2011-12_Basketball_MediaGuide by Northeast Mississippi Community College

northeast

Mississippi Community College

2011-12 Basketball Media Guide Cedric Janes Soph. Dyersburg, TN

Anna Brooke Page Soph. Belmont

Northeast

Basketball

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. 7-10......................................Coaches Biographies

Athletic Director.................................................................Ricky Ford

p. 11.............Sports Information Director Biography p. 11..................................................Mascot History

Sports Information Director......................................M. Joseph Miller

p. 12...................................................Retired Jerseys

Athletic Trainer...............................................................Meghan Sink

p. 12..........................................................Fight Song p. 13..............................................Women’s Preview p. 14-15...................................Women’s Biographies p. 16.............................Women’s Team Photo/Roster

Head Football Coach....................................................Ricky Smither Asst. Football Coaches................................Brad Boyette, Jeff Carter, Travis Macon, Trey Ward (SA)

p. 17..................................Men’s Team Photo/Roster

Head Men’s Basketball Coach.....................................David Robbins

p. 18-19........................................Men’s Biographies

Head Women’s Basketball Coach..............................Brian Alexander

p. 20...................................................Men’s Preview p. 21...................................................All-Americans

Asst. Basketball Coach.............................................Maurice Stafford

p. 22-23................Bonner Arnold Coliseum Feature

Head Baseball Coach.........................................................Kent Farris

p. 24..................................2010-11 Lady Tiger Stats p. 25............................................2010-11 Tiger Stats

Assistant Baseball Coach..........................................Richy Harrelson

p. 26-28.....................Northeast Sports Hall of Fame

Head Softball Coach...........................................................Jody Long

p. 29.........................Glance at 2010-11 NE Athletics

Golf Coach..................................................................Mike Anderson

p. 30.............................2011-12 Cheerleading Squad Back cover.....................................2011-12 Schedule

Tennis Coach..................................................................Lynn Smither Cheerleading Coach..................................................Jennifer Johnson

Program Credits

The 2011 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.

Athletic Phone.............................................................(662) 720-7302 Athletic Office Fax......................................................(662) 728-1165 Athletic E-mail......................................................rgford@nemcc.edu National Affiliation......................................................National Junior College Athletic Association/Region 23 State Affiliation..........................................Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges Colors.............................................................................Black & Gold Mascot.........................................................................................Tiger

Northeast Mississippi Community College

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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 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tiger Fan.â&#x20AC;? 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

Basketball Board of Trustees

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 â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Bubbaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Pounds

Tenure of Service: 2009 Prentiss County County Government

Troy Holliday

Vice Chairman Tenure of Service: 1964 Tippah County Businessman

John O. Cunningham

Alvie Blakney

Tenure of Service: 2011 Tishomingo County Retire Businessman

Malcolm Kuykendall Tenure of Service: 2006 Tishomingo County Superintendent of Education

Stacy Suggs

Tenure of Service: 2008 Alcorn County Superintendent of Education

Secretary Tenure of Service: 1995 Prentiss County Businessman

Bill Breedlove

Tenure of Service: 1999 Prentiss County Businessman

Tracie Langston

Tenure of Service: 2004 Prentiss County Businesswoman

Luzene Triplett

Tenure of Service: 2002 Prentiss County Retire Educator

Northeast Mississippi Community College

Wayne Butler

Tenure of Service: 2007 Alcorn County Retire Educator

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

Athletic Director Ricky Ford

Former Northeast women’s basketball coach Ricky Ford left his “built Ford tough” mark on many Lady Tiger teams since coming to Northeast in 1981. After the 2010-11 season, Ford decided to hang it up and went into his victory lap through the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC). On March 7, 2011 Ford announced he was stepping down as women’s basketball coach at Northeast. Ford ended his career at Northeast with an overall record of 588-226. While wins have not been on the coach’s mind, the satisfaction of a job well done kept Ford going at Northeast for 30 seasons. Building success on and off the court was what Ford did since coming to Northeast Mississippi Junior College in 1981. During his 30-year coaching career, Ford only had four sub-.500 seasons and the first of those did not come until his 2002-03 Lady Tigers finished 11-12 but even it finished as the North Division runner-up. Within five years since taking over the Lady Tiger program in 1981, Ford had transformed the Lady Tigers into national title contenders that included a national runner-up finish in 1986 and a national championship in 1987. During Ford’s illustrious career, the Lady Tiger basketball coach led his team to 15 North Division titles, nine MACJC State Champion6

