northeast
Mississippi Community College
2010-11 Basketball Media Guide #11 Tyler Pritchard Sophomore, Guard Tishomingo Co.
#12 Chelsey Whitaker Sophomore, Forward Alcorn Central
Northeast
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Northeast Mississippi Community College
Northeast
Basketball
Table of Contents
Quick Facts about Northeast Athletics
p. 3................................Quick Facts about Northeast
Location............................................................Booneville, MS
p. 4...........................................Presidential Greeting p. 5.................................................Board of Trustees
Founded.............................................................................1948
p. 6...................................Athletic Director Greeting
President.........................................Dr. Johnny L. Allen, Ed.D.
p. 7-8........................................Coaches Biographies p. 9.....................................................Retired Jerseys p. 9............................................................Fight Song p. 10..................................................Mascot History p. 10....................................MACJC All-Star Classic p. 11..............................................Women’s Preview p. 12-13...................................Women’s Biographies p. 14.............................Women’s Team Photo/Roster p. 15..................................Men’s Team Photo/Roster p. 16-17........................................Men’s Biographies p. 18...................................................Men’s Preview p.19...............Area High School Basketball Coaches p. 20-21................Bonner Arnold Coliseum Feature
Athletic Director......................................................Ricky Ford Sports Information Director..........................M. Joseph Miller Head Football Coach.........................................Ricky Smither Asst. Football Coaches..................Brad Boyette, John Darnell, Jeff Carter, Travis Macon Head Men’s Basketball Coach...........................David Robbins Head Women’s Basketball Coach............................Ricky Ford Asst. Basketball Coach...................................Maurice Stafford Head Baseball Coach..............................................Kent Farris
p. 22-23.....................Northeast Sports Hall of Fame
Assistant Baseball Coach...................................Clint McAuley
p. 24...................................................All-Americans
Head Softball Coach................................................Jody Long
p. 25......National Basketball Hall of Fame Induction p. 26.........................Glance at 2009-10 NE Athletics
Golf Coach....................................................Craig Lauderdale
p. 27..................................2010 Cheerleading Squad
Tennis Coach..........................................................Jeff Melson
Back cover..........................................2010 Schedule
Northeast Mississippi Community College
2010-11 Basketball Media Guide #11 Tyler PriTchard SoPhomore, Guard TiShominGo co.
#12 chelSey WhiTaker SoPhomore, ForWard alcorn cenTral
Program Credits
The 2010-11 Northeast Mississippi Community College Basketball Media Guide was produced in the Public Information Office of the college under the direction of Associate Vice President of Public Information Tony Finch and Sports Information Director M. Joseph Miller. Layout and design was handled by Michael H. Miller.
Cheerleading Coach......................................Jennifer Johnson Athletic Phone...................................................(662) 720-7302 Athletic Office Fax.............................................(662) 728-1165 Athletic E-mail...........................................rgford@nemcc.edu National Affiliation...........................................National Junior College Atheltic Association/Region 23 State Affiliation................................Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges Colors..................................................................Black & Gold Mascot...............................................................................Tiger
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Letter from the President Dear Friends of Northeast: Thank you for your support of the athletic efforts of Northeast Mississippi Community College. Each coach and each athlete has worked hard to ensure that our teams are ready to give performances that make you proud to be a “Tiger Fan.� Northeast exists to provide educational, recreational and social resources for students and supporters to grow and enjoy their accomplishments. While you are on campus, I hope you have a safe and enjoyable visit. I trust you will use this opportunity to get to know our students, coaches and staff. We are always ready to assist you to enjoy your time with us. Thank you for everything that you do to encourage and support our efforts. We are always glad to have you on our campus.
Sincerely, Johnny L. Allen President 4
Northeast Mississippi Community College
Northeast
T. Jack Ramsey
Chairman Tenure of Service: 1983 Tishomingo County/ Banker
Ken Basil
Tenure of Service: 2008 Union County Superintendent of Education
Douglas Jackson
Tenure of Service: 1995 Tippah County Retired Educator
David ‘Bubba’ Pounds
Tenure of Service: 2009 Prentiss County County Government
Troy Holliday
Vice Chairman Tenure of Service: 1964 Tippah County Businessman
Bill Breedlove
Malcolm Kuykendall
Stacy Suggs
Tenure of Service: 2008 Alcorn County Superintendent of Education
Board of Trustees
John O. Cunningham
Tenure of Service: 1999 Prentiss County Businessman
Tenure of Service: 2006 Tishomingo County Superintendent of Education
Basketball
Secretary Tenure of Service: 1995 Prentiss County Businessman
Wayne Butler
Tenure of Service: 2007 Alcorn County Retire Educator
Tracie Langston
Tenure of Service: 2004 Prentiss County Businesswoman
Luzene Triplett
Tenure of Service: 2002 Prentiss County Retire Educator
Northeast Mississippi Community College
Danny Dilworth
Tenure of Service: 2006 Alcorn County Retire Businessman
Sam McCoy
Tenure of Service: 1988 Prentiss County Businessman
Vance Witt
Tenure of Service: 2007 Union County Businessman
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Letter from the Athletic Director Parents, Fans, Supporters, Alumni, On behalf of the Athletic Department at Northeast Mississippi Community College, I want to welcome you to this athletic event. We hope that your visit today will create an interest that will encourage you to come back. As we strive for excellence in the classroom and in the athletic arena, we would like to encourage every one of you to become involved in all aspects of our athletic department. As we try to reach the highest level with all of our sports programs we must continue to work very hard to be the very best we can be. We are looking for all avenues of resources to build on our already competitive programs. Within the last five (5) years, we have steadily improved every one of our athletic teams. We now have great leadership in all of our athletic programs and we are very excited about what the future holds for all of them. We would like to invite you to become a part of our Athletic booster club and help us as we strive to reach the highest level. Our goal is to educate our student/athletes to a level that will put them at the very top in their perspective sport. In addition, we want our athletes to be some of our most productive citizens. Again, welcome to the NEMCC campus and we hope you have a very enjoyable visit and we welcome you back at any time either to visit our campus or to attend another athletic event. Thanks! Ricky G. Ford Athletic Director, NEMCC 6
Northeast Mississippi Community College
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Women’s Head Coach Ricky Ford
Northeast head women’s basketball coach/ athletic director Ricky Ford is entering his 29th season at Northeast as women’s coach, and his fifth year as the school’s athletic director. Heading into the 2009-10 basketball season, Ricky Ford’s record at Northeast stands an amazing 570-203. Ford continued his streak to the Mississippi Association of Community/Junior Colleges (MACJC) state tournament when he led the Lady Tigers (10-14, 5-7) to a fourth-place finish in the North Division and a berth in the state tournament in 2009 Under Ford’s leadership, the 2007-08 Lady Tigers (12-13, 8-4) earned a trip to the MACJC State Tournament after grabbing the number two seed in the North Division. One year prior, Coach Ford and his Lady Tigers set yet another milestone in 2006-07. Not only did the Northeast women continue to build the strongest tradition in women’s community college basketball in Mississippi, the 2006-07 Lady Tigers successfully defended their 2005 MACJC State Title, earning their fourth straight crown as North Division champions along the way. The Lady Tigers ended the regular season
with a 19-6, 10-2 record in Coach Ricky Ford’s 26th season at Northeast. In 2005-06, Coach Ricky Ford and the Lady Tigers, on the heels of a division title and state championship, captured the Region XXIII Title and earned a trip to the NJCAA national tournament in Salina, KS. Northeast’s women finished that campaign ranked 21st in the nation. During the opening ceremony of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) women’s Division I National Basketball Tournament held March 21-26, 2006, in Salina, Kan., Ford was recognized as the Division I, District “O,” Region 23 Coach of the Year. The award goes to the head coach of each of the 16 region
championship teams. Ford began to build a powerhouse women’s program at Northeast in 1981, after a successful stint as girls and boys coach at Booneville High School. Entering his twenty-eighth year at the helm, Ford has led his teams to 14 North Division crowns, nine State Championships, three Region 23 titles, and three appearances in the National Tournament, including a runner-up finish in the in 1986 and the 1987 National Championship. His record at Northeast stands at an extraordinary 560-189. Ford’s 31-year career mark stands at 658-230. This year, Ford enters his fifth year as athletic director. He oversees the day-to-day operations of an athletic department that features seven varsity sports, a co-ed cheerleading squad and that coordinates the annual Mississippi Community/ Junior College All-Star Classic football game each December. An alumnus of Northeast, Ford earned a bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University and a master’s degree from the University of Mississippi. Ricky and his wife LuAnne have four children, Aaron, Lauren, Suzanne, and Ben.
