Mississippi SR 78: Commend McEvans School "Warriors" Boys Basketball Team for winning MHSAA Class 1A State Championship.

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S. R. No. 78 *SS36/R1396* ~ OFFICIAL ~ N1/2
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To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2023

By: Senator(s) Simmons (13th), Simmons
(12th), Butler (38th)

SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 78

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE MCEVANS HIGH 1
SCHOOL "WARRIORS" BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM AND COACH ERIC HENRY FOR 2
WINNING THE MHSAA CLASS 1A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. 3
WHEREAS, behind a defense that forced 31 turnovers and the 4
play of Brandon Hall and Jalen Smith, the McEvans High School 5
"Warriors" raced past McAdams 67-48 to claim the MHSAA Boys Class 6
1A State Basketball Championship on March 2, 2023, at the 7
Mississippi Coliseum; and 8
WHEREAS, it was McEvans (24-6) fifth State Title in school 9
history and first since 2015, when the school was known as Shaw 10
High School; and 11
WHEREAS, "The full-court press is something we haven't been 12
using at all postseason and it was something that caught them off 13
guard," said McEvans Coach Eric Henry. "Forcing turnovers that 14
led to easy baskets is something we've done all year"; and 15
WHEREAS, McAdams jumped out to a 9-3 lead to begin the game 16
and eventually held a 16-6 lead at the end of the quarter. After 17
that, it was all "Warriors." McEvans went on a 18-2 run in the 18

S. R. No. 78 *SS36/R1396* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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second quarter to take a 24-18 lead and held a 24-21 halftime 19
lead. A 10-2 run to begin the second half stretched the 20
"Warriors'" lead out to 34-23 and a 8-0 run to end the third 21
quarter gave McEvans a 42-27 lead headed to the fourth. The final 22
period was more even than the last two, but the "Warriors'" lead 23
never dwindled below nine points. Brandon Hall and Jalen Smith 24
each had 18 points to lead McEvans, while Edward Smith added 11 25
points for the "Warriors"; and 26
WHEREAS, "This State Championship means a lot to us and to 27
the community," Coach Henry stated. "I started with these kids 28
when they were in 10th grade and we lost last year in the 29
semifinals and we were going to do what we needed to do to get 30
back here and we did"; and 31
WHEREAS, the 2022-2023 "Warriors'" Boys Basketball 32
Championship Team Roster is: Omarion Blake, Jalen Smith, Brenton 33
Hall, Jordan McDaniel, Brandon Hall, Elijah Johnson, Bryan Dotson, 34
Antone Kirkland, Edward Smith, Delvin Jordan, Treyshawn Thomas, 35
Raysheed Hornes, Tanari Cooper, and Rodrick Phillips; and Head 36
Coach Eric Henry; and 37
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this group 38
of student athletes who have brought honor to their school, their 39
community and to the State of Mississippi: 40
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF 41
MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the 42
McEvans School "Warriors" Boys Basketball Team and Coach Eric 43

S. R. No. 78 *SS36/R1396* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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ST: Commend McEvans School "Warriors" Boys
Basketball Team for winning MHSAA Class 1A State
Championship.
Henry for winning the MHSAA Class 1A State Championship, and 44
extend the best wishes of the Mississippi Senate to the team, 45
coaches, parents and sponsors for future success. 46
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to 47
Coach Eric Henry and McEvans Principal Tracy Dunn for the team, 48
forwarded to the Bolivar County School Board and made available to 49
Capitol Press Corps. 50