ships with 6 (six) of those state championships being consecutive and three Region XXIII crowns while leading the Lady Tigers to the National Junior College Athletic Association’s (NJCAA) national basketball tournament on three separate occasions. Ford went to the national tournament a final time in 2005-06 as the Lady Tigers captured the North Division, MACJC State and Region XXIII titles and finished the season as the nation’s No. 21-ranked team after appearing in the national event in Salina, Kan. Following his final national tournament appearance, Ford was honored as the Division I, District O, Region XXIII Coach of the Year - an award that is given to the head coach of each of the 16 regional championship teams. One year after his national tournament appearance, Ford continued his success in the MACJC as the veteran mentor led the Lady ti-

gers back to the Region XXIII tournament for a twenty-fifth straight year as the Lady Tigers once again captured the North Division - their fourth straight division title - and successfully defended their 2006 MACJC State Title. Ford was appointed Dean of Student Services at the beginning of the 2011 spring semester following the retirement of Kenneth Pounders, and is currently in his sixth year as athletic director for the college. His responsibilities as athletic director has Ford overseeing the day-to-day operations of an athletic department that features eight varsity sports, an all-female cheerleading squad and also coordinates the annual MACJC All-Star Football Classic game that is held each year in December. Prior to coming to Northeast, Ford built successful basketball programs at Booneville High School coaching the Lady Blue Devils for four years and the Blue Devils for a pair of seasons. Ford’s overall careen record stands at 676253 and carries a winning percentage of 72.7 percent into retirement. An alumnus of Northeast and former Tiger basketball player under Kenneth Lindsey, 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.

Northeast Mississippi Community College

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Women’s Head Coach Brian Alexander

Brian Alexander When Northeast began the search for a new women’s head basketball coach, it turned to the professional ranks and hired Northeast alumnus and Tupelo Rock-N-Roller’s head basketball coach Brian Alexander. Upon the hiring announcement on April 20, 2011, Alexander became the only head coach in the history of the Mississippi Association of Community/Junior Colleges (MACJC) to have previous professional head coaching experience. After being pre-season picked to finish in last place, Alexander led the Rock-N-Roller’s to the World Basketball Association (WBA) championship game in his first season. Alexander’s first season at Northeast will begin his 20th season overall. Throughout his career, Alexander has played a vital role in seven programs that have set school records for victories and won championships. Overall, Alexander has helped his teams win 14 championships, make 19 postseason appearances, and been on staffs that have been named Coach of the Year eight times. The coaching veteran has spent eight of his seasons working as an NCAA Division I assistant coach at the University of Southern Mississippi, Southeastern Louisiana University, and Campbell University. From 2006-2009, Alexander worked as assistant coach/recruiting coordinator for both women and men at Itawamba Community College. Alexander assisted ICC to 5 MACJC North Division Championships (2007M, 2008W, 2008M, 2009W, 2009M), 2 MACJC State Championships (2008W, 2008M), two NJCAA Region XXIII Championships (2007M, 2008M), two appearances in the National Tournament in Hutchison, Kansas (2007M, 2008M), five coach of the year awards, and two final national rankings (2007M #14, 2008M #5). From 2003-2006, Alexander worked at Campbell University as assistant coach/recruiting coordinator for the Fighting Camels. In 2005-2006, Campbell broke school season records for most 3-pointers made and offensive scoring average in which they finished 1st in the Atlantic Sun and 2nd in the nation. Campbell’s impressive turnaround was recognized nationally as Head Coach Robbie Laing was named the Atlantic Sun Conference Coach of the Year by CollegeInsider.com. From 2001-2003, Alexander worked two years at Southeastern Louisiana University as an assistant coach. During Alexander’s time at Southeastern, he worked under Billy Kennedy who is now the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Texas A&M University.

