Bill Text: MS HR115 | 2026 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Starkville High School Lady Yellowjackets Girls Basketball Team; commend upon winning 2026 Class 7A State Championship.
Sponsorship: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 2-1)
Status: (Passed) 2026-03-19 - Enrolled Bill Signed [HR115 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2026-HR115-Engrossed.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2026 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representatives Roberson, Taylor, Hood
House Resolution 115
(As Adopted by House)
A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE STARKVILLE HIGH SCHOOL LADY YELLOWJACKETS GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM AND HEAD COACH MATT WILBANKS UPON WINNING THE 2026 MISSISSIPPI HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION (MHSAA) CLASS 7A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.
WHEREAS, the Starkville High School Lady Yellowjackets Girls Basketball Team delivered a commanding performance to defeat Harrison Central High School 39-22 and capture the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Girls Class 7A State Championship on March 6, 2026, at the Mississippi Coliseum, joining the Starkville High School Boys Basketball Team in bringing home a state championship to the Yellowjackets program; and
WHEREAS, the victory secured the sixth state championship in the history of Starkville High School Girls Basketball and marked the program's first state title since 2018, while also representing the first career state championship for Head Coach Matt Wilbanks; and
WHEREAS, the Lady Yellowjackets completed a remarkable 2026 season with an outstanding record of 31 wins and three losses, beginning and ending the year ranked the consensus No. 1 team in Mississippi and dominating opponents throughout the season with an impressive average margin of victory of 24 points; and
WHEREAS, Starkville established control early in the championship contest, building an 11-5 lead by the end of the first quarter and continuing their strong performance into the second half, where a 10-4 run extended the lead to 31-11, as the Lady Yellowjackets carried a commanding 31-16 advantage into the fourth quarter before sealing the victory with an 8-2 run to secure the 39-22 championship win; and
WHEREAS, Southern Miss signee Jada Gay delivered a standout performance with a game-high 15 points and nine rebounds, earning the honor of Most Valuable Player of the championship game, while Zariah Brown added 12 points to help lead the Lady Yellowjackets to victory; and
WHEREAS, additional honors highlight the extraordinary talent and accomplishments of the team's players, including Jada Gay being named the 2026 MHSAA Class 7A Miss Basketball, MHSAA Class 7A State Championship Most Valuable Player, a 2026 Girls Basketball Dandy Dozen honoree, a 2026 7A Mississippi/Alabama All-Star and Region 2/7A Player of the Year; Jade Brown as MHSAA Class 7A Scholar Athlete, a 2026 7A Mississippi/Alabama All-Star and an All-Region 2/7A selection; Zariah Brown as a 2025 7A North/South All-Star and All-Region 2/7A selection; Yasmine Roberts as a 2025 7A North/South All-Star; and Logan Warren and Morgan Williams as All-Region 2/7A selections; and
WHEREAS, the members of the 2025-2026 Starkville High School Lady Yellowjackets Girls Basketball Team whose discipline, dedication and teamwork led them to this prestigious state championship include: Jada Blair, Jada Gay, Eleanor Giesen, Kamare Holmes, Zariah Brown, McKayla Duck, Logan Warren, Morgan Williams, Karmen Robinson, Janiya Yarborough, Rylee Willis, Yasmine Roberts, Isabella Davis, Catherine Lesley and Jade Brown; and
WHEREAS, guiding this championship program are Head Coach Matt Wilbanks and Assistant Coaches Mark Alexander, Wayde Barksdale, Collins Brown, Emma Butler, Adam Hodges, Lydia Hinton, Michael Knight, Tate Fischer and Boston Hampton, whose leadership and commitment to excellence helped cultivate the discipline, teamwork and competitive spirit that propelled the Lady Yellowjackets to the pinnacle of Class 7A girls basketball; and
WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend outstanding achievements by Mississippi student-athletes whose dedication, perseverance and excellence bring honor to their schools, their communities and the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the Starkville High School Lady Yellowjackets Girls Basketball Team and Head Coach Matt Wilbanks upon winning the 2026 MHSAA Class 7A State Championship, and extend best wishes to the team, coaches, parents and supporters for continued success in all their future endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Starkville High School Head Coach Matt Wilbanks on behalf of the Lady Yellowjackets Girls Basketball Team and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.
