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S. R. No. 64 *SS26/R1590* ~ OFFICIAL ~ N1/2
26/SS26/R1590
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To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Senator(s) Williams, Younger, Turner-
Ford, Hopson
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 64
A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE STARKVILLE 1
HIGH SCHOOL YELLOW JACKETS GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM AND COACH MATT 2
WILBANKS FOR WINNING THE 2026 MHSAA CLASS 7A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. 3
WHEREAS, after going into overtime during the state title 4
game last season, the Yellow Jackets dominated Harrison Central 5
39-22 to claim the MHSAA Girls Class 7A State Championship on 6
March 6, 2026, at the Mississippi Coliseum, joining the Starkville 7
High School Boys Team in a State Championship; and 8
WHEREAS, it's Starkville's (31-3) sixth state title in school 9
history and first since 2018, and Head Coach Matt Wilbanks' first 10
career state championship as head coach. Starkville started and 11
finished the 2026 season at consensus No. 1 in the state, and the 12
team's average margin of victory was 24 points; and 13
WHEREAS, "This is a surreal feeling because we've had the 14
target on our backs all year; proud of the girls because winning 15
31 games is hard to do. This is a lot better feeling than last 16
year for sure," said Starkville Coach Matt Wilbanks; and 17
S. R. No. 64 *SS26/R1590* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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WHEREAS, the Lady Yellow Jackets jumped out to a 11-5 lead at 18
the end of the first quarter. Starkville opened the second half 19
on a 10-4 run to stretch its lead out to 31-11 and held a 31-16 20
lead heading into the fourth quarter. An 8-2 run in the fourth 21
quarter sealed the game for Starkville as the Yellow Jackets 22
extended their lead to 39-18; and 23
WHEREAS, Southern Miss signee Jada Gay scored a game-high 15 24
points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead Starkville and was named 25
the game's Most Valuable Player. Zariah Brown added 12 points for 26
Starkville; and 27
WHEREAS, more honors included Jada Gay as MHSAA 2026 7A Miss 28
Basketball, MHSAA 7A State Championship MVP, 2026 Girls Basketball 29
Dandy Dozen honoree, 2026 7A MS/AL All-Star, and Region 2/7A 30
Player of the Year; Jade Brown as MHSAA 7A Scholar Athlete, 2026 31
7A MS/AL All-Star, and All Region 2/7A; Zariah Brown as 2025 7A 32
North/South All-Star and All Region 2/7A; Yasmine Roberts as 2025 33
7A North/South All Star; Logan Warren and Morgan Williams as All 34
Region 2/7A; and 35
WHEREAS, Starkville High School 2025-2026 Girls Basketball 36
Team Roster: Jada Blair, Jada Gay, Eleanor Giesen, Kamare Holmes, 37
Zariah Brown, McKayla Duck, Logan Warren, Morgan Williams, Karmen 38
Robinson, Janiya Yarborough, Rylee Willis, Yasmine Roberts, 39
Isabella Davis, Catherine Lesley and Jade Brown; Coach Matt 40
Wilbanks; and Assistant Coaches Mark Alexander, Wayde Barksdale, 41
Collins Brown, Emma Butler, Adam Hodges, Lydia Hinton, Michael 42
S. R. No. 64 *SS26/R1590* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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ST: Commend Starkville High School Girls
Basketball Team for winning 2026 MHSAA Class 7A
State Championship.
Knight, Tate Fischer, Boston Hampton, Lydia Hinton, Jasmeen 43
Roberts and Jeremiah Chandler; and 44
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize these 45
student-athletes who have brought honor to their school, their 46
community and to the State of Mississippi: 47
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF 48
MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the 49
Starkville High School Yellow Jackets Girls Basketball Team and 50
Coach Matt Wilbanks for winning the 2026 MHSAA Class 7A State 51
Championship, and extend to the team, coaches, parents and 52
sponsors our best wishes for future state championships. 53
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to 54
Coach Matt Wilbanks and Starkville Principal Dr. Watress Harris, 55
forwarded to the Starkville-Oktibbeha County School Board, and be 56
made available to the Capitol Press Corps. 57