From 1998-2001, Alexander worked three seasons at the University of Southern Mississippi. During the 2001 season, the Eagles posted a 22-9 record and won their first Conference USA National Division and regular season championships en route to a berth in the NIT. While at Southern Miss, Alexander helped develop four All-Conference USA selections, including Vandarel Jones, the 2001 C-USA Defensive Player of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Southern Miss’ success story was recognized nationally as Head Coach James Green was named Conference USA Coach of the Year. From 1996-98, Alexander served as assistant coach at Columbus (Miss.) High School under Head Coach Sammy Smith. The 1997-98 team advanced to the North State Tournament and during Alexander’s two-year stay, the program compiled a 41-13 wonlost record. From 1994-1996, Alexander spent two seasons (1994-96) as a student assistant at Northeast Mississippi Community College working under Head Coach Mike Lewis. During Alexander’s tenure, Northeast won the 1995 North Division Championship and the Region XXIII title. That club also earned a berth in the 1995 National Junior College Tournament and finished 10th in the nation. Alexander earned his A.A. degree from Northeast, his B.S. degree from Mississippi State, and both his M.S. and Ed.S. from the University of Southern Mississippi. He earned his Ph.D. in Community College Leadership from Mississippi State University. Alexander is married to the former Cassie James of Ripley. The couple has three children, Kinsley, Colson, and Noah.

Northeast Mississippi Community College

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Men’s Head Coach David Robbins

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 1999-2000 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 20win 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 8

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 AllStar 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, assist-

ing 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 (1987-1991). 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.

Northeast Mississippi Community College

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Assistant Coach Maurice Stafford

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 stel-lar 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 began 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 LeeMcNelis, 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.

Northeast Mississippi Community College

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Basketball

Athletic Trainer Meghan Sink

Meghan Sink begins her first year as head athletic trainer for the Northeast athletic program. In her day-to-day operation, Sink overseas the daily treatment and rehabilitation needs of student-athletes for Northeast’s eight varsity sports and an all-female cheerleading squad. Sink comes to Northeast from Mississippi State University in Starkville where she was a graduate assistant athletic trainer with the school’s volleyball. During her time with the MSU volleyball team, Sink was solely responsible for the daily treatment and rehabilitation needs of studentathletes and managed home andaway practices and competition. She also helped cover the MSU football team in the summer of 2010, assisting with the setup and coverage of conditioning drills and provided athletic training room coverage during workouts. Sink completed her Master of Science in Kinesiology with a concentration in exercise science from Mississippi State during her time in Starkville in 2011. Before coming to Starkville, Sink, spent six years at the University of North Florida assisting its athletic program. Sink acquired her Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from the University of North

Meghan Sink

Florida in 2009, which is certified by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). During her time at the University of North Florida, Sink provided support to the Providence School in Jacksonville, Fla., the Bolles School, the Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute as well as Jacksonville University’s football program and the University of North Florida’s men and women’s track and field programs. Sink is no stranger to the Mississippi heat after clocking time at Mississippi State Youth Camps during the 2010 and 2011 summer. Sink has also assisted the Ponte Vedra Beach (Fla.) High School football camps and the Bishop Kenny (Fla.) High School football and baseball

camps as well as the Bolles School Youth Football Camps. Sink holds an athletic training board certification as well as is certified by the American Heart Association in Heartsaver First Aid as well as HealthCare Provider cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillation (AED). Sink has been a member of the National Athletic Trainer’s Association, the Southeast Athletic Trainers’ Association and the Athletic Trainers Association of Florida since 2008 and was a member of the University of North Florida Athletic Training Students’ Association during her time in Jacksonville, Fla.

