "Lady Blue Devils" had an answer. Their lead never dwindled below 20 points, and Cook sealed the game with four consecutive free throws in the fourth quarter to give them an insurmountable 51-26 lead; and

WHEREAS, Saniyah Cook had a game-high 20 points to earn MVP honors for Booneville, while Ava Kathryn Smith added 19 points for the "Lady Blue Devils"; and

WHEREAS, the 2022-2023 Booneville High School "Lady Blue Devils" Girls Basketball Team Championship Roster is: Ava Kathryn Smith, Madison Owens, Josie Dawson, Shaylea King, Sara Hatch, Arlaina Rogers, Chloe Ruth, Hadley Hurt, Kellan Johnson, Hallie Burns, Kylee Johnson, Emsley Murphy, Maddie Middleton, Olivia Garrett, Kaylee Johnson, Allie Gillespie, Taylor Brooke White, Saniyah Cook, Kaylee Wildmon, Makylah Pippins, Hana Hurt, Kymani Smith, Kierra Slack, Raven McKinney and Jadyn Lindsey; Head Coach Michael Smith; Assistant Coaches Kenny Paul Geno, Chip Johnson, Cole Lauderdale, Micah Moment and Bryant Tyles; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize these student athlete champions 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, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the Booneville High School "Lady Blue Devils" Girls Basketball Team for winning back-to-back MHSAA 3A State Championships and Head Coach Michael Smith as the only Mississippi High School Basketball Coach to win consecutive State Championships in both Boys and Girls Basketball, and extend to the team, coaches, parents and sponsors our best wishes for more consecutive victories.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Michael Smith and Booneville Principal Bo Sandlin for the team, forwarded to the Booneville School District Board of Trustees, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.