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S. R. No. 73 *SS26/R1608* ~ OFFICIAL ~ N1/2
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To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Senator(s) Younger, Turner-Ford
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 73
A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE COLUMBUS HIGH 1
SCHOOL FALCONS AND COACH PHILLIP MORRIS FOR WINNING THE 2026 MHSAA 2
CLASS 5A BOYS BASKETBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. 3
WHEREAS, the Columbus High School Falcons, led by Coach 4
Phillip Morris, won the 2026 Class 5A Boys Basketball State 5
Championship, defeating Holmes County Central 52-38 on March 7, 6
2026, at the Mississippi Coliseum; and 7
WHEREAS, MVP Tylan Brown scored 17 points, eight rebounds and 8
three steals, marking Columbus' first state title since 2018 when 9
they defeated Natchez 75-40 in the semifinals, finishing their 10
season with a 27-5 record; and 11
WHEREAS, the victory was characterized by strong defensive 12
play and "heart over height" leadership from the team's backcourt, 13
overcoming the Holmes County Central Jaguars; and 14
WHEREAS, the Falcons ended the championship season with a 15
23-game-winning streak. Columbus High School previously won the 16
basketball State Championship in 2016 and 2018. Head Coach 17
Phillip Morris was the assistant coach on those teams. The 2026 18
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Championship is his first as a head coach. The Falcons were 19
ranked #1 in Class 5A; and 20
WHEREAS, Columbus High School senior player Mike Hood, Jr., 21
was Mr. Basketball for Class 5A in Mississippi and a Clarion 22
Ledger Dandy Dozen; and 23
WHEREAS, the Columbus High School 2025-2026 Falcons Boys 24
Basketball Team Roster: Michael "Mike" Hood, Jr., Jawaun Thomas, 25
Maxwell Leach, Cameron Aaron, Courtney Perry, Ben Latham, Davie 26
"DJ" Verdell, Tylan Brown, Alan Cox, Timarion Bush, Michael "MJ" 27
Brewer, Tyson Sims, Preston Harris, Malik Baldwin, Jace Buckley, 28
Ethan Coats and Kameron Hayes; Head Coach Phillip Morris; 29
Assistant Coaches Roger Joiner, Allen Lewis, Bryan Nichols and 30
Javontae McDavid; and Managers Torrance Nash and Jalen Roland; and 31
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize these 32
student-athletes who have brought honor to their school, their 33
community and to the State of Mississippi: 34
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF 35
MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the 36
Columbus High School Falcons and Coach Phillip Morris for winning 37
the 2026 MHSAA Class 5A Boys Basketball State Championship, and 38
extend to the team, coaches, parents and sponsors our bests wishes 39
for future championships. 40
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to 41
Coach Phillip Morris for the team and Columbus High School 42
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ST: Commend Columbus High School Falcons for
winning 2026 Class 5A Boys Basketball State
Championship.
Principal Dr. Marlon Andrews, forwarded to the Columbus School 43
Board, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps. 44