Cheerleading Coach Jennifer Johnson

Jennifer Johnson bounced her way into being the Northeast Mississippi Community College 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 to a second place finish in the Universal Cheerlead10

Jennifer Johnson

ing 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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Basketball

Sports Information Director Joseph Miller

Michael Joseph Miller of Milton, Fla., was hired August 25, 2008 to the Public Information Office as the Assistant Public Information Officer and Sports Information Director at Northeast Mississippi Community College. After graduating from Milton High School in May of 1995, Miller joined the United States Navy in September of that same year and served in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii as a Torpedomans Mate. Miller received an honorable discharge in 1998 along with the National Defense Ribbon from the Gulf War and the Good Conduct Medal for his faithful service to the country. Upon completing his duty to the Navy, Miller decided to return to school and pursue his education and athletic aspirations. He found his way to Northeast Mississippi Community College in the spring of 1999, and soon began his journey to fulfill his academic and athletics aspirations as a Tiger. As a student-athlete for Northeast playing football for the Tigers, Miller was coached by head coach Laurin Collins during the 1999 and 2000 seasons. Despite being plagued by knee injuries (torn ACL’s), he entered both seasons atop the depth chart at free safety. Miller graduated early in the fall of 2000 and was on the Dean’s List with an associate’s degree in physical education from Northeast. After Northeast, Miller went on to play football and pursue his higher educational

Joseph Miller

goals at Troy State University and lettered in Division I-A football in 2002-03. He graduated from Troy on the Dean’s List in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism mentoring in Media Relations and Sports Information. Miller spent one year in the Sports Information Department at Troy as an intern for the Sports Information Director Tom Strothers. He also worked part-time for the Troy State Television Department as a studentreporter, cameraman, anchorman, master control room operator, and writer for three years before graduation. As part of his work with TSU-TV, Miller was chosen to represent Troy at the WAKA 8 television station in Montgomery, Ala., as a sports anchor for a contest of amateur sports anchors. He was selected as the third best anchor out of countless of contestants by the viewing audience in 2003.

Miller worked for the Unity Broadcasting Network in Booneville in 2004 as a master control operator, cameraman, anchor, reporter, writer, and as an advertising sales representative in the public relations department. After his work in journalism, Miller spent four years from 2004 to 2008 working for the United States government at Miltec Missiles and Space A Ducommun Company in Iuka. He worked as a Missiles Mechanical Technician/Inventory Clerk and was also the Media Relations representative for the Iuka facilities reporting to the home office public relations department in Huntsville, Ala. Miller decided to get back to his first love, journalism, and came on board with Northeast Mississippi Community College in August of 2008. His responsibilities at Northeast duties include working with members of the local media as they cover NEMCC sporting events and other campus happenings, constructing and sending press releases to local media outlets regarding NEMCC, and helping the Tigers’ coaching staff recruiting efforts, and keeping statistics, working for the associate vice president of Public Information Tony Finch. Miller and his wife Sabrina have two children, Elias Jude and Lydia Diane,and are members of Calvary Apostolic/Holiness Church in Corinth.

“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.

Arnold

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.”

Northeast Mississippi Community College

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Basketball

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.

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

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)

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. 12

Northeast Mississippi Community College

Boa-Viagem, Portugal

Northeast

Basketball

Lady Tigers looking to write their own classic

First-year Lady Tiger head coach Brian Alexander does not own a pair of ruby red slippers nor does he have a little dog named Toto but the goal for Northeast’s women’s basketball program is the same as what it was in L. Frank Baum’s classic “The Wizard of Oz.” “The goal around here is Kansas,” Alexander said prior to the season. While Dorothy, Toto, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion and the Scarecrow eventually found their ultimate goal through a process of following the Yellow Brick Road, Alexander – who holds a doctorate degree – hopes that through a similar process, the Lady Tigers are able to follow the road that leads to a golden ball at the end of the season. “I’m a process oriented coach and you look at every aspect of the program. You do your very best to make each aspect the very best it can be,” Alexander said. “At the end of the day, you don’t worry about wins and losses, they are either going to happen or they are not. That’s what I am trying to make them understand – each day there is a process that we are going through. If we do the very best we can do for that day, then that’s all you can do.” Just as in the Wizard of Oz, a cast of characters relied upon each other’s strengths to form a cohesive unit and ultimately reach the prize, Alexander believes that the Lady Tigers are able to do that very thing on the basketball court as well. According to Alexander, that very process of building a cohesive bond with the team starts in the offseason. “It’s been a good pre-season. We have worked really hard in the weight room, conditioning, and skill development,” Alexander said. “Right now we are fighting through some injuries. That’s always tough. But from where we started to where we are right now, I really like where we are right now.” One of the keys for Alexander is the return of one of the main characters from last year’s performance – all-state honoree Anna Brooke Page of Belmont. “I think it all starts with Anna Brooke,” Alexander said. “She averaged 17 points and 9 rebounds as a freshman. It all starts with her. She has had a tremendous pre-season.” Returning for her second season with the Tigers is also guard/forward Erin Strowder of Southwind High School in Memphis. Strowder returns to the Lady Tigers after appearing in 22 of 23 games during the 2010-11 season and averaged nine points and four rebounds for an 1112 club that was 6-6 in the North Division. Strowder was also right behind Page in the field goal percentage department connecting on 46.5 percent of her shots from the floor.

