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SCOOBA – Capping a successful 2010-11 sports season both on and off the playing fields, four East Mississippi Community College sports teams and six EMCC student-athletes have earned academic recognition from the National Junior College Athletic Association. The national selections were released Wednesday by the NJCAA office headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo.
The EMCC softball, women’s basketball, men’s golf and baseball teams all collected NJCAA All-Academic Team honors for having composite team grade point averages of 3.00 or higher. Individually, Lady Lion softball players Leigh Ellen Barefield, Mallory Pace, Nashedra Barry and Cayla Coleman, along with Lion baseball players Wesley Dodd and Mitch Bohon, all achieved national academic laurels for compiling cumulative GPAs of 3.60 or higher.
For the second straight year, head coach Kate Neely’s Lady Lion softball team led the way for EMCC’s athletic teams by posting a composite 3.39 team grade point average to tie for 10th nationally among all NJCAA softball programs. On the field, the 2011 Lady Lions enjoyed their most successful season in the school’s fastpitch softball history by claiming the program’s first-ever MACJC North Division fastpitch championship and advancing to NJCAA Region 23 Tournament play for the first time since 2002.
In addition, the EMCC baseball team was recognized academically for the third consecutive season by the NJCAA for achieving a composite team grade point average of 3.00 or higher. Head coach Chris Rose’s 2011 EMCC squad posted a composite 3.01 team GPA in the classroom to lead all Mississippi community college baseball programs. On the diamond this past year, the Lions earned their first baseball playoff appearance since 2004 and compiled the team’s best division mark (14-10) since the 1998 season.
Along with claiming their second MACJC North Division women’s basketball regular-season title in the last three seasons, head coach Sharon Thompson’s Lady Lions were honored by the NJCAA for the second straight year by scoring a 3.04 team grade point average to top all junior college women’s basketball programs in the state of Mississippi.
Rounding out EMCC’s team classroom accomplishments for the 2010-11 academic year, head coach Dale Peay’s Lion golf team likewise carded a 3.04 composite GPA along with capturing a school-best, runner-up finish at this year’s MACJC State Golf Championship.
Pacing East Mississippi’s student-athletes this past academic year, Barefield was honored with the NJCAA’s Pinnacle Award for Academic Excellence for maintaining a perfect 4.00 grade point average during her two years on the Scooba campus as a member of EMCC’s softball program. The former Neshoba Central High School standout was also a two-time honorable mention selection to the MACJC’s All-North Division squad for the Lady Lions.
Three other Lady Lion softball standouts achieved Superior Academic Achievement Awards, as Pace (3.89), Barry (3.85) and Coleman (3.80) all posted cumulative GPAs between 3.80 and 3.99 as two-year starters. A product of Northeast Lauderdale High School, Pace garnered NJCAA All-Region 23 honors for her athletic exploits this past year, while Coleman (Clarkdale HS) and Barry (Columbus HS) collected second-team and honorable mention all-division accolades, respectively, as sophomores.
Rounding out EMCC’s 2010-11 individual academic achievers, Dodd (Madison-Ridgeland Academy) and Bohon (Oak Hill Academy) claimed the NJCAA’s Exemplary Academic Achievement Awards for having respective cumulative GPAs of 3.68 and 3.66 as members of the Lion baseball team.
Along with East Mississippi Community College’s team and individual academic success this past season, all six of the school’s athletic teams affiliated with the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) participated in postseason competition during the 2010-11 academic year.
Marking the 28th year that the NJCAA has recognized the success of its student-athletes in the classroom, more than 1,470 NJCAA student-athletes met the requirements for individual academic honors during the 2010-11 sports season while over 370 teams qualified for academic team accolades.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 29 June 2011 )
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.jpg "Image") SCOOBA – Following a 2010-11 sports season in which every East Mississippi Community College athletic team participated in postseason competition, EMCC will be offering summer athletic camps for football, women’s basketball and softball this month on the Scooba campus.