Men’s Head Coach David Robbins
When David Robbins accepted the position of head men’s basketball coach at Northeast in the spring of 2005, he enthusiastically accepted the challenge of returning the tradition-rich program to a place of prominence in the state and nation. With an emphasis on doing things the right way on and off the floor, the Tigers (15-9) recorded their first winning season since the 19992000 season. After stumbling in 2006-07 with nine freshmen and only four sophomores on the court, Robbins and company burst onto the MACJC scene in 2007-08. The Tigers went 15-10, 7-5 during the regular season and captured a runner-up finish in the MACJC North Division. After making semifinal runs in the State and Region 23 tournament, Robbins led the 2008-09 Tiger basketball team to a 12-13 record, and the 2009-10 team to a 12-11, 7-5 record. Before returning to his alma mater, Robbins spent 14 seasons as head boy’s basketball coach at Corinth High school. During that time, Robbins led the Warriors to a 310-147 overall record, including four 30-win seasons, eight 20-win seasons, nine Alcorn County championships (seven straight
from ‘99-’05), three North Half titles and three State Championship trophies. Robbins’ teams appeared in five State Tournaments and eight North Half Tournaments en route to a 44-15 record in post season play, a .745 winning percentage. In only his second season at CHS, Robbins guided the Warriors to the State Championship and a 36-5 overall mark, a school record for wins in a season. He became the winningest coach in Warrior history with win number 267 in 2003 and picked up win number 300 with a 50-46 victory over Ripley on Jan. 11, 2005 Robbins was named the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal Coach of the Year in 2002 and 2003, and was selected to coach in the 2002
North/South All-Star Game. Initially, Robbins also served as a physical education instructor, but left the classroom to become athletic director in 2002. As AD, Robbins supervised every aspect of the athletic programs at Corinth High and Junior High Schools. A Tippah County native, Blue Mountain High School graduate and former basketball player and team captain at Northeast Mississippi Junior College, Robbins worked at Northeast, assisting both former men’s basketball coach Harvey Childers and women’s basketball coach Ricky Ford (1987-89). His duties included on-the-floor coaching and recruiting in-district as well as out-of-state players. Robbins also worked as an assistant director of student activities at Northeast (19871991). Robbins earned an Associate in Arts Degree from Northeast in 1985, a Bachelor of Science degree from Millsaps College in 1987 and a master’s degree from Mississippi College in 1989. Robbins played two seasons for the Millsaps Majors and was selected the 1987 team captain. David and his wife Pam have three children, Brandon, Mary Beth, and Brody.
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Assistant Coach Maurice Stafford For the past seven seasons both the Tigers and Lady Tigers have benefited from the presence of former Northeast basketball star and veteran college basketball coach Maurice Stafford. A Biggersville native and former Juco Player of the Year at Northeast in 1982, Stafford works as an assistant coach for both Coach Ford and men’s head coach David Robbins. He now has over 16 years of coaching experience on the college level. After completing his stellar playing career at Northeast in ’82 with a National Junior College Athletic Association honorable mention All-American award, Stafford played two seasons at the University of North Alabama (UNA) where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education and sociology. His remarkable 75 percent field goal percentage remains a school record. It is also number two on the all-time National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II list and ranks fourth in the overall NCAA record book. Stafford was named Gulf South Conference Player of the Year in 1984. He was inducted into the UNA Hall of Fame in 1999. Stafford’s basketball coaching career be-
gan in 1989 as an assistant women’s coach at the University of Tennessee at Martin where he worked in all phases of the game. At UT-Martin he helped Mary Kate Long, Tara Tansil and Gina Warren turn in Hall of Fame careers. Following the ’94-’95 campaign, Stafford returned to UNA as assistant women’s coach and head men’s and women’s cross country coach. He recruited the school’s first first team All-American, Serita Gaulding. Stafford also helped Becky Maulk to lead the nation in free throw and three-point field goal percentage during her career with the Lady Lions. Before returning to Booneville, Stafford’s most extensive work came during a four-year stint at the University of Memphis.
Under Lady Tiger coach Joye Lee-McNelis, Stafford was heavily involved in recruiting, monitoring players’ academic status, game preparation, developing the fundamental skills of the post players, team travel and public relations. Under his tutelage Tamika Whitmore led the nation in scoring during the 1998-99 season. Whitmore currently plays for the Indiana Fever of the WNBA. Maurice is married to the former Karyn L. Miller of Jumpertown. They are the proud parents of one daughter, Sascha.
Cheerleading Coach Jennifer Johnson
Jennifer Johnson bounced her way into being the Northeast cheerleading coach in late October 2008. Johnson, who has been involved cheerleading for the majority of her lifetime, started her cheer career as one of 15 cheerleaders at J. Sterling Morton East High School in Ciero, Ill., where the student population was made up of more than 5,800 students. Following graduation, Johnson and her family moved to Booneville with Johnson eventually joining the Itawamba Community College Indianette dance team before coming back to Prentiss County and Northeast. After graduating from the University of Mississippi in May 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, Johnson joined the staff at Olive Branch Middle School where she was the seventh grade language arts instructor and in charge of 24 eighth grade cheerleaders her first year. Johnson rose to the top of the cheerleading ranks when she took the New Site High School cheerleading squad to a second place finish in the Mississippi High School Activities Association’s State Cheerleading Competition in 2005. Johnson pushed the New Site cheerleaders 8
to a second place finish in the Universal Cheerleading Association’s (UCA) Dixie Championship Regional earning the Lady Royals a berth in the 2006 UCA High School Nationals in Orlando, Fla., in 2006. Johnson’s team turned in a 26-place performance in the national competition and earned a superior squad rating. Johnson decided to take time off from cheerleading to take care of her baby boy after almost two years at New Site but the spirit was still there and when the position opened at Northeast in the fall 2008, Johnson bounded at the chance. During her time in northeast Mississippi, Johnson has also taught at Baldwyn Middle School and coached cheerleading squads at Marietta Elementary School.
Johnson led the Marietta Lady Raiders to a third place showing in both 2003 and 2004 and received the Most Improved squad at cheerleading camp. Johnson also sponsors her own cheerleading gymnasium ‘Northeast Mississippi Academy of Cheerleading’ that opened in September 2004.
Northeast Mississippi Community College
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Retired Jerseys
Northeast athletic department officials have announced the retirement of nine jerseys worn by former Tiger athletes who played or are currently playing on the professional level.
88
10
25
33
David “Nub” Strickland (‘55) Holly Springs Denver Broncos (NFL)
Adrian Smith (‘56) Kirksey, KY Cincinatti Royals (NBA)
Mike Williams (‘81) Atmore, AL Philadelphia Eagles (NFL)
Jackie Perry (‘86) Jackson, TN Int’l Women’s Basketball League
22
14
32
88
20
Jerome Woods (‘93) Memphis, TN Kansas City Chiefs (NFL)
Mitch McNeely (‘94) New Albany Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB)
Dontae Jones (‘95) Nashville, TN New York Knicks (NBA)
Michael Boireau (‘98) North Miami, FL Minnesota Vikings (NFL)
Qyntel Woods (‘02) Memphis, TN Portland Trailblazers (NBA)
Boa-Viagem, Portugal
Go, Fight, Win “Go --- Tigers, We’re behind you. Fight --- till the battle’s over. Win --- for --- the pride of Northeast Gain the Victory! Go!......................... Fight!..................... Win!....................... N.E.M.C.C. Lyrics by former Northeast director of bands and ‘74 alumnus Ricky Bishop. Sung to the tune of “The Victors,” (L.Elbel) the University of Michigan fight song.