A key acquisition for Alexander is sophomore Amber Jackson of Tupelo who clocked time at Itawamba Community College in Fulton before converting to the Lady Tigers over the summer. However, just as in the L. Frank Baum classic, Alexander knows that it will be the new additions to the team that will allow the Lady Tigers to ultimately return to Kansas. A pair of Ripley High School products will see substantial time for the Lady Tigers. “We are really excited about the freshman we have in here today,” Alexander said. “It really starts with Shunquest Howell at the point guard position. Howell and India Howard are going to do great things.” Howell and Howard have already accomplished great things as teammates on former Lady Tiger Katie (Walker) Bates’ Ripley High School team that captured the Mississippi High School Activities Association’s Class 3A State Championship this past year. Another key addition to the Lady Tigers’ march to Kansas is Vonte’ Bright from Ridgway High School in Memphis, Tenn. “Vonte’ Bright has come in and shown that she is really talented,” Alexander said. “We have got to get her in better condition. She’s been out the last two weeks with some injuries. I look for her to do very well.” While each of the characters of “The Wizard of Oz” had to battle their own injuries and shortfalls – the Tin Man needing a heart, the Scarecrow needing a brain and the Cowardly Lion needing courage – the Lady Tigers have been battling their own injuries during the pre-season but Alexander is confident that all of the major characters will enter the 2011-12 season healthy. “The doctors have told us that we will get them back by our season opener on November 1,” Alexander said. “Any coach’s concern with that -- is the missed practice time and three things that come with that – conditioning, skill development and timing. We are very optimistic that we will get them back.” There might not be any flying monkeys standing in the Lady Tigers way to Kansas but one thing does loom in the Lady Tigers future just like the Wicked Witch of the West did for Dorothy and her gang. During the 2011-12 season, the Lady Tigers only have three home games in legendary Bonner Arnold Coliseum during the first half of the season. “You have to look at that on a positive light because it is easy to look at it on a negative light,” Alexander said. “Any time you go on the road it is very difficult and with the number of freshmen that we play…we are going to face a lot of adversity. We will find out what we are made of and I’m excited. We are up to the challenge.”

Alexander hopes the tough road during the first part of the journey will be enough for the Lady Tigers to throw water on the opposition and melt away any fears during the second half of the season when the North Division slate gets moving. “I think it is huge as you get toward the end of the season,” Alexander said. “The problem with playing a young team with a lot of road games early, is if it doesn’t go well you take the chance of losing them mentally. We have to be able to keep them in tune mentally to have them ready for the second half of the season and when the second half the season rolls around with home games, and maybe you finish strong…and get to where we all want to be.” Getting where the Lady Tigers want to be at the end of the season is going to take a road – a road through the Mississippi Association of Community/Junior Colleges (MACJC) and the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XXIII Tournament but Alexander believes that the start of the journey down the road began back in May when he was first hired to replace veteran Lady Tiger mentor Ricky Ford. “I think the first season any time you go somewhere the first thing that you want to do is set the culture – that’s how hard you practice, how the practice is, how you lift weights, how much you lift weights and just the general winning attitude and get that amongst all your players,” Alexander said. “Some players love that, some players hate that but you have to set the tone. That’s what we are really trying to do.” But just as a journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step onto the road, Alexander believes that the Lady Tigers are well on their way to returning to Kansas but the Lady Tigers are going to take it one step at a time. “When you deal with a process-oriented approach it is about this day, about this hour, about this minute,” Alexander said. “When you are that focused and that detailed, you can’t look passed one day, you can’t look back one day… it’s all about one day at a time.” One day at a time means all the small things have to be in order to begin the Lady Tigers trek down the yellow brick road to Kansas. “For me it’s a process situation. As the head coach, we are going to prepare the same way.” Alexander said. “One of my philosophies is that we are going to be in the best condition as any team in the state, be the strongest as any team in the state and be the most efficient and we are going to try to do those things this year.” And for Alexander, well, he is the man behind the curtain directing the entire event. Not wanting praise for himself but wanting to see his team succeed not only on the court but in life as well.