With EMCC’s summer athletic camp action set to begin the week of June 20, the Lady Lions Softball Camp will get things rolling on that Monday morning with the start of a two-day camp (June 20-21) to take place at the EMCC Softball Field on the Scooba campus. Available for children entering grades 2-12, the Lady Lions Softball Camp will feature an offensive skills session the morning of the first day followed by an afternoon defensive skills session. The second day of camp will include an all-skills morning session as well as a pitching-catching session during the afternoon. Additional information on the Lady Lions Softball Camp can be obtained by contacting EMCC head softball coach Kate Neely (662-476-5043 or
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) or assistant coach Casey Finch (662-476-5033 or
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).
Under the direction of women’s basketball coach Sharon Thompson and assistant coach Edwond Eddings, EMCC’s Lady Lions Basketball Camp will also get underway on Monday, June 20, for all school-aged youngsters. To be held at Keyes T. Currie Coliseum on the Scooba campus, the three-day girls’ basketball camp (June 20-22) will take place from 1-4 p.m. each afternoon. For more information on the Lady Lions Basketball Camp, please contact the EMCC women’s basketball office at 662-476-5140 or
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.
The gridiron will also stay busy at East Mississippi Community College this summer with a pair of football camps taking place at EMCC’s ‘New’ Sullivan-Windham Field. The Lions will first offer a 7-on-7 Passing Camp on Wednesday, June 22, with registration set to begin at 9 a.m. EMCC is also slated to conduct a Lineman Camp, June 28-30, for student-athletes entering grades 9-12. Please contact EMCC assistant football coaches Clifton Collins (662-476-5129) or Marcus Wood (662-476-5131) for additional information on East Mississippi’s 7-on-7 Passing Camp. Lineman Camp inquiries can be directed to EMCC head football coach Buddy Stephens (662-476-5128) or associate head coach William Jones (662-476-5132).
Additional East Mississippi Community College summer athletic camp information and application forms are available online at http://athletics.eastms.edu or by accessing www.eastms.edu and clicking on the athletics link.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 07 June 2011 )
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.jpg "Image") EMCC women’s basketball coach Sharon Thompson and assistant coach Edwond Eddings have added seven newcomers to the Lady Lions’ 2011-12 hoops roster.
Including five in-state high school products and a pair of out-of-state transfers, the Lady Lions’ 2011 recruiting class is headlined by reigning all-state forward Pashen Thompson of Southeast Lauderdale High School and former Dandy Dozen selection Jeraldine Campbell of Noxubee County High School.
Chosen to the prestigious five-player 2010-11 All-State First Team, including all classifications, as accorded by The Clarion-Ledger newspaper, Thompson averaged 29.6 points and 15.1 rebounds per game this past season to help lead head coach Joe Miller’s 25-10 Lady Tigers to the semifinals of the 2011 Class 3A State Tournament. Also selected the Division 5-3A MVP as a senior, the 5-foot-11 Thompson capped her standout prep career by scoring 13 points in a winning effort during this year’s Mississippi-Alabama High School All-Star Game.
Though she did not play organized basketball this past season, Campbell was tabbed as a preseason Dandy Dozen pick by The Clarion-Ledger prior to averaging 30.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.9 steals, 3.8 assists and 1.3 blocks per contest in 12 outings during an abbreviated junior campaign playing for head coach T.J. Billups’ 2009-10 Tigerettes. Campbell, a 5-foot-6 backcourt performer, previously averaged 28.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game as a sophomore.
Also making the short trek from Macon’s Noxubee County High School to the Scooba campus will be Jasmine Little, who earned All-District 4-4A honors after leading the 17-12 Tigerettes in scoring (13.5 ppg) and rebounding (7.3 rpg) this past year. The 6-foot post player was also a two-time Class 4A state shot put champion for Noxubee County.
