MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE 2025 Regular Session To: Rules By: Senator(s) Rhodes, Kirby, Harkins, McCaughn Senate Resolution 136 (As Adopted by Senate) A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE EAST RANKIN ACADEMY PATRIOTS GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM AND HEAD COACH BROOKE RHODES FOR WINNING THE MAIS 5A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. WHEREAS, now, East Rankin Academy and Coach Brooke Rhodes won the MAIS 5A State Championship defeating Pillow Academy in the 2025 5A State Tournament; and WHEREAS, the Lady Patriots were off to a great start in the 2024-2025 season, winning their first 17 games, including a 65-45 victory over Class 5A and district rival Simpson Academy. East Rankin has won by an average of 24.6 points this season. Their closest game was a 1-point win over Class 6A Jackson Prep in the Madison Madness Classic at Madison-Ridgeland Academy. East Rankin has had only four games closer than 20 points with seven wins by more that 30 points; and WHEREAS, "I think the main reason we have been so successful is because we are all so unselfish," Coach Rhodes said. "They care about winning, which is so fun because we have several different people that have the ability to be leading scorers any given night. They have really bought into the concept that our defensive effort will ignite our offensive game; and WHEREAS, East Rankin has a balanced attack, led by a couple of players on the Tatum and Wade/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Preseason Elite 11 Team. Liz Stevens, a 6-foot-3 sophomore center who already has Division 1 offers from Southern Miss and Appalachian State, averaged 16.2 points and 14.1 rebounds this season. Holly Jackson, a 5-6 junior guard, averaged 12.9 points and 3.2 assists. Jackson, who has verbally committed to play softball at Copiah-Lincoln Community College, scored her 1,000th career point earlier this season. Jackson averaged 12.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists and shot 39 percent from 3-point range, and Stevens averaged 12.9 points and 10.9 rebounds to lead East Rankin to a school record 39 wins, the Overall title and a Class 5A runner-up finish last season; and WHEREAS, Brooke Rhodes has named the PriorityOne/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Coach of the year. She also won an Overall title as a player at East Rankin in 2010, the school's first Overall championship. Rhodes, considered one of the best players in MAIS history, scored 2,568 career points and led East Rankin to a 35-2 record as a senior in 2010; and WHEREAS, the Lady Patriots 2025 Roster: Ella Rose Daigle, Holly Jackson, Presley Thompson, Liz Stevens, Leah Jernigan, Hayden Faulker, Callie Thomas Eichelberger, Ansley Miller, Addison Derrick, Kennedy Laine Harper, Elizabeth Thrash, Audrey Brown, Hannah Jackson, Jayla Wedgeworth, Brynlee Davis, Head Coach Brooke Rhodes and Assistant Coach Keith Rhodes; and WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize these student athletes who have brought honor to their team, their school, their community and to the State of Mississippi: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the East Rankin Academy Patriots Girls Basketball Team and Head Coach Brooke Rhodes for winning the MAIS 5A State Championship and extend to the team, coaches, parents and sponsors our best wishes for continued championships. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Brooke Rhodes for the team, forwarded to East Rankin Academy Head of School Robyn Winstead and Board of Trustees and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2025 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Rhodes, Kirby, Harkins, McCaughn
# Senate Resolution 136
## (As Adopted by Senate)
A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE EAST RANKIN ACADEMY PATRIOTS GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM AND HEAD COACH BROOKE RHODES FOR WINNING THE MAIS 5A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.
WHEREAS, now, East Rankin Academy and Coach Brooke Rhodes won the MAIS 5A State Championship defeating Pillow Academy in the 2025 5A State Tournament; and
WHEREAS, the Lady Patriots were off to a great start in the 2024-2025 season, winning their first 17 games, including a 65-45 victory over Class 5A and district rival Simpson Academy. East Rankin has won by an average of 24.6 points this season. Their closest game was a 1-point win over Class 6A Jackson Prep in the Madison Madness Classic at Madison-Ridgeland Academy. East Rankin has had only four games closer than 20 points with seven wins by more that 30 points; and
WHEREAS, "I think the main reason we have been so successful is because we are all so unselfish," Coach Rhodes said. "They care about winning, which is so fun because we have several different people that have the ability to be leading scorers any given night. They have really bought into the concept that our defensive effort will ignite our offensive game; and
WHEREAS, East Rankin has a balanced attack, led by a couple of players on the Tatum and Wade/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Preseason Elite 11 Team. Liz Stevens, a 6-foot-3 sophomore center who already has Division 1 offers from Southern Miss and Appalachian State, averaged 16.2 points and 14.1 rebounds this season. Holly Jackson, a 5-6 junior guard, averaged 12.9 points and 3.2 assists. Jackson, who has verbally committed to play softball at Copiah-Lincoln Community College, scored her 1,000th career point earlier this season. Jackson averaged 12.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists and shot 39 percent from 3-point range, and Stevens averaged 12.9 points and 10.9 rebounds to lead East Rankin to a school record 39 wins, the Overall title and a Class 5A runner-up finish last season; and
WHEREAS, Brooke Rhodes has named the PriorityOne/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Coach of the year. She also won an Overall title as a player at East Rankin in 2010, the school's first Overall championship. Rhodes, considered one of the best players in MAIS history, scored 2,568 career points and led East Rankin to a 35-2 record as a senior in 2010; and
WHEREAS, the Lady Patriots 2025 Roster: Ella Rose Daigle, Holly Jackson, Presley Thompson, Liz Stevens, Leah Jernigan, Hayden Faulker, Callie Thomas Eichelberger, Ansley Miller, Addison Derrick, Kennedy Laine Harper, Elizabeth Thrash, Audrey Brown, Hannah Jackson, Jayla Wedgeworth, Brynlee Davis, Head Coach Brooke Rhodes and Assistant Coach Keith Rhodes; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize these student athletes who have brought honor to their team, their school, their community and to the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the East Rankin Academy Patriots Girls Basketball Team and Head Coach Brooke Rhodes for winning the MAIS 5A State Championship and extend to the team, coaches, parents and sponsors our best wishes for continued championships.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Brooke Rhodes for the team, forwarded to East Rankin Academy Head of School Robyn Winstead and Board of Trustees and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.