Northeast Mississippi Community College
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“TIGERS”
When Northeast was founded in 1948, Bonner Arnold served as physical education instructor, men’ basketball coach and athletic director. Arnold and legendary University of Kentucky Wildcat men’s basketball coach Adoph Rupp were friends and as a result of this friendship and the success of the Kentucky basketball program, Arnold wanted the school’s athletic teams to sport a similar nickname. “Fighting Tigers” was adopted as the school’s mascot.
Later, the school’s athletic program grew to include men’s and women’s varsity sports. “Fighting” was dropped and the teams became known as the “Tigers” and “Lady Tigers.”
Arnold
South dominates annual MACJC All-Star game Southern victory ties series at 17-17-2
The South all-stars dominated the 2009 Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) All-Star Football Classic on Saturday, Dec. 5. After a scoreless first quarter, Copiah-Lincoln Community College running back Tywon Lee initiated the scoring with his four yard touchdown plunge into the end zone with 14:06 left in the second period to put the South team up 7-0 after the PAT by Jacob Chancelor (Jones County). Four minutes later, the South would strike again—this time by way of airmail—when quarterback Stanley Jennings (Southwest) connected with WR Wesley Mounger (Hinds) for a 40-yard touchdown pass that pushed the lead to 14-0 after the Chancelor PAT. With just 2:26 left before the half time break....QB Jennings hooked up with WR Sam Robinson (Pearl River) for a 25-yard touchdown pass as the South took a 21-0 lead into the locker room. Both teams came out flat in the third quarter and the ball game remained 10
scoreless going into the final frame. In the fourth quarter, Jennings went for lucky number three when by tossing his third touchdown pass of the afternoon to wide-out Rapheal Pollard (Jones County) for the 14-yard TD giving the South a 28-0 advantage. Head Coach Gene Murphy (Hinds) led the charge for the South as it now holds a two-game win streak with the 28-0 victory. The South defeated the North in 2008 on a score of 16-14. The overall record for the all-star series now sits at 17-17-2. Northeast’s Jeremy Cannon (New Albany) captured the North’s Most Offensive Valuable Player honors while Mounger from Hinds Community College captured the South’s offensive MVP award. Marcus Pierce (Jones County) and Holmes Community College’s Josh Evans took home the North and South defensive MVP honors, respectively while Southwest’s quarterback Jennings was awarded as the MACJC All- Star Classic Most Valuable Player.
Northeast running back Jeremy Cannon (20) of New Albany tries to break loose from the grasp of Hinds defensive lineman Dishon Robinson (92) after taking the handoff from Northwest quarterback Casey Weston (8) during the 36th Mississippi Association of Community and Junior College’s (MACJC) all-star football game on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009. Cannon was named the North’s Most Offensive Player for the all-star game.
Northeast Mississippi Community College
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Lady Tigers are young but ready By: Sha’ Simpson
Northeast College Publications Staff
For the Northeast Lady Tiger basketball team, this season there is a lot to look forward to and be optimistic about. Northeast head coach Ricky Ford believes that he has one of the best teams that he has coached in years. “We are probably more talented this year than in the past three (3) years combined,” Ford said. “We have a lot of speed and quickness at all positions on the floor. We are not nearly as big as we probably need to be but we have more quickness that hopefully will compensate for the lack of height.” One thing Ford does have a lot of is freshman. “I am very excited for this year’s Lady Tigers because of all the new faces that we have. We have twelve (12) freshmen that are going to be playing their first college basketball game on Nov. 4,” Ford said. “We will be looking for freshmen to not only lead us on the floor but also lead us off the floor. They have responded well to the roles we have asked them to do for us.” Ford points out that his strength this year will be in handling the ball – something that the Lady Tigers have struggled with in the past but Ford is optimistic about the Lady Tigers’ guard play this year.
Chelsey Whitaker Sophomore Guard Alcorn Central
“Our strong points will be our guard play because we have the ability to play at least six guards that will be able to contribute,” Ford explained. “We have the luxury to be able to do some things that because of lack of speed and ability we were not able to do in the last few years. We will probably have the ability to put more pressure on the opposing team all over the floor whereas in the past we could not do that.” Being able to get the ball up and down the floor will be a plus, but the veteran mentor knows that to win the game, the Lady Tigers are going to have to put points up on the board. “Another point about our guards is the fact that they have a lot of individual skills as far as being able to dribble and shoot and go one on one and be successful,” Ford said. One thing that the Lady Tigers have struggled and lacked in the past is balance, yet, fortunately it seems as if this season could be a turnaround for the Lady Tiger program. “Another great point is our forwards that have the ability to score around the basket with consistency,” Ford said. “In addition, they have a lot of athletic ability, which enable them to run the floor very well. All this makes this year’s Lady Tigers a very balanced team and one that will be very successful.” Ford returns just two players from last year’s squad that went 7-13, 5-7 in the North Division. “We are expecting a lot from our two returnees Chelsey Whitaker (Alcorn Central) and Amber Johnson (Pine Grove),” Ford said. “Both of these players bring a lot of experience from last year, which will be very important in the early going.” To make a statement in one of the most competitive leagues in the nation, Ford knows that his first-year players will have to make an immediate impact. “Our freshmen that will have to jump right into the heat of battle in college basketball will be Anna Brooke Page from Belmont who was selected as the Most Valuable Player of the Mississippi High School Activities Association’s (MHSAA) State tournament last year,” Ford said. “In addition, Erin Strowder (Southwind HS, Tenn.) will have to mature very quickly and play a major role for us with our inside game.” “I’m excited about it. I’m just ready to share with our fans the talent and togetherness that the team has,” Strowder said. “It’s a new year and we are all ready to make history for 2010.” “We are also relying heavily on Tiffany Martin from Olive Branch and Patra Hubbard from Humbolt, Tenn., to provide scoring and defense from the guard spot,” Ford said. “We also are expecting a lot of help from Bree Harris and Carleigh King from New Site, Zoe Hammock from Belmont, Hillary Miller from Booneville, Suriah Branch from Caledonia, Alex Hill from Jackson, Tenn., Kiana Jones from Ashland, T.K. Westbrook from Shannon, Breanna Howard form Jackson.” The Lady Tigers open up action on Monday, November 1 by travelling to Muscle Shoals, Ala. to take on the Northwest-Shoals Community College Patriots before hosting Motlow State (Tenn.) Community College on Thursday, November 4 in the friendly confines of Bonner Arnold Coliseum.
Northeast Mississippi Community College
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Northeast No. 10 Amber Johnson 5-9 Guard/Forward Sophomore Pine Grove H.S.
No. 12 Chelsey Whitaker 5-7 Guard Sophomore Alcorn Central H.S.
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Basketball No. 11 Tiffany Martin 5-4 Guard/Forward Freshman Olive Branch H.S.
No. 13 Breanna Howard 5-6 Guard Freshman Hillcrest Academy
No. 14 Zoe Hammock 5-6 Guard Freshman Belmont H.S.
No. 20 Patra Hubbard 5-6 Guard Freshman Humbolt (Tenn.) H.S.
No. 21 Carleigh King 5-6 Guard Freshman New Site H.S.
No. 22 Erin Strowder 5-10 Forward Freshman Southwind (Tenn.) H.S.
Northeast Mississippi Community College
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No. 23 Kiana Jones 5-9 Forward Freshman Ashland H.S.
No. 24 Bree Harris 5-7 Guard Freshman New Site H.S.
No. 25 Anna Brooke Page 5-11 Forward Freshman Belmont H.S.
No. 30 Hillary Miller 5-8 Forward Freshman Booneville H.S.
No. 31 Suriah Blanch 6-0 Forward Freshman Caledonia H.S.
No. 34 Alex Hill 5-10 Forward Freshman Jackson Northside (Tenn.) H.S.
No. 35 T.K. Westbrook 5-5 Guard Freshman Shannon Northeast Mississippi Community College
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2010-11 Lady Tigers No. Player 10 11 12 13 14 20 21 22 23 24 25 30 31 34 35
Amber Johnson Tiffany Martin Chelsey Whitaker Breanna Howard Zoe Hammock Patra Hubbard Carleigh King Erin Strowder Kiana Jones Bree Harris Anna Brooke Page Hillary Miller Suriah Blanch Alex Hill T.K. Westbrook
Height 5-9 5-4 5-7 5-6 5-6 5-6 5-6 5-10 5-9 5-7 5-11 5-8 6-0 5-10 5-5
Position G/F G/F G G G G G F F G F F F F G
Class Soph. Fresh. Soph. Fresh. Fresh. Fresh. Fresh. Fresh. Fresh. Fresh. Fresh. Fresh. Fresh. Fresh. Fresh.
