LADY TIGERS - 3A STATE CHAMPIONS !!!
By: Mike Hudson
Absolutely Awesome! Welcome to Ripley High School, golden basketball...
The Lady Tigers (32-3) defeated the West Lauderdale Lady Knights (31-4) 50-43 Saturday night at the Big House in Jackson to claim their first ever state championship. The Lady Tigers opened up an early 10 point lead and looked like another easy victory was to be had, but the Lady Knights never gave up and came back to take the lead in the third quarter. But that just made the Lady Tigers mad and back they came, this time with no turning back. Coach Montgomery had to have lost 10 pounds during the game when his light blue shirt turned to dark blue as the perspiration increased. How sweet this is for Ripley, who has waited some 80 years for it's first state championship to suddenly be able to claim two titles in four months, thanks to the Ripley High cheerleaders in December and now the Lady Tigers. Good things come to those who wait! On Sunday, March 9, the Lady Tigers roared back into Ripley with a motorcade a mile long. Sirens could be heard headed north on highway 15 for several minutes before they finally reached the gym. A screaming fire truck and the police chief led the way as the Lady Tigers rolled in on a charter bus to be welcomed by a huge crowd of supporters. Inside the gym, RHS Principal Lynn McGee acknowledged just how special this day was for Ripley High School and stressed the importance of being positive role models for young people. South Tippah Schools Superintendent Larry Robbins congratulated both the RHS cheerleaders and the Lady Tigers for representing our commuity so well and for setting high goals and working hard to achieve them. Mayor Mike Harrison read two proclaimations from himself and the board of aldermen congratulating both the Ripley High School cheerleaders and the Ripley Lady Tigers for earning the titles of state champion. The boys head coach Harvey Childers, who is no stranger to basketball titles, thanked the Lady Tigers for letting him 'go along for the ride' and congratulated them for their hard work. Head coach Shane Montgomery gave an emotional speech about just how special this milestone was to him and especially thanked all the Lady Tiger supporters for being at all the games and making the long trips to Jackson. The third time really was a charm for Coach Montgomery, who lost two championship games as head coach at Tremont High School. Principal McGee and Barbara Bullock presented all the Lady Tigers, coaches, managers, and staff with flower arrangements. He then announced that Lady Tiger superstar Miayorka Johnson had been named Mississippi 3A Player Of The Year. Finally, recognizing the fact that coaches often use their own pocketbook for needed supplies and hardly ever get reimbursed for this, Coach McGee happily presented Coach Montgomery a brand new stick of Right Guard! Today I witnessed a first for Ripley High School. Half the gym was packed for just this occasion. There will be a new banner to raise in the old gym now, and proudly it will wave. I'm proud to be a product of this great school. If you didn't see the championship game on PBS, I hope you at least heard the play-by-play of KUDZU 102 announcer Michael Harrison. He too is a RHS graduate and faithful Tiger fan who puts his heart into every game he calls. Great things are happening at Ripley High School, and the future looks even brighter. Congratulations to Coach Montgomery, Coach Childers, and the Ripley Lady Tigers for one tremendous basketball season. Congratulations also to the Ripley High School cheerleaders for winning their first state title. We look forward to many more state championships at Ripley High School, it's our turn - we're due. I'll leave you now with one very important question...WHO DAT TALKIN 'BOUT BEATIN THEM TIGERS, WHO DAT - WHO DAT?!!!
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