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H. R. No. 155 *HR26/R2769* ~ OFFICIAL ~ N1/2
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To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Representative Sanders
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 155
A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE NORTHSIDE HIGH 1
SCHOOL GATORS BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM FOR WINNING THE MISSISSIPPI 2
HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION CLASS 2A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. 3
WHEREAS, the Northside High School Gators Boys Basketball 4
Team reigned supreme against the Pelahatchie High School Chiefs at 5
the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 6
2A State Championship, their first ever state championship; and 7
WHEREAS, when Northside High School senior and small forward 8
Dai'Qwaunn Price jumped into the arms of senior center Jaquavius 9
Jackson with his arms flexed and fists raised high in the air, the 10
ultimate goal had been accomplished on March 7, 2026, at the 11
Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson; and 12
WHEREAS, the Gators played a fast paced style of basketball, 13
using stingy defense to win their first state championship as they 14
defeated the Pelahatchie High School Chiefs 51-39 in the 15
championship game of the MHSAA 2A State Boys Basketball Playoffs, 16
and Northside won its last 12 in a row to finish the year at an 17
impressive 28-3; and 18
H. R. No. 155 *HR26/R2769* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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WHEREAS, Northside is only in its eighth year of existence as 19
it formed from the merger of John F. Kennedy Memorial High School 20
in Mound Bayou, Mississippi, and Broad Street High School in 21
Shelby, Mississippi, in 2018, and fans from Shelby, Mound Bayou 22
and the surrounding towns in the North Bolivar School District 23
cheered the Gators on with every play in Jackson, and the state 24
championship in boys basketball was the first in the North Bolivar 25
area since 1989 when Broad Street captured the 2A State Crown, and 26
the win for Northside was also sweet revenge as the Gators lost to 27
the Chiefs 59-49 in the 2025 semifinals; and 28
WHEREAS, the Gators' effort against Pelahatchie was 29
spearheaded by senior shooting guard Jamarion Johnson who scored a 30
team-high 21 points with six rebounds and two steals, and he was 31
named the Most Valuable Player of the Game; and 32
WHEREAS, the win in the state championship game was huge for 33
Head Coach Demarcus McKinley, and in the previous five years at 34
Northside, he has guided the Gators to the quarterfinals or 35
further each year, and they had been to the semifinals twice and 36
finished the MHSAA 2A State Runner-Up in 2023, and when the game 37
against the Pelahatchie Chiefs came to a close and he realized his 38
team won the title, Coach McKinley was in awe; and 39
WHEREAS, the key to the Gators' success this season has been 40
defense, and it was huge for them in the playoffs, and to advance 41
to the state championship game, Northside dominated Bay Springs 42
H. R. No. 155 *HR26/R2769* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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ST: Northside High School Gators Boys
Basketball Team; commend for winning the MHSAA
Class 2A State Championship.
55-29 in the semifinals on March 4, 2026, at the Mississippi 43
Coliseum in Jackson; and 44
WHEREAS, it the policy of the House of Representatives that 45
we recognize this first-ever championship by a group of 46
outstanding student-athletes who have brought honor to Northside 47
High School, their community and to the State of Mississippi: 48
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF 49
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby 50
commend and congratulate the Northside High School Gators Boys 51
Basketball Team and Coach Demarcus McKinley for winning their 52
first Class 2A State Championship, and extend our best wishes for 53
continued success in all their future endeavors. 54
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to 55
Coach Demarcus McKinley, the Northside High School Gators Boys 56
Basketball Team, and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps. 57