Managers: Brittany Downs, Samantha McAlister, Tony Pams Head Coach: Ricky G. Ford Assistant Coach: Maurice Stafford 14
Northeast Mississippi Community College
High School
Pine Grove Olive Branch Alcorn Central Hillcrest Academy Belmont Humbolt New Site Southwind Ashland New Site Belmont Booneville Caledonia Jackson Northside Shannon
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2010-11 Tigers
No. Player 11 12 14 22 23 24 30 33 34 40 42 50 52 54
Tyler Pritchard Tyler Reed Jonathan Jenkins Nick Tate Jermaine Hollimon John David Little Cody Garrett Robert Wade Charlie Easley Josey Pettigrew Jamie Cheairs Cedric Janes Tyrie Berry Daniel Burton
Height 5-8 6-0 5-11 5-10 6-4 6-2 6-3 6-6 6-6 6-4 6-2 6-6 6-6 6-4
Position Guard Guard Guard Guard Guard Guard Guard Forward Guard Forward Guard Forward Forward Forward
Class Soph. Soph. Fresh. Soph. Fresh. Soph. Soph. Fresh. Fresh. Soph. Soph. Fresh. Soph. Fresh.
Hometown
Iuka Hickory Flat Jackson Holly Springs Memphis, Tenn. Olive Branch Corinth Nashville, Tenn. Calhoun City Corinth Middleton, Tenn. Dyer Co., Tenn. Ripley Holly Springs
Managers: Jonathan Taylor, Stanford Beasley Videographer: Gregery Mitchell Head Coach: David Robbins Assistant Coach: Maurice Stafford
Northeast Mississippi Community College
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Basketball
No. 11 Tyler Pritchard 5-8 Guard Sophomore Tishomingo County H.S.
No. 12 Tyler Reed 6-0 Guard Sophomore Hickory Flat H.S.
No. 14 Jonathan Jenkins 5-11 Guard Freshman Callaway H.S.
No. 22 Nick Tate 5-10 Guard Sophomore Marshall Academy
No. 23 Jermaine Hollimon 6-4 Guard Freshman Melrose (Tenn.) H.S.
No. 24 John David Little 6-2 Guard Sophomore Olive Branch H.S.
No. 30 Cody Garrett 6-3 Guard Sophomore Alcorn Central H.S.
No. 33 Robert Wade 6-6 Forward Freshman Maplewood (Tenn.) H.S.
Northeast Mississippi Community College
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No. 34 Charlie Easley 6-6 Guard Freshman Calhoun City H.S.
No. 40 Josey Pettigrew 6-4 Forward Sophomore Alcorn Central H.S.
No. 42 Jamie Cheairs 6-2 Guard Sophomore Middleton (Tenn.) H.S.
No. 50 Cedric Janes 6-6 Forward Freshman Dyer Co. (Tenn.) H.S.
No. 52 Tyrie Berry 6-6 Forward Sophomore Ripley H.S.
No. 54 Daniel Burton 6-4 Forward Freshman Holly Springs H.S.
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Tigers look to build on tournament run By: Blake Long
Northeast College Publications Staff
The weather outside is slowly but surely turning colder. That means only one thing – basketball season is just around the corner. Northeast will be taking the court for the first time in under a week, and Coach David Robbins is excited about what he sees out of his Tigers. “We’ve got several sophomores coming back, and we’re real excited about that,” said Robbins, who enters his sixth season as head coach of the Tigers, “Our incoming freshman, they may be the most talented group we’ve had come in since I’ve been back. “Even though we were just one game over .500 last year, we just continue to try to improve. And I hope we have the right group of young men here to get us to the next level.” Northeast returns seven sophomores from a squad that finished their freshman season with a 12-11 overall record and a third place finish in the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) North Division. “Overall, this may be the best group of sophomores we have had as far as leadership capability and how they go about things,” Robbins said of his returning players. Leading that group is sophomore guard Tyler Pritchard.
Tyler Pritchard Sophomore Guard Iuka 18
Pritchard, who has been named a captain for the 2010-11 team, hit 45-percent of his shots, averaging 12.7 points per game while also recording a team high 45 steals and making 75-percent of his free throws. The Iuka native was named to the MACJC All State First Team as a freshman. “That’s a good position to have a (All State) player coming back,” Robbins said of Pritchard, “That’s where it all starts.” Also returning to the Tigers is Nick Tate. Tate, who was also named team captain for this year’s squad, is back for his third year as a Tiger. “He played quite a bit for us last year,” said Robbins, “We expect good things from him this year.” Unfortunately, the injury bug has hit the Tigers during preseason practice. All State forward Tyrie Berry will miss at least the first half of the season after recently having surgery on his right knee. “He might be back around Christmas, but we don’t know yet,” added Robbins. This means freshmen will have to step up for Northeast, and Robbins does not think that will be a problem. “All three out of staters (Robert Wade, Jermaine Holliman, and Cedric Janes) are going to be impact players for us,” said Robbins of his freshmen, “Also we may have to play Charlie Easley (Calhoun City) inside some due to Tyrie’s injury.” This year’s schedule once again is no cupcake for Northeast. The Tigers will open up action on Monday, November 1 by travelling to Muscle Shoals, Ala. to take on the Northwest-Shoals Community College Patriots before opening a three-game homestand by hosting Motlow State (Tenn.) Community College on Thursday, November 4. “Each year it seems to get a little more harder and a little more difficult,” added Robbins, “Our non-conference schedule is really tough and we hope that will help prepare us for the North Division.” The Tigers open MACJC North Division play on Thursday, December 2 in Bonner Arnold Coliseum by hosting Northwest Mississippi Community College. Robbins expects the MACJC North to be as wide open as ever this season. “Even though Coahoma didn’t win a league game last year, I know on my behalf and other coaches as well that nobody really wanted to play them at any particular time,” stated Robbins of the toughness of the MACJC, “It is wide open, I don’t think there’s just one team that’s just head and shoulders above the rest. “It should make for some very competitive games and fun games to watch.” Other key games on the calendar has dates with Itawamba Community College in Fulton on Monday, January 17 and in Booneville on Thursday, February 10, which will also serve as sophomore night for the Tigers. Defending MACJC North champion East Mississippi Community College comes to Booneville on Monday, January 10. The 2011 MACJC State Tournament will be held February 21-24 at the South Champion and the Region XXIII Tournament will be held February 28-March 3 at Mississippi College in Clinton.
Northeast Mississippi Community College
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Basketball
Area High School Basketball Coaches
Alcorn Central Women’s: Charlette Foster Men’s: Brandon Quinn
Baldwyn Women’s: Reneetra Shinault Men’s: Jason McKay Belmont Women’s: Chris Higginbottom Men’s: Shannon Edmondson Biggersville Women’s: Cassie Farris Men’s: Jacky Rowsey Blue Mountain Women’s: Jeff Lollar Men’s: David Mason Booneville Women’s: Bart Greenhaw Men’s: Michael Smith Corinth Women’s: Patricia Barr Men’s: Keith Green East Union Women’s: Nathan McLellan Men’s: Tim McDonald
Falkner Women’s: Jacob Walker Men’s: Chip Johnson Ingomar Women’s: Richard Byrd Men’s: Norris Ashley
Pine Grove Women’s: Cliff Orman Men’s: Brad Pounders Ripley Women’s: Katie Bates Men’s: Grant Gardner
Jumpertown Women’s: Bruce Padgett Men’s: Bruce Padgett
Thrasher Women’s: Mickey Wood Men’s: Mitch Howell
Kossuth Women’s: Larry Johnson Men’s: Scottie Shettles
Tishomingo County Women’s: Cliff Little Men’s: Mike Cartwright
Myrtle Women’s: Chris Greer Men’s: Jonathan Ashley
Walnut Women’s: Larry Tribble Men’s: Mike Lewis
New Albany Women’s: John Stroud Men’s: Brad Gray New Site Women’s: Byron Sparks Men’s: Ronald Clark
West Union Women’s: Kelly Robbins Men’s: Joey Baird Wheeler Women’s: Nathan Garner Men’s: Randy Michael
Northeast Mississippi Community College
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Northeast
Basketball
Home Sweet Home: Bonner Arnold Coliseum
Bonner Arnold Coliseum, home to the Lady Tiger and Tiger basketball team, underwent intensive changes during the 2008-09 and 2009-10 season with renovations completing in August 2009. Northeast invested nearly $1.5 million into renovation Bonner Arnold Coliseum that has seen its share of memorable events.
