Senate Resolution 84

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE LAKE HIGH SCHOOL "LADY HORNETS" GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM AND HEAD COACH HOLLY MONCRIEF FOR WINNING BACK-TO-BACK MHSAA CLASS 2A STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS WHICH IS THE FOURTH STATE TITLE IN SCHOOL HISTORY.

WHEREAS, behind the stellar play of Laneisha Palm along with second half defense Lake High School "Lady Hornets" Girls Basketball Team ran past Heidelberg 67-48 to claim the MHSAA Girls Class 2A State Championship for the second consecutive year at the Mississippi Coliseum on March 3, 2023; and

WHEREAS, it's the "Lady Hornets" (24-9) fourth State Title in school history; and

WHEREAS, "Something we talked about at the beginning is to set the tempo and take control of the game for the whole game," said first-year Lake Coach Holly Moncrief. "That's exactly what they did. I can't say enough about the girls, I'm so proud of them"; and

WHEREAS, the "Lady Hornets" never trailed, jumped out to an 8-3 lead, and Taylor Clark banked in a three-pointer at the buzzer to give Lake a 13-4 lead at the end of the first quarter. Heidelberg began the second quarter on an 8-4 run to cut the "Lady Hornets" lead down to 17-13; however, the "Lady Hornets" ended the first half on a 10-4 run to take a 29-19 advantage at halftime; and

WHEREAS, in the second half, Palm took over for Lake. The multisport athlete scored 10 of the "Lady Hornets" 17 points in the third quarter, and Lake held a 46-31 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Palm was named the game's Most Valuable Player. She finished 14-of-20 from the floor, tying the number of baskets the entire Heidelberg Team made that afternoon; and

WHEREAS, the Lake High School "Lady Hornets" Girls Basketball Championship Team 2022-2023 Roster: T'Lea Hunt, Nakijah Gammage, Kayjah Lay, Alicia Oliphant, Laneisha Palm, Kelis Odom, An'twonette Pinkston, Taylor Clark, Brooklyn Harris, Ja'santoe Pinkston, Anyia Hunt, Lyric Lay, Kaliauna Jones, Alexis Robinson and Kerionia Harris; Head Coach Holly Moncrief; Assistant Coach Teka Lofton; Managers: Kenya Banks, Aeranna Coleman and Amaurei Jones; and Bookkeeper Finesse Harris; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize these student athletes who have again 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 Lake High School "Lady Hornets" Girls Basketball Team and Head Coach Holly Moncrief for winning back-to-back MHSAA Class 2A State Championships which is the fourth State Title in school history, and extend to the team, coaches, parents and sponsors our best wishes for future success.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Head Coach Holly Moncrief and Lake Principal Jon Moncrief for the team, forwarded to the Scott County Board of Education and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.