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S. R. No. 61 *SS08/R1581* ~ OFFICIAL ~ N1/2
26/SS08/R1581
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To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Senator(s) Berry
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 61
A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE SIMPSON 1
ACADEMY LADY COUGARS GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM AND COACH LINDA DEAR 2
FOR WINNING THE 2026 MAIS CLASS 4A DIVISION 1 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP 3
AND AS RUNNERS-UP IN THE OVERALL TOURNAMENT. 4
WHEREAS, the Simpson Academy Lady Cougars Girls Basketball 5
Team secured the 2026 MAIS Class 4A Division 1 State Championship 6
on February 14, 2026, by defeating East Rankin Academy 54-45, led 7
by freshman Elle McNulty's 19 points. It is the Lady Cougars' 8
first title since 2019; and 9
WHEREAS, Coach Linda Dear earned her fifth career state title 10
in her 40-year coaching career. Coach Dear has led the Simpson 11
Academy program for 23 years, with this championship marking 12
another major milestone for the team. She has surpassed the 500 13
win threshold. "It's very special," said Coach Dear. "I've 14
coached these kids since they were in second grade. East Rankin 15
Academy has stood in our way of several championships, and we felt 16
like this was our day, and we were not going to be denied"; and 17
WHEREAS, the Lady Cougars later finished as runners-up in the 18
MAIS Overall Tournament; and 19
S. R. No. 61 *SS08/R1581* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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WHEREAS, 2026 Season Key Highlights: 20
• MAIS 4A-D1 Championship: Simpson Academy defeated East 21
Rankin Academy 54-45; 22
• Tournament Run: The team defeated Pillow Academy 55-38 in 23
the semifinals and Parklane Academy to win the South Class 4A 24
title; 25
• Overall Tournament: Simpson reached the Overall 26
Tournament Championship game, finishing as runner-up to 27
Madison-Ridgeland Academy (MRA) with a final score of 37-25; 28
• Record: The team entered the final stages of the 29
tournament with a 30-5 record; and 30
WHEREAS, the Simpson Academy Girls Basketball Roster for 31
2025-2026: Maggie Shivers, Ansley Jones, Gracie Pinkerton, Jayda 32
Smith, Lucy Walker, Emma Henderson, Elle McNulty, Madi Davidson, 33
Mary Casyn Hunt, Charlye Bowen, Elie Stewart, Danni Cooper, Brooke 34
Blackledge, Annmarie Blakeney, Anniston Bass, and Head Coach Linda 35
Dear; and 36
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize these 37
student-athletes who have brought honor to their school, their 38
community and to the State of Mississippi: 39
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF 40
MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the 41
Simpson Academy Lady Cougars Girls Basketball Team and Coach Linda 42
Dear for winning the 2026 MAIS Class 4A Division 1 State 43
S. R. No. 61 *SS08/R1581* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS08/R1581
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ST: Commend Simpson Academy Lady Cougars Girls
Basketball Team and Coach Linda Dear for winning
2026 MAIS 4A State Championship.
Championship and as runners-up in the overall tournament, and 44
extend our best wishes for continued success. 45
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to 46
Coach Linda Dear for the team, forwarded to Simpson Academy's 47
Headmaster, John Shows, and board of trustees and made available 48
to the Capitol Press Corps. 49