Northeast’s home for its men and women’s basketball teams underwent extensive changes prior to the 2009-10 season and David Robbins’ Tiger basketball team christened the newly-renovated Bonner Arnold Coliseum with a 91-87 win over Northwest-Shoals (Ala.) Community College on November 5, 2009. Bonner Arnold Coliseum, home to the Lady Tiger and Tiger basketball team, underwent intensive changes during the 2008-09 and 2009-10 season with renovations completing in August 2009. Northeast invested nearly $1.5 million into renovation Bonner Arnold Coliseum that has seen its share of memorable events. During the 1999-2000 season the Lady Tigers and Tigers re-established Bonner Arnold Coliseum as one of the toughest basketball venues among Mississippi’s community/junior colleges by claiming both the women and men’s North Division titles for the first time since the end of the 1992-93 season. The two teams finished the 1999-2000 campaign with a combined record of 27-4. The Tigers went on the capture the State Championship in front of the home crowd as they did in 1994. The Lady Tigers won back-to-back-to20
back North Division crowns during the 2004, 2005 and 2006 seasons while posting a 28-4 mark in the legendary building. Built in part by the Northeast Mississippi Junior College Trades Training group, Bonner Arnold Coliseum opened its doors in 1951. During the three previous years,
the Lady Tigers and Tigers played their home games at the old Booneville High School gymnasium. From November 1988 to February 1990, the Tigers put together a 29-game home winning streak at Bonner Arnold Coliseum, which included a Region 23 Tourna-
Northeast Mississippi Community College
Northeast
Basketball
ment championship in March of 1989. Hinds Community College snapped the streak in the 1990 State Championship game. In the early 1970s, Bonner Arnold Coliseum was completely renovated. The most significant addition was twelve air conditioning units. In 1988, 1,000 chair back seats were installed on the east side that were the original box seats at the University of Mississippi’s Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Bonner Arnold Coliseum’s most recent updates include the repair and renovation of the men and women’s dressing rooms along with the painting of interior and exterior trim. A new roof was installed on the building to go along with a repair to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment. Bonner Arnold Coliseum’s exterior also got a facelift with tuckpointing and repair to mortar joints in the brickwork. Fans will notice two changes to the coliseum’s inside. Both sides of the gymnasium have been equipped with padded chair-back seating donated by the University of Mississippi. The floor of Bonner Arnold Coliseum was also updated with repair to the hardwood and the playing surface was completely refinished with a new paint job. When set up for basketball, BAC will accommodate 1,000 spectators on each side of the floor and 600 in the pullout bleachers traditionally set up on the north end. The south end will seat 400 in folding chairs, bringing capacity to 3,000. Although the three-court facility was designed primarily for basketball, Bonner Arnold Coliseum is used for commencement exercises, assemblies, concerts and the District, 4 Science Fair. Bonner Arnold Coliseum also houses the offices of the head men’s basketball coach David Robbins and assistant basketball coach Maurice Stafford.
Northeast Mississippi Community College
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Northeast
Basketball Northeast inducted its third class into the college’s Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, October 16 during the college’s 2010 Homecoming. Northeast Athletic Director and women’s head basketball coach Ricky Ford (back, right) helped to induct the class that included (front row, l-r) Phyllis Stafford Dilworth, Kunshinge Sorrell Howard, (backrow l-r) Mike Grier, Jack Marting and David Carnell, Jr.
NE welcomes five into Sports Hall of Fame Northeast’s Sports Hall of Fame continues to grow. Northeast enshrined its third class of former athletes and coaches during Homecoming 2010 activities on Saturday, October 16 at the Boonevillebased college. Joining the ranks of the Hall of Fame include former Tiger football and baseball player Mike Grier, former Tiger basketball player Jack Martin, former Lady Tiger basketball players Kunshinge Sorrell Howard and Phyllis Stafford Dilworth and former football and softball coach and athletic director David Carnell. This year’s five inductees push the number of former athletes, coaches and contributors to 20 since the Northeast Sports Hall of Fame was founded three years ago. • Grier was a multi-sport athlete for the Tigers clocking time on the gridiron in 1968 and 1969 before flipping over to the baseball diamond in 1969 and 1970. While on the gridiron for the Tigers, Grier led the Tigers and the North Division in interceptions by picking off eight passes and was named to the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges’ (MACJC) AllState Team in 1969. During that year, Grier finished second on the team in total tackles. During his first year at Northeast, Grier was a first-team member of the All-North Half team in 1968. After starring on the gridiron of two year, Grier turned his attention to baseball where the Selmer, Tenn., native continued his success leading the Tiger baseball team in home runs in both years. Grier’s final year with the Tigers saw him led the Tigers to a runner-up finish in the MACJC State Tournament as part of the team. Following his time at Northeast, Grier headed to Eastern Illinois University from 1970-72 and set a then-school record for career interceptions with 14. Grier’s senior season with Eastern Illinois turned out to be his best when the defensive back was named to the first team all-conference defensive team and was named a firstteam All-American for small colleges in 1972. Grier’s 1972 season continues to be in the record books for Eastern Illinois as he finished second in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) with 11 interceptions -- and set a season record at Eastern Illinois, which stands today. Grier’s 11 interceptions in a season are four more than any other Eastern Illinois player has been able to record in a season. • Martin’s career at Northeast was broken by his obligation to the war 22
effort but Martin did not let a 13-month tour in the Republic of South Korea stop his athletic accomplishments. During both his years at Northeast, Martin carried the Northeast Tiger basketball team to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Basketball Tournament. Martin, who was known for his defensive prowess on the hardwood, ended up guarding the opposing team’s best player. During his first year at Northeast, Martin teamed with Charles ‘Doodle’ Floyd -- who is a charter member of the Northeast Sports Hall of Fame -- and carried the Tiger basketball team to a runner-up finish in the national tournament. In 1950-51, Martin led the Tigers to Hutchinson, Kan., before Northeast dropped the championship game to Los Angeles College of California 6763. Martin’s charisma followed him back to Northeast following his break from the academic environment for the war effort. Martin was selected at Mr. Northeast Mississippi Junior College for 1953-54 even after missing the previous year as part of the United States Army. Following his time at Northeast, Martin joined up with The Whiskered Wizards, a semi-professional traveling basketball team, that traversed the southern United States playing against other independent basketball teams. • Sorrell made a name for herself on the hardwood in Bonner Arnold Coliseum from 1984-86 and carried the Lady Tigers’ basketball team to the national championship game in 1986. During her time under Northeast women’s basketball coach Ricky Ford, Sorrell was named to the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) All-State teams in both seasons with the Lady Tigers and pulled off the rare double by being named to the National Junior College Athletic Association’s (NJCAA) Region XXIII team in both years at Northeast as well. During her sophomore season, Sorrell helped lead the Lady Tiger basketball team to the national basketball tournament and collected first-team All-American honors for her final season with the Lady Tigers. During the 1985-86 season, Sorrell and the Lady Tigers dropped only one game all season and scorched the record books for a 31-0 season before facing off against Odessa, Texas in the national championship game. Following her time at Northeast, Sorrell took her talents to Mississippi State University where she was named to the All-Southeastern Conference team both years -- 1987-88 and 1988-89. Sorrell’s final year with the Lady Bulldogs saw the former Northeast