Northeast Mississippi Community College

Northeast

Basketball

No. 11 Tiffany Martin 5-5 Guard Sophomore Olive Branch

No. 12 Breanna Howard 5-7 Guard Sophomore Jackson

No. 14 Nikki McChristian 5-7 Guard/Forward Freshman Abbeville

No. 15 Amber Jackson 5-9 Guard/Forward Sophomore Tupelo

No. 20 Yasmine Pulliam 5-7 Guard Freshman Calhoun City

No. 21 Krystal Jackson 5-9 Guard/Forward Freshman Marietta

No. 22 Kebrina Lucas 5-6 Guard/Forward Freshman New Albany

No. 24 Bree Harris 5-7 Guard Sophomore Marietta

Northeast Mississippi Community College

Northeast

Basketball

No. 25 Anna Brooke Page 6-0 Guard/Forward Sophomore Iuka

No. 30 Shunquest Howell 5-7 Guard Freshman Ripley

No. 32 Shervonteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Bright 6-0 Guard/Forward Freshman Memphis, Tenn.

No. 33 Suzzette Suggs 5-10 Guard/Forward R. Freshman Oakland

No. 35 India Howard 5-8 Guard/Forward Freshman Ripley

No. 40 Erin Strowder 5-10 Guard/Forward Sophomore Memphis, Tenn.

Northeast Mississippi Community College

Northeast

Basketball

2011-12 Lady Tigers No. Player 11 12 14 15 20 21 22 24 25 30 32 33 35 40

Tiffany Martin Breanna Howard Nikki McChristian Amber Jackson Yasmine Pulliam Krystal Jackson Kebrina Lucas Bree Harris Anna Brooke Page Shunquest Howell Shervonte Bright Suzzette Suggs India Howard Erin Strowder

Height 5-5 5-7 5-7 5-9 5-7 5-9 5-6 5-7 6-0 5-4 6-0 5-10 5-8 5-10

Position

Guard Guard Guard/Forward Guard/Forward Guard Guard/Forward Guard/Forward Guard Guard/Forward Guard Guard/Forward Guard/Forward Guard/Forward Guard/Forward

Class

Soph. Soph. Fresh. Soph. Fresh. Fresh. Fresh. Soph. Soph. Fresh. Fresh. R Fresh. Fresh. Soph.

Hometown

Olive Branch Jackson Abbeville Tupleo Calhoun City Marietta New Albany Marietta Iuka Ripley Memphis, Tenn. Oakland Ripley Memphis, Tenn.

Head Coach: Brian Alexander, Ph.D. (Mississippi State, 1998) 1st Year Assistant Coach: Maurice Stafford (North Alabama, 1986) 8th Year Strength & Conditioning Coach: Cody Grisham (Tennessee, 2010) 1st Year Team Chaplain: Dr. Matt Wilburn (Mississippi College, 1999) 1st Year Student Assistants: Tony Pams, 2nd Year; Samantha McAlister, 2nd year; Audreyuna Gipson, 1st Year 16

Northeast Mississippi Community College

Northeast

Basketball

2011-12 Tigers

No. Player 11 12 14 22 23 24 30 33 34 40 42 44 50 52

Acie Vance Deonta Herman Kareem Brown Tyquan Lucious Jermaine Hollimon Tadarious Coburn Demetrius Malone Marcell Lucas Jonathan Harrison Devin Tillman J.R. Jennings Adrian Henry Cedric Janes Tyrie Berry

Height

Guard Guard Guard Guard Guard Forward Guard Forward Forward Forward Guard Forward Forward Forward

Position 6-2 5-11 5-8 5-10 6-4 6-6 6-2 6-3 6-3 6-3 6-2 6-5 6-6 6-6

Class Fresh. Fresh. Fresh. Fresh. Soph. Fresh. Fresh. Fresh. Fresh. Fresh. Fresh. Fresh. Soph. Soph.

