H*5313 Resolution, By Allison, Alexander, Anderson, Anthony, Arrington, 
Atkinson, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bennett, Bernstein, 
Blackwell, Bowers, Bradley, Brawley, Brown, Bryant, Burns, Caskey, Chumley, 
Clary, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cogswell, Cole, Collins, Crawford, 
Crosby, Daning, Davis, Delleney, Dillard, Douglas, Duckworth, Elliott, Erickson, 
Felder, Finlay, Forrest, Forrester, Fry, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gilliard, Govan, 
Hamilton, Hardee, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, Henderson-Myers, Henegan, Herbkersman, 
Hewitt, Hill, Hiott, Hixon, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, Jordan, 
King, Kirby, Knight, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mace, Mack, Magnuson, Martin, 
McCoy, McCravy, McEachern, McGinnis, McKnight, D.C. Moss, V.S. Moss, Murphy, 
B. Newton, W. Newton, Norrell, Ott, Parks, Pendarvis, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, 
Ridgeway, M. Rivers, S. Rivers, Robinson-Simpson, Rutherford, Sandifer, Simrill, 
G.M. Smith, G.R. Smith, J.E. Smith, Sottile, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, 
Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Thigpen, Toole, Trantham, Weeks, West, Wheeler, White, 
Whitmire, Williams, Willis, Young and Yow
 A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE GRAY COLLEGIATE ACADEMY
 BASKETBALL TEAM, COACHES, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY SEASON AND
 TO CONGRATULATE THEM FOR WINNING THE 2018 SOUTH CAROLINA CLASS AA STATE
 CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE.

   04/25/18  House  Introduced and adopted (House Journal-page 22)

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE GRAY COLLEGIATE ACADEMY BASKETBALL TEAM, COACHES, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY SEASON AND TO CONGRATULATE THEM FOR WINNING THE 2018 SOUTH CAROLINA CLASS AA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE.

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to learn that the members of the Gray Collegiate Academy basketball team took top honors at the state competition held at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina, on March 2, 2018; and

Whereas, to the cheers of their exuberant fans, the War Eagles defeated Carvers Bay 58-45 to earn their first-ever State Championship title in any sport; and

Whereas, with a record of 25-5 for the season and 20-0 against teams from the Palmetto State, the War Eagles battled long and hard for this championship opportunity. Junior guard Tommy Bruner was battling the flu and a hurt wrist as Gray Collegiate strove to earn the trophy. He still managed to lead the team with 20 points; and

Whereas, Juwan Gary added 13 points to the board, while Ty Rivers sank 10. Mike Marsh led Gray with 15 rebounds as the War Eagles outrebounded Carvers Bay 39-28; and

Whereas, several of the players on the team received individual honors to bolster their already exciting win. Juwan Gary was named to the USA Today All-State Team, 2A State Player of the Year, 2A Region Player of the Year, All Chronicle Player of the Year, and Chick fil-A Slam Dunk Champion. Tommy Bruner and Michael Marsh were named to the South Carolina High School League All-State team and to the 2nd Team 2A Region team; and

Whereas, in a sport that demands perseverance and dedication, Head Coach Dion Bethea and his trained coaching staff capitalized on their own experience and passion to produce a championship-caliber team and teach these athletes lessons that will prove invaluable through life both on and off the court; and

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives are grateful for the prestige and recognition that the Gray Collegiate Academy basketball players have brought to their school and their community and look to hear of their future successes. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor the Gray Collegiate Academy basketball team, coaches, and school officials for an extraordinary season and congratulate them for winning the 2018 South Carolina Class AA State Championship title.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Principal Brian Newsome and Coach Dion Bethea.