Northeast Mississippi Community College
Northeast
Basketball
Northeast Sports Hall of Fame 2009
2008
David ‘Nub’ Strickland, Football W.B. “Bill” Ward, Football coach/Atheltic Director Kenneth “Cat” Robbins, Basketball Coach Kenneth Lindsey, Men’s Basketball Chuck “Doodle” Floyd, Men’s Basketball Gene Garrett, Men’s Basketball Adrian Smith, Men’s Basketball Bonner Arnold, Basketball Coach/Athletic Director Harold T. White, Football/College President Earline “Woodsie” Woods, Supporter
Harvey Childers, Men’s Basketball Coach Gerald Caveness, Men’s Basketball Clyde Jones, Men’s Basketball Larry Parker, Football Evelyn Thompson, Women’s Basketball
2010
Michael Grier, Football Kunshigne Sorrell Howard, Women’s Basketball Phyllis Stafford Dilworth, Women’s Basketball Jack Martin, Men’s Basketball David Carnell, Sr., Softball Coach/Atheltic Director
Lady Tiger lead the Southeastern Conference in scoring at 20.7 points per game with 662 points in 32 games. Despite only playing two seasons for the Lady Bulldogs, Sorrell amassed 1,292 points (20.8 points per game) -- good enough for eight all-time on the Lady Bulldog scoring charts. All seven Lady Bulldogs ahead of Sorrell on the list played for four seasons at Mississippi State. Sorrell was also only one of two two-year players at Mississippi State to break the 1,000-point plateau. Mary Boatwright, a Lady Bulldog from 197981, amassed 1,177 points during her career. • Stafford joined the Northeast Lady Tiger basketball team in Kunshinge Sorrell’s final year with the Lady Tigers but the duo made an impact on the basketball world. Stafford, who was a member of the Lady Tiger basketball team from 1985-87, helped lead Northeast to the national tournament in both her years in Booneville. During her freshman season, Stafford and the Lady Tigers dropped only one game all season and posted a 31-0 record heading into the national championship game against Odessa, Texas in 1986. Stafford bested her freshman year one season later when the Lady Tigers went undefeated -- 34-0 -- en route to the 1987 national championship. Stafford made sure of the return trip to the national tournament when the forward broke out for 31 points and 14 rebounds in the Region XXIII championship game in Clinton against Utica (Hinds) in earning the return trip to the national tournament. During her two years at Northeast, Stafford amassed a 65-1 record on the hardwood and was named to the MACJC All-State and NJCAA Region XXIII teams both years at Northeast. Stafford’s sophomore season at Northeast saw her selected as a first-team All-American by the NJCAA. Northeast swept through the regular season during Stafford’s sophomore year undefeated and knocked off Northwest Mississippi Community College 80-78 for the MACJC State Championship and then swept through the Region XXIII tournament before heading to Senatobia for the NJCAA National Basketball Tournament. Northeast made good on its return trip as the Lady Tigers won four straight games in the Division I women’s national tournament -- including the national championship game when Northeast upended St. Gregory’s in the national championship game 68-64. Following her time at Northeast, Stafford took her talents to the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) where she was named to the coaches’ AllSoutheastern Conference second team in 1989. • Carnell’s dedication to Northeast Mississippi Community College spans nearly five decades. Carnell originally came to the college in 1972 as a member of the Northeast Mississippi Junior College football coaching staff but the former athletic director left his mark in a totally different sport when guided Northeast’s transition from slow-pitch to fast-pitch softball at the turn of the century and had the Lady Tigers in the national tournament within three years. Carnell’s run on the gridiron at Northeast came after the long-time coach helped found the program at Biggersville High School and served as the high school’s first football coach. Carnell was an assistant football coach
MACJC Sports Hall of Fame 2010
David “Nub” Strickland, Football
2009
Harvey Childers, Men’s Basketball Coach
2008
Kenneth Lindsey, Men’s Basketball Harold T. White, Football/College President
2007
Adrian Smith, Men’s Basketball Bonner Arnold, Basketball Coach/Athletic Director W.B. “Bill” Ward, Football coach/Atheltic Director
for 10 years -- 1972-82 before taking over the reins of the program from W.B. “Bill” Ward in 1983. Carnell won two of his first four games including victories over Holmes (15-7) and Coahoma (45-0) as the Tigers went on to finish the 1983 season as the North Division runner-ups. After three years at the helm, Carnell gave up the head-coaching role and returned to be an assistant coach for the Tiger football team until 1996 when he dedicated his focus to softball. Carnell resurrected the Northeast softball program in 1993 after an almost 10-year hiatus away from competition and posted a 17-16 record during the Northeast’s first year back in slow-pitch competition and started a run to the National Junior College Athletic Association’s (NJCAA) Region XXIII Tournament that would stretch through the transition to fast-pitch competition and until his retirement in 2005. During Carnell’s years, Northeast was the only school in Mississippi to boast a 13-year run in the Region XXIII Tournament – covering both slowand fast-pitch softball – 1994-2006. Carnell replaced Ward once again in 1996 when the veteran coach took over the role of athletic director for Northeast Mississippi Community College and held the position while coaching softball until his retirement in 2005-06. During his time on the slow-pitch diamond, Carnell led the Northeast Lady Tiger softball team to four straight North Division runner-up finishes -- 1994-98 -- before finally breaking through as the North Division champion in 1999. Carnell led the Lady Tigers to seven straight Region XXIII tournaments before the college switched to fast-pitch competition in 2001. Carnell and the Lady Tigers did not miss a note with the switch staking a 28-12 record during their first year in fast-pitch competition, were co-North Division champions, and placed third in the state/region tournament. During the 2000-01 season, Northeast was ranked as high as fifth in the nation twice. Carnell continued to fine-tune the Northeast fast-pitch softball team with five straight North Division championships --2001-05 -- and saw his team finish as the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges’ state runners-up three straight years from 2003-05. Northeast’s crowning moment came in 2003 when the Lady Tigers qualified for the National Junior College Athletic Association’s National Softball Championship after winning the Region XXIII championship. Northeast came close to a return trip to the national tournament in Carnell’s final years at the helm finishing as the Region XXIII runner-up in 2004 and 2005. Carnell not only pushed his athletes on the diamond but demanded excellence in the classroom as well and was awarded as the NJCAA’s Academic Team of the year in 2000 -- Northeast’s first year of fast-pitch competition -- and was among the top academic teams in the country in 2002, 2003 and 2004. Carnell was named the Region XXIII Coach of the Year in 2003 and was honored as the MACJC Coach of the Year in 2005 and given the NJCAA’s Loyalty Award in 2005. After retiring, Carnell returned as a part-time assistant coach to the softball program from 2006-08 before finally hanging up his cleats. In total, Carnell recorded 301 wins against 223 losses during his time as head football and slow- and fast-pitch coach.
Northeast Mississippi Community College
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Northeast
Basketball
All-Americans Throughout the history of Northeast Mississippi Community College, superior atheltes have been named to the All-American team, the highest honor bestowed upon any player. Recipients of this honor are chosen by the 23 regional directors of the National Junior College Athletic Association. Their selection for the All-American team, second team and honorable mention are made only after careful evaluation of the hundreds of nominations which are submitted by community/junior college coaches from across the country. We are proud to salute those who brought honor to themselves as young men and women and to Northeast Mississippi Community College for the time to come.