Hometown

Ripley Corinth New Albany West Lowndes Memphis, Tenn. New Albany West Lowndes Baldwyn Belmont Bruce Calhoun City Mound Bayou Dyer County, Tenn. Ripley

Head Coach: David Robbins Assistant Coach: Maurice Stafford Managers: Jonathan Taylor, Quentin Carroll Videographer: Nicholas McAlister Statistician: Zack Smith

Northeast Mississippi Community College

Northeast

Basketball

No. 11 Acie Vance Guard 6-2 Freshman Ripley

No. 12 Deonta Herman Guard 5-11 Freshman Corinth

No. 14 Kareem Brown Guard 5-8 Freshman New Albany

No. 22 TyQuan Lucious Guard 5-10 Freshman West Lowndes

No. 23 Jermaine Hollimon Guard 6-4 Sophomore Memphis, Tenn.

No. 24 Tadarious Coburn Forward 6-6 Freshman New Albany

No. 30 Demetrius Malone Guard 6-2 Freshman West Lowndes

No. 33 Marcell Lucas Forward 6-3 Freshman Baldwyn

Northeast Mississippi Community College

Northeast

Basketball

No. 34 Jonathan Harrison Forward 6-3 Freshman Belmont

No. 40 Devin Tillman Forward 6-3 Freshman Bruce

No. 42 J.R. Jennings Guard 6-2 Freshman Calhoun City

No. 44 Adrian Henry Forward 6-5 Freshman Mound Bayou

No. 50 Cedric Janes Forward 6-6 Sophomore Dyer County, Tenn.

No. 52 Tyrie Berry Forward 6-6 Sophomore Ripley

Northeast Mississippi Community College

Northeast

Basketball

Tigers want to return to prominence

Northeast Tiger head coach David Robbins’ team is coming off not only an appearance in the Mississippi Association of Community/Junior Colleges (MACJC) State Tournament but also an appearance in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XXIII Tournament. Robbins wants to return to the status as not only one the elite programs in the state but also in the nation. However, the veteran coach will have to do that with just three sophomores on the squad – two that saw playing time during the 2010-11 season. Jermaine Holliman of Memphis, Tenn., Cedric Janes of Dyersburg, Tenn., and Tyrie Berry of Ripley are the only sophomores on the 2011-12 Tigers. Holliman and Janes saw substantial playing time for the Tigers during their 11-14 year last year while Berry was sidelined with a knee injury after starring for the Tigers during the 2009-10 season. Holliman was the second leading scorer on the Tigers during the 2010-11 season with 16.8 points per game while Janes averaged 8.6 points per game to go along with 7.1 rebounds per outing in his 24 games with the Tigers. During the 2009-10 season, Berry led the Tigers in scoring and rebounds. The Ripley native averaged 13.8 points a game and pulled down 7.3 rebounds a night. Berry had a breakout game in the Tigers first game of the 2010 semester as the Northeast forward posted a 20-20 game against the Jones County Bobcats with 21 points and 20 rebounds in the Tigers 86-75 win. “All three of them made impacts as freshmen for us,” Robbins said. “Jermaine Holliman and Cedric Janes played for us last year and Tyrie Berry, who is coming off an injury, played for us a couple of years ago.” Robbins is excited about having Berry return for the Tigers after suffering a knee injury during the 2010-11 preseason. “We are excited to have him back,” Robbins said. “Tyrie was an All-State player his freshman year. We feel like he has completely recovered from the injury and will be a really big plus for us.” However with just three sophomores on the roster, Robbins will be relying heavily on freshmen to carry most of the load for the Tigers as they look to make a return to prominence amongst the MACJC and NJCAA. Fans will be able to recognize more than a couple of names on the Tiger roster as Robbins picked of five signees off the 2011 Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal All-Area Boys Basketball Top 10 team. Tadarious Coburn of New Albany, Deonta Herman of Corinth, J.R. Jennings of Calhoun City, Devin Tillman of Bruce and Acie Vance of Ripley 20

