| 1 | 1 | | H.R. No. 917 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, The Graford High School boys' basketball team once |
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| 6 | 6 | | again proved itself one of the finest in the Lone Star State by |
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| 7 | 7 | | winning the 2023 University Interscholastic League 1A state |
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| 8 | 8 | | championship on March 11 at the Alamodome in San Antonio; and |
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| 9 | 9 | | WHEREAS, During the regular season, the Jackrabbits dropped |
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| 10 | 10 | | just three games, and they claimed the District 21-1A title with a |
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| 11 | 11 | | perfect record against their league rivals; Graford advanced |
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| 12 | 12 | | through the playoffs with decisive victories over Nocona Prairie |
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| 13 | 13 | | Valley, Sulphur Bluff, Slidell, Gordon, and Huckabay High Schools |
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| 14 | 14 | | to reach the state tournament for the ninth time in program history; |
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| 15 | 15 | | in the semifinals, the team easily dispatched Benjamin High School |
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| 16 | 16 | | 66-42 to claim a berth in the state finale; and |
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| 17 | 17 | | WHEREAS, Graford matched up against Jayton High School in a |
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| 18 | 18 | | thrilling championship showdown; the teams battled to a 41-all tie |
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| 19 | 19 | | at the end of regulation; in overtime, the Jackrabbits cranked up |
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| 20 | 20 | | the defensive pressure to triumph 49-44 and claim their second |
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| 21 | 21 | | consecutive state crown, closing out a storybook season with a |
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| 22 | 22 | | record of 37 wins and only 3 losses; and |
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| 23 | 23 | | WHEREAS, Championship game Most Valuable Player Colin |
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| 24 | 24 | | Roberts and Christian Shea were 1A All-Tournament picks for |
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| 25 | 25 | | Graford; the team also received significant contributions |
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| 26 | 26 | | throughout the year from the other members of the roster: Landon |
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| 27 | 27 | | Cobb, Nick Bloxham, McKennon Lemley, Cye Lemley, Reed Ferguson, |
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| 28 | 28 | | Connor Waters, Brad Lemley, Kamdyn Richardson, Jayden Welch, Noah |
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| 29 | 29 | | Perry, and Jess Lemley; these talented student-athletes were |
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| 30 | 30 | | directed by head coach Jeff Bell and assistant coach Jarod |
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| 31 | 31 | | Westmoreland; and |
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| 32 | 32 | | WHEREAS, By winning back-to-back state titles, the Graford |
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| 33 | 33 | | Jackrabbits have burnished their school's reputation for |
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| 34 | 34 | | basketball excellence, and they may indeed reflect with pride on a |
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| 35 | 35 | | job well done; now, therefore, be it |
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| 36 | 36 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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| 37 | 37 | | Legislature hereby congratulate the Graford High School boys' |
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| 38 | 38 | | basketball team on winning the 2023 UIL 1A state championship and |
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| 39 | 39 | | extend to the players, coaches, and staff sincere best wishes for |
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| 40 | 40 | | continued success; and, be it further |
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| 41 | 41 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 42 | 42 | | prepared for the team as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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| 43 | 43 | | House of Representatives. |
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| 44 | 44 | | Rogers |
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| 45 | 45 | | ______________________________ |
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| 46 | 46 | | Speaker of the House |
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| 47 | 47 | | I certify that H.R. No. 917 was adopted by the House on April |
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| 48 | 48 | | 14, 2023, by a non-record vote. |
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| 49 | 49 | | ______________________________ |
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| 50 | 50 | | Chief Clerk of the House |
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