FOOTBALL Jerry King - 1956 Running Back, All-American Chattanooga, TN
Larry Parker - 1977 Running Back, Honorable Mention Rogersville, AL
Paul Rhodes - 1980 Defensive Lineman, Second Team Kossuth
Johnny Buskirk - 1969 Quarterback, Honorable Mention New Albany
Barry Todd - 1977 Defensive Back, Second Team Memphis, TN
Anthony Norman - 1980 Running Back, Honorable Mention Morrow, GA
Donnie Clayton - 1969 Tight End, Honorable Mention Ripley
Maury Hill - 1979 Defensive Back, Second Team Ripley
Chase Porch - 2008 Designated Hitter, 3rd Team East Union
GOLF Craig Lauderdale - 1990 All American Booneville
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Chase Williams - 2007 All American Corinth
Gene Garrett - 1950 Guard, All American LaCenter, KY
Gaylon Baird - 1968 Forward, All American Myrtle
Dontae Jones - 1995 Forward, All American Nashville, TN
Ken Lindsey - 1951 Forward, All American Booneville
Maurice Stafford - 1982 Forward, Honorable Mention Biggersville
Tim Cole - 1998 Guard, All American Memphis, TN
Charles ‘Doodle’ Floyd - 1954 Forward, All American Water Valley, KY
Anthony Anderson - 1984 Guard, Second Team New Albany Anthony Gamble - 1989 Forward, All American Booneville
Eric Batchelor - 2000 Forward, All American Memphis, TN
SLOW-PITCH SOFTBALL
Qyntel Woods - 2002 Forward, All American Memphis, TN
Stephanie Stubblefield - 2000 Infielder, All American Ecru
Adrian ‘Odie’ Smith - 1956 Guard, All American Kirksey, KY Vince DelNegro - 1959 Forward, All American Springfield, MA
Clay Johnson -1989 Guard, All American Booneville
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
24
BASEBALL
Blake Hatfield - 2010 All American Booneville
FAST-PITCH SOFTBALL Lori Wilson - 2001 1st Base, All American Blue Mountain
Paige Wright - 2004 Shortstop, All American Southaven
Jessica Spain - 2002 Shortstop, All American NFCA Louisville Slugger Booneville
Staranna Fraizer - 2004 Outfielder, 3rd Team NFCA All American 2nd Team New Albany
Jocelyn McGolrick - 2003 NFCA All American
Shanika Randle - 2007 Outfielder, NFCA All American Houston
Jackie Perry - 1986 Forward, All American Jackson, TN
Tiffany Sitton - 1998 Forward, All American Glen
Kunshinge Sorrell - 1986 Point Guard, All American Booneville
Tamica Pierce - 2001 Forward, All American Decatur, GA
Sherry Slayton - 1987 Forward, All American Belmont
Marqueciqa Thomas - 2004 Forward, All American Jackson
Phyllis Stafford - 1987 Center, All American Biggersville
Jessica Hooker - 2006 Forward, All American Brownsville, TN
Charity Graham - 2003 NFCA All American 2nd Team
Evelyn Thompson - 1988 Forward, All American LaGrange, GA
Krystal Robinson - 2006 Forward, All American Covington, TN
Josie Lindgrin - 2004 Pitcher, NFCA 2nd Team British Columbia, Canada
Brandi Vondenstein - 2003 3rd Base, Honorable Mention NFCA All American 1st Team
Northeast Mississippi Community College
Kelly Hankins - 2007 Infielder, Distinguished Acadademic All American Mooreville Callie Weaver - 2008 Shortstop, NFCA 2nd Team Houston
Northeast
Basketball
Former Tiger enshrined in National Hall of Fame Dr. James Naismith is credited for inventing basketball. Now, a former Northeast Mississippi Junior College basketball player will take his place in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. Adrian ‘Odie’ Smith, who played basketball at Northeast from 1954-56, will be enshrined along with his teammates on the 1960 Olympic team when the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame holds its enshrinement ceremony on Friday, August 13 at Springfield Symphony Hall in Springfield, Mass. The basketball hall of fame is named for the former University of Kansas coach and inventor of the game. Smith, a Cincinnati, Ohio, native, was an All-American guard on the Northeast men’s basketball teams from 1954-56 and parlayed his Tiger career to a stint with the University of Kentucky Wildcats under legendary coach Adolph Rupp. During his time at Northeast, Smith averaged 22 points per game and was named an All-American during his final season with the Tigers in 1956. After two years at Kentucky, Smith joined the Army and played on the Pan-American team. One of Smith’s biggest moments came when he was a member of the undefeated U.S. men’s basketball team that won the gold medal in the 1960 Rome Olympics. During the 1960 Rome Olympics, Smith was one of five collegiate athletes to average double digits during the eight-game run. Other members of the United States 1960 Rome Olympic team to average in double digits with Smith (10.9) were Oscar Robertson (17), Jerry Lucas (17), Jerry West (13.8) and Terry Dischinger (11.8). Smith’s teammates during the Olympics also included Walter Bellamy, Robert Boozer, Lester Lane, Darrall Imoff, Jay Arnette, Burdette Haldorson and Allen Kelley. During the 1960 Olympics, the United States -- which was compiled of collegiate players -- went undefeated through the tournament knocking off Italy (88-54), Japan (125-66) and Hungary (107-63) in the first round of pool play before dispatching Yugoslavia (104-42), Uruguay (108-50) and the USSR (81-57) before moving onto the medal round. In the medal round, the United States defeated Italy for a second time 11281 and captured the gold with a 27-point win against Brazil 90-63. The United States 1960 Olympic team was an offensive juggernaut winning by an average of 42.4 points per game and had 10 members of the team to go on and play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Even the coaches -- Pete Newell and Dutch Lonborg -- for the 1960 team have been honored as individuals in the Hall of Fame along with six members of the team. Following his years at Kentucky, Smith was selected as the first pick in the fifteenth round of the 1958 draft and joined the Cincinnati Royals following Olympic competition in 1961. During his time in the National Basketball Association (NBA), Smith played with the San Francisco Warriors in addition to the Royals and clocked time as a member of the Virginia Squires of the American Basketball Association (ABA). Smith was named the Most Valuable Player for the 1966 All-Star game after being selected to play by Boston Celtic coach Red Aurbach. Smith did not disappoint the legendary coach and continued Cincinnati’s streak of All-Star game Most Valuable Player awards in tack after teammates Oscar Robertson (1964) and Jerry Lucas (1965) won the award during the previous two All-Star contests. In the 1966 All-Star Game, Smith scored 24 points in 26 minutes and went 9-of-18 from the floor and a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line while pulling down eight rebounds.
Former Northeast Mississippi Junior College basketball player Adrian Smith (left) will be enshrined in to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., on Friday, August 13 as part of the 1960 United States Olympic Basketball team that won gold at the Rome Olympics. Smith is picture with Northeast Mississippi Community College athletic director Ricky Ford (right) receiving his plaque for being a charter member of the Northeast Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.
The 1966 East All-Star roster consisted of Boston’s John Havlicek, Bill Russell and Sam Jones, Philadelphia’s Wilt Chamberlain, Hal Greer and Chet Walker, New York’s Willis Reed and Cincinnati’s Oscar Robertson, Jerry Lucas and Smith. Also being enshrined on Friday, August 13, includes the 1992 USA ‘Dream Team’ which matched the 1960 team record in the Olympics with an 8-0 showing en route to the gold medal in Barcelona, Spain with an average margin of victory of 43.8 points. The 1992 team consisted of Karl Malone and Scottie Pippen -- who are also being enshrined as individuals on Friday -- Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, Clyde Drexler, Patrick Ewing, Magic Johnson, David Robinson, John Stockton, Chris Mullin, Christian Laettner and Michael Jordan and was coached by Hall of Fame members Mike Kryzewski and Lenny Wilkens. Other individuals being enshrined include Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss, women’s basketball player Cynthia Cooper, NBA players Gus Johnson and Dennis Johnson, high school coach Robert ‘Bob’ Hurley, Sr. and international player Maciel ‘Ubiratan’ Pereira.
