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HC62 • 2026

Laurel High School Lady Golden Tornadoes Basketball Team; commend on winning MHSAA Class 5A Championship.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE LAUREL HIGH SCHOOL LADY GOLDEN TORNADOES BASKETBALL TEAM ON WINNING THE 2026 MISSISSIPPI HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION (MHSAA) CLASS 5A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

Education
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Scott
Last action
2026-04-06
Official status
Adopted
Effective date
No Effecti

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not include specific details about the players' academic achievements or Coach Cooley's health status beyond mentioning her retirement due to battling breast cancer.

Praise for Laurel High School's Lady Golden Tornadoes Basketball Team

This resolution commends and congratulates the Laurel High School Lady Golden Tornadoes basketball team for winning the 2026 MHSAA Class 5A State Championship.

What This Bill Does

  • Praises the Laurel High School Lady Golden Tornadoes basketball team for their championship win.
  • Recognizes Coach Sherri Cooley and her assistant coaches for their leadership.
  • Highlights standout performances by players like Kayllis Walker, Jahyla Dubose, and Gracelyn Carmichael.
  • Expresses wishes for continued success in future athletic and academic endeavors.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Laurel High School Lady Golden Tornadoes basketball team
  • Coach Sherri Cooley and assistant coaches

Terms To Know

MHSAA
Mississippi High School Activities Association, the organization that oversees high school sports in Mississippi.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This resolution does not provide any financial support or tangible benefits.
  • The impact of this resolution is primarily symbolic and ceremonial.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-06 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    04/06 (S) Enrolled Bill Signed

  2. 2026-04-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    04/03 (H) Enrolled Bill Signed

  3. 2026-04-01 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    04/01 (S) Returned For Enrolling

  4. 2026-03-31 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    03/31 (S) Adopted

  5. 2026-03-30 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    03/30 (S) Title Suff Do Be Adopted

  6. 2026-03-26 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    03/26 (S) Referred To Rules

  7. 2026-03-25 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    03/25 (H) Transmitted To Senate

  8. 2026-03-25 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    03/25 (H) Immediate Release

  9. 2026-03-25 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    03/25 (H) Adopted

  10. 2026-03-24 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    03/24 (H) Title Suff Do Be Adopted

  11. 2026-03-19 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    03/19 (H) Referred To Rules

Official Summary Text

Laurel High School Lady Golden Tornadoes Basketball Team; commend on winning MHSAA Class 5A Championship.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
H. C. R. No. 62 *HR43/R2728* ~ OFFICIAL ~ N1/2
26/HR43/R2728
PAGE 1 (RKM\KP)

To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Scott

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 62

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE 1
LAUREL HIGH SCHOOL LADY GOLDEN TORNADOES BASKETBALL TEAM ON 2
WINNING THE 2026 MISSISSIPPI HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION 3
(MHSAA) CLASS 5A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. 4
WHEREAS, on March 7, 2026, the Laurel High School Girls 5
Basketball Team reigned supreme when the Lady Golden Tornadoes 6
handily defeated the Holmes County Central High School Lady 7
Jaguars in the 2026 Mississippi High School Activities Association 8
(MHSAA) Class 5A State Championship, incredibly bringing home the 9
team's second Golden Ball in the last three years; and 10
WHEREAS, while both teams showcased exemplary skill and 11
determination during the championship battle on the hardwood, the 12
Lady Golden Tornadoes took a commanding lead from the very start 13
and never surrendered it, as the team's mental stamina and 14
unimaginable amount of fortitude never waivered for a moment as 15
they outlasted and overpowered the Lady Jaguars until the last 16
buzzer sounded with the 52-26 final score on the board; and 17
WHEREAS, with the championship win culminating a 20-game 18
winning streak, the 32-2 Lady Golden Tornadoes' success in 19
H. C. R. No. 62 *HR43/R2728* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R2728
PAGE 2 (RKM\KP)

capturing the state title, the team's third during Coach Sherri 20
Cooley's time as head coach at Laurel, was powered by standout 21
performances by Kayllis Walker, who finished with 20 points and 22
nine rebounds, along with Jahyla Dubose, who added 15 points, 23
eight rebounds and one block, and Gracelyn Carmichael, who chipped 24
in six points; and 25
WHEREAS, beyond her athletic achievements, Gracelyn 26
Carmichael, a senior guard for the Lady Golden Tornadoes, has 27
demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to academic excellence, 28
resulting in her being recognized as Class 5A All-Academic; and 29
WHEREAS, while the state title for the Lady Golden Tornadoes 30
is cause to celebrate, the championship game in the Mississippi 31
Coliseum marked a bittersweet moment for the Laurel community as 32
Coach Cooley had her last game where she hoped, "at the big 33
house," before retiring from coaching after a remarkable 25-year 34
career, six of which were as head coach at Laurel without a single 35
losing record, to bravely fight the biggest battle of her life, 36
breast cancer; and 37
WHEREAS, during the 2025-2026 season, the Laurel High School 38
Lady Golden Tornadoes outscored their opponents 2,148-981 and 39
finished as the Clarion Ledger's No. 2 team, and their success is 40
attributable to the remarkable commitment and hard work of each of 41
its talented student-athletes, including: Tatyionna Pittman, 42
Jahyla Dubose, Karly Hunter, Sydney Ridgeway, Madisun McKenzie, 43
Robyn Moore, Takaylen Dean, Autumn Mcgill, Gracelyn Carmichael, 44
H. C. R. No. 62 *HR43/R2728* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R2728
PAGE 3 (RKM\KP)

Kayllis Walker, Nahla Faulkner, Zykeria Evans and Khe'dasia 45
Jackson, with the support of Team Manager Antwumya Dean; and 46
WHEREAS, in addition to Head Coach Sherri Cooley, the Lady 47
Golden Tornadoes have been superbly coached and inspired by 48
assistant coaches Shasta Husband, Kristie McKinley and Bianca 49
Gully, who together have broadened the players' knowledge of the 50
game and refined their skills in execution; and 51
WHEREAS, the members of this team will forever carry the 52
unforgettable memories they made along the way to their 53
hard-earned championship status, as well as the lessons of hard 54
work, dedication and perseverance learned during this amazing 55
season; and 56
WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize 57
and commend excellence such as that displayed by the Laurel High 58
School Lady Golden Tornadoes Basketball Team, and it is with great 59
pride that we congratulate this elite group of student-athletes 60
and Coach Sherri Cooley, who have brought honor to their families 61
and school, the City of Laurel, and the State of Mississippi: 62
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF 63
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING 64
THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the Laurel 65
High School Lady Golden Tornadoes Basketball Team and Head Coach 66
Sherri Cooley on winning the 2026 Mississippi High School 67
Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 5A State Championship and 68
extend best wishes to the team for continued success in all their 69
H. C. R. No. 62 *HR43/R2728* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R2728
PAGE 4 (RKM\KP)
ST: Laurel High School Lady Golden Tornadoes
Basketball Team; commend on winning MHSAA Class
5A Championship.
future athletic and academic endeavors. FURTHER, we do hereby 70
offer our prayers and extend sincerest wishes to Coach Cooley for 71
healing and the very best of health for years to come. 72
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be 73
furnished to Laurel High School, Coach Sherri Cooley and to the 74
members of the Capitol Press Corps. 75