were all members of the All-Area team and now don the black and gold for the Tigers. “This is the best freshman class that we have had – especially locally,” Robbins said. “Deonta Herman, Acie Vance and Tadarious Coburn are just three but we have several that we feel like are going to make an impact.” Robbins knows with that many freshmen on the roster that adjusting from the style of basketball played in the Mississippi High School Activities Association to the one played in the Mississippi Association of Community/Junior Colleges (MACJC), there will be a learning curve but the veteran Tiger mentor is confident of the team’s progression so far. “We are ahead of schedule right now. It is kind of unusual with as many freshmen that we have,” Robbins said. “I’m pleased with the progress up to this point.” However, Robbins has been around the game long enough to know that there is a major difference from practice/preseason to that of the regular season and the Tigers are going to have to adjust to college basketball on the fly with just three home games during the first half of the 2011-12 season. “As young as we are, we are going to have grow up pretty fast,” Robbins said. “Our schedule, since I have been back, has been very competitive and it is going to be the same this time.” Robbins does realize that with just home dates against Wallace State (November 1), Arkansas Baptist (November 7) and Holmes (December 5), the schedule should benefit the Tigers when it really counts – in North Division competition. “It could help us in the long run,” Robbins said. “We feel like our freshmen are a little more talented than what we have had in the last few years and a little bit more ahead of the curve but they are still freshmen and we are going to have to grow up. If we can handle it first semester, I think it will prepare us for the postseason.” Robbins and crew made the postseason last year facing off against Pearl River in both the first round of the MACJC State Tournament and the first round of the NJCAA Region XXIII Tournament but Robbins believes this year will be different. “In the past few years, once we go there, we didn’t have enough firepower to really get in the mix of things,” Robbins said. “We are hoping this time that changes. You still have to put yourself in a position to qualify for the tournament but if we can do that, stay healthy and things go our way, we feel like we are talented enough to try to win it.” Having the talent to win the entire tournament is one thing but Robbins knows that it will take a full season of work for the Tigers to be in position to capture the crown. “You better be prepared each and every game,”

Robbins said. “If you are not, you can get knocked sideways pretty quickly.” Nonetheless, Robbins understands that there will be a learning curve with a freshmen-laden team and it will be up to Janes, Holliman and Berry to teach the first-year players the ropes before they step onto the court at legendary Bonner Arnold Coliseum on November 1 for their season opener against Wallace State. “We are really leaning hard on our three sophomores that have been here and been through the league and know how we travel, pre-game meals, curfews…all the small things behind the scenes that help prepare the freshmen for the season,” Robbins said. “Up to this point, we have all been on the same page. You can see us all getting just a little bit better each and every day in practice.” Robbins’ secret to success is for the Tigers to take care of business at Bonner Arnold Coliseum then go on the road and show what they learned during the early part of the season. “I think we are going to be able to put a team on the floor this year, that will be able to win at home and things go as planned,” said Robbins, “we are going to be able to go on the road and steal some – we’ve done that a little – but I think we will have the chance to do that more often this time.” Robbing some road wins will also help instill some confidence in the young freshmenteam. The 2010-11 team posted an 11-14 record but went 8-4 in the friendly confines of Bonner Arnold Coliseum and 3-8 on the road including an 0-5 showing in non-conference games. However, if the Tigers are able to win a few of the non-conference games it should build confidence in the young program. Eight of Northeast’s losses on the road were by 13 points or less including a two-overtime affair against North Division foe Holmes, and overtime games against Jones County and Pearl River in the MACJC State Tournament. This year’s schedule sets up much of the same but Robbins hopes for a much different outcome. Northeast’s non-conference schedule this year includes Wallace State (Ala.), East