Northeast Mississippi Community College
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Northeast
Basketball
NE gave fans plenty to cheer about in 2009-10 Northeast’s athletic teams gave us all reasons to remember why we love and support Tiger athletes every year and the 2009-10 school year was no exception. Head Golf Coach Craig Lauderdale’s team claimed the headlines for the college and leading the way for the Tigers were Blake Hatfield (Booneville), Daniel Singh (Haleyville, Ala.), and Brandon Robbins (Corinth). Both Hatfield and Singh were selected as Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) All-State golf team selectees. Hatfield, Robbins and Singh teamed up to help Lauderdale’s squad finish as state runners-up in the MACJC State Tournament as well as the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XXIII Tournament. Hatfield claimed the state’s overall individual title as the team was ranked as high as number 13 in both the NJCAA’s April 22 and 29 polls and had two players -- Robbins and Hatfield -- qualify for the National Tournament. Hatfield finished sixth in the national tournament earning All-American honors. Northeast’s baseball team continued to make its mark as a premier sport for the Tigers by appearing in the MACJC State Playoffs for the third straight year. Head Coach Kent Farris’ club advanced as the third seed from the North Division and traveled to Hinds Community College to face the Eagles who was the south runnerup. Unfortunately, Northeast was unable to get by Hinds in the first-round, best-of-three series and finished the season with an overall record of 25-27. However, Farris had a quintet of players selected to the 2010 MACJC All-State first and second teams. Sophomores Brandon Farley (Cookeville, Tenn.) and Michael Collie (Houston, Tenn.) made the first team while freshmen Ben Wallis (Ripley), Jordan Gurley (Corinth), and Blake Powell (Germantown, Tenn.) landed second team honors. It was another successful year on the hardwood for the men’s basketball team as head coach David Robbins directed the Tigers to a third place finish in the north division. Robbins’ squad qualified for the MACJC State Tournament for the second year in a row but was knocked out in the first round by Jones County Junior College. The season didn’t end at the state tournament however, as Northeast also qualified for the Region 23 Tournament which was held at Mississippi College in Clinton where the Tigers were matched up against the north division champs East Mississippi Community College -- a team Northeast beat in its final regular season game at Bonner Arnold Coliseum. Northeast was unable to get by the Lions and finished with an overall record of 12-11 and 7-5 in the north. Chris Gamble (New Albany) and Terrance Allen (Ridgeland) represented the Tigers at the 2010 MACJC All-Star game while Tyler Pritchard (Iuka) and Tyrie Berry (Ripley) were MACJC AllDivision selectees -- with Pritchard being first team and Berry receiving second team honors. In its second year at Division I play, the Tiger tennis team continued to show improvement with commander-in-chief Jeff Melson at the helm. Melson continued to pave the way for the tennis program guiding his team to some key victories during the 2010 26
season. Those key wins included back-to-back-to-back wins verses Holmes (March 23), Pearl River (March 29) and East Central on April 1. However, the biggest victory for Melson and company came against perennial power Pearl River Community College on March 29, where the Tigers brought out the brooms against the Wildcats. The women’s tennis team clinched a winning record in the regular season for the first time since 1998 finishing 5-2 overall while the men completed the season at 5-3. On the gridiron, Northeast got one step closer to its goal of returning to their winning ways under its second-year head man Ricky Smither. Smither’s unit may have only garnered a pair of wins during the 2009 season but, one of those victories had more weight than perhaps the whole season, when the Tigers were able to defeat their archrivals Itawamba Community College on September 10 28-21. Northeast picked up win number two at home on September 24 verses Holmes Community College 25-10. One of the key players for Smither in 2009 was sophomore running back Jeremy Cannon (New Albany) who joined rare company by breaking the 1,000yard rushing mark on October 24 verses Northwest Mississippi Community College. Cannon finished the season with 1,002 yards. Smither also had other notable players on his roster which included defensive tackle John Brown (Lakeland, Fla.), who signed with the University of Tennessee Volunteers, along with defensive back/wide receiver LaDarrius Madden (Leighton, Ala.) and offensive lineman Demarkus Underwood (Tuscumbia, Ala.), who both signed with Troy University, and defensive back John Ware (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) who inked with the University of North Alabama. The Tigers had seven players selected to the MACJC All-State football team, three players as MACJC All-Region selectees and four players to play in the 2009 MACJC All-Star Classic. Long time women’s basketball coach Ricky Ford’s Lady Tigers struggled during the 2009-10 season finishing with an overall record of 7-13 and 5-7 in the north division. The highlight of the season came on February 8 when the Lady Tigers snapped a fivegame slide by beating rival Itawamba Community College at Bonner Arnold Coliseum as the Lady Tigers came back from a halftime deficit with a 50-point second half to pull off the upset 84-67. Sophomore Alicia Hudson (Charleston) was selected to the MACJC All-State North Division team and also participated with teammate Rumae Butler (Belmont) in the 2010 MACJC All-Star basketball game. Coach Jody Long’s softball team got off to a slow start this past season but was able to collect some wins in the second half of the season to close out the year on a positive note. The Lady Tigers just missed the post season by falling in to the fifth spot in the final MACJC North Division standings which was the first time that has happened since making the switch to fast-pitch in 2001. During the 2009-10 season, Northeast’s cheerleading squad wrapped up its final year as a co-ed squad when officials announced that beginning in 2010-11 the squad would be comprised of eight female student-athletes.
Northeast Mississippi Community College
Northeast
Basketball
2010-11 Cheerleaders Eight female student-athletes comprise the 2010-11 Northeast cheerleading squad including (back row l-r) Aerial Armstrong of Blue Springs, Kayla Jones and Casey Davis both of Booneville, McKenzie Smith of Vardaman, Olivia Crowe of Booneville, Lindsey Green of Olive Branch, Taylor Scott of Nettleton, (middle row) Spirit the Tiger mascot (Nicholas Thweatt of Jackson, Tenn.) and (front row) Caitlin Nelson of Vardaman.
Northeast cheerleading coach Jennifer Johnson selected eight women to comprise the 2010-11 Northeast cheerleading squad during the spring of 2010. After changing from a co-ed squad at the end of the 2009-10 school year, Northeast’s cheerleading program consists of eight female studentathletes and the Northeast Tiger mascot, “Spirit” which can be of either gender. Comprising the 2010-11 Northeast cheerleading squad are Taylor Scott of Nettleton, Olivia Crowe, Kayla Jones and Casey Davis all of Booneville, Caitlin Nelson and McKenzie Smith both of Vardaman, Lind-
Aeriel Armstrong Blue Springs
Lindsay Green Olive Branch
sey Green of Olive Branch and Aeriel Armstrong of Blue Springs. Nicholas Thweatt of Jackson, Tenn., the lone male holdover from last year’s squad, earned the honor of being Spirit – the Northeast Tiger mascot for the 2010-11 school year. Cheerleaders serve three main goals at Northeast as each promotes school spirit, leads fans in cheering and represents the college in a positive light in and out of uniform. Cheerleaders appear at home and away football games and at basketball games at the Bonner Arnold Coliseum and also are very active in the community participating in local parades and campus functions.
Caitlin Nelson Vardaman
Casey Davis Booneville
McKenzie Smith Vardaman
Olivia Crowe Booneville
Northeast Mississippi Community College
Kayla Jones Booneville
Taylor Scott Nettleton 27
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Basketball
2010-11 Schedule
Date
Opponent
Location
Time
Monday, November 1
Northwest Shoals (Ala.)
Away
Thursday, November 4
Motlow State (Tenn.)
Booneville
5&7 p.m.
Tuesday, November 9
Jackson State (Tenn.)
Booneville
5 p.m. Women Only
West Plains (Mo.)
Booneville
7 p.m. Men Only
Saturday, November 13
East Central
Booneville
1&3 p.m.
Monday, November 15
Jones County
Away
5&7 p.m.
Thursday, November 18
Wallace State (Ala.)
Away
7 p.m. Men Only
Monday, November 29
Meridian
Away
6&8 p.m.
Thursday, December 2
Northwest*
Booneville
5&7 p.m.
Monday, December 6
Holmes*
Away
6&8 p.m.
Tuesday, December 14
Northwest Shoals (Ala.)
Booneville
5&7 p.m.
Thursday, December 16
Motlow State (Tenn.)
Away
6&8 p.m.
Thursday, January 6
Jones County
Booneville
5&7 p.m.
Saturday, January 8
Meridian
Booneville
2&4 p.m.
Monday, January 10
East Miss.*
Booneville
5&7 p.m.
Thursday, January 13
Coahoma*
Away
6&8 p.m.
Monday, January 17
Itawamba*
Away
6&8 p.m.
Thursday, January 20
Miss. Delta*
Booneville
5&7 p.m.
Thursday, January 27
Northwest*
Away
5&7 p.m.
Monday, January 31
Holmes*
Booneville
5&7 p.m.
Thursday, February 3
East Miss.*
Away
Monday, February 7
Coahoma*
Booneville
5&7 p.m.
Thursday, February 10
Itawamba*
Booneville
5&7 p.m.
Monday, February 14
Miss. Delta*
Away
6&8 p.m.
February 21 – 24
State Tournament
February 28 – March 3
Regional Tournament
5:30 & 7:30 p.m.
Miss. College
* Denotes North Division Contest
Northeast Mississippi Community College
5:30 & 7:30 p.m.