The Lady Lions have also inked out-of-district forwards Dajah McCarty (5-9) out of Quitman High School and Petal’s Joy Grimsley (5-11). McCarty averaged 9.1 points and 9.0 rebounds an outing as a senior to collect All-District 5-4A accolades for head coach Mike Coleman’s 27-3 Lady Panthers, while Grimsley contributed 8.5 points and 10 boards per game as an All-Forrest County pick for head coach Tommy Edwards’ Lady Panthers of Petal High School.
EMCC’s Thompson and assistant coach Edwond Eddings have also added a pair of transfer teammates from Northwest Florida State College in 5-foot-4 guard Alvida Clemons and 6-foot forward Asia Bragg. The tandem saw limited action a year ago on the Lady Rangers’ talent-laden 24-7 squad that claimed Florida Community College Activities Association state runner-up honors and earned a No. 8 NJCAA final ranking. Bragg, a Birmingham, Ala., native, was a member of four straight Class 4A state championship clubs for head coach Reggie Ware at Midfield High School and earned Class 4A All-Area 8 laurels as a senior. Clemons was previously a backcourt starter at prep powerhouse Trenton (N.J.) Catholic Academy during the 2008-09 campaign prior to graduating from Harriton High School within Pennsylvania’s Lower Merion School District.
“We are extremely excited about this group of newcomers as a whole, especially when you can put two players on the floor that averaged 30 points in high school,” said EMCC’s Thompson, who will enter her seventh season at the Lady Lion helm and 11th season overall with the program. “This group will definitely be the most talented and skilled recruiting class we have had since I’ve been associated with this program.”
A year ago, the Lady Lions were 15-10 overall and claimed their second regular-season division title in the last three years with a 9-3 league mark. The EMCC women have averaged 18 wins per year over the past three seasons, including an NJCAA Tournament appearance and Region 23 championship in 2008-09.
“(Assistant) Coach (Edwond) Eddings does a great job with player development in making sure they are prepared for the duration of a long and grueling season,” Thompson added. “As a coaching staff, we are eager to get this group on campus to begin preparing for next season.”
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 04 June 2011 )
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.jpg "Image") EMCC men’s basketball coach Mark White and assistant coach Billy Begley have signed seven newcomers that will join seven returning veterans on the 2011-12 hoops roster of the two-time defending NJCAA Region 23 champions.
Locally within East Mississippi’s recruiting district area, the Lions have added former Northeast Lauderdale High School backcourt teammates A.J. Wade (6-2, 160) and Brandon Moss (6-1, 165). As a four-year starter and 1,000-point career scorer for head coach Lewis Lightsey at NEL, Wade was chosen Region 5-4A MVP after averaging 14.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.5 steals per game as a senior. A fellow All-Region 5-4A selection for the 23-7 Trojans, Moss averaged 10.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.0 steals an outing this past season.
Making the short move to the Scooba campus from Macon’s Noxubee County High School is 6-foot-7, 200-pound forward Earnest Hunter. A two-year starter for head coach T.J. Billups’ Tigers, Hunter averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds as a senior along with ranking second in the state with an average of four blocked shots per contest a year ago.
From the Golden Triangle region, the Lions have inked Starkville native James Evans (6-7, 210) for the coming season. Having played briefly for head coach Greg Carter’s Starkville Yellow Jackets in 2008-09 before moving to Kentucky, Evans most recently averaged around 16 points and nine rebounds per game as a junior at Lexington’s Bryan Station High School to earn honorable mention all-city honors in 2009-10.
Along with their four in-district high school signees, the Lions will welcome three out-of-state prospects to the EMCC campus in 2011-12. Transfer forward Colin Borchert (6-8, 220) headlines this talented trio after having averaged 16.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per contest as a freshman at Yavapai College in Prescott, Ariz. Borchert also posted shooting percentages of 47 percent overall from the field, 40 percent from three-point range and 71 percent from the line in 2009-10 to garner third-team all-league laurels in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference as a collegiate rookie.
Out of the neighboring state of Alabama, EMCC has nabbed left-handed point guard Jalen Houston (6-1, 180) from state champion Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa. A three-year starter and honorable mention all-state playmaker for head coach Scott Suttles, Houston averaged 15.2 points and 2.3 steals per outing in directing the 32-3 Patriots to the 2010-11 Class 6A state championship.
Most recently, the Lions signed swing player Micah Walker (6-5, 190) out of Jonesboro (Ark.) High School. A two-time all-conference performer for head coach Wes Swift’s Golden Hurricane ballclub, Walker was averaging a team-leading 12.5 points per game and hitting 47 percent of his 3-pointers this past year before sustaining a season-ending leg injury late in the year.
“Overall, this is the most talented recruiting class we’ve had since I’ve been here at EMCC,” noted White, last year’s NJCAA Region 23 and MACJC Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year who is entering his fifth season with the Lions. “(Assistant) Coach (Billy) Begley did an unbelievable job recruiting and deserves a lot of credit for this top recruiting class. We believe we have signed a good mixture of true big guys, versatile big guys, playmaking guards and shooters, who should be able to fit into our style of play as well as blend together as a cohesive unit.”
The 2011-12 EMCC Lions look to return seven players, including two starters and two key reserves, from last year’s 25-5 team that participated in the NJCAA Tournament for the second straight year as two-time reigning NJCAA Region 23 champions. While having also claimed back-to-back MACJC North Division regular-season titles, the Lions are a combined 52-12 overall and 22-2 in league play over the past two seasons.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 03 June 2011 )
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SCOTTSBORO, Ala. – East Mississippi Community College’s 2011 golf season came to a close Friday, as Lion linksters Weston Wallace and Zack Bailey completed competition in the NJCAA Division II Men’s Golf Championship held at Goose Pond Colony.
With EMCC having two golfers competing in the national tournament during the same year for the first time in school history, Wallace finished the four-day event in a two-way tie for 75th place while Bailey tied with seven other golfers in 93rd place.
This year’s Hubert Tucker Award winner for having the best composite scoring average among MACJC golfers during the regular season, Wallace closed out competition at the 7,100-yard, par-72 layout with a four-day total of 310 following rounds of 78 and 77 on Thursday and Friday, respectively. The former Northwest Rankin High School standout previously bounced back from an opening-day 81 to fire a 2-over-par 74 during Wednesday’s second round.
Bailey, a product of Caledonia High School, rebounded from a first-round 84 to card consistent scores of 77, 77 and 79 Wednesday through Friday to settle with a four-day total of 317 for head coach Dale Peay’s EMCC Lions.
In the team competition, John A. Logan (Ill.) College turned the tables on top-ranked South Mountain (Ariz.) Community College by posting a 12-stroke victory (1,153-1,165) over last year’s national champions. Sandwiching a runner-up finish at last year’s NJCAA Tournament held in Goodyear, Ariz., the JALC Volunteers claimed their second national title in three years. Mesa (Ariz.) CC finished in third place (1,167) for the second straight year.
Individually, Filip Timmerman, of team champion John A. Logan College, captured medalist honors by carding an 8-under-par 280 (72-69-71-68) to out-distance three other competitors by seven strokes.
Representing the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) as reigning four-time NJCAA Region 23 champions, Mississippi Gulf Coast placed 12th among the 19-team field with a composite team score of 1,213 (306-295-306-306). Individually within the 127-player field, MGCCC’s Jack Sargent led all MACJC golfers with a four-day total of 300 (76-70-75-79) to tie for 38th place with three others.
Competing individually for MACJC member schools, Northeast Mississippi’s Austin Holt tied for 57th place (76-80-77-72—305), while Copiah-Lincoln’s tandem of Bennett Ruschewski (77-80-72-78—307) and Keaton Stamps (82-75-80-81—318) tied for 66th and 101st place, respectively.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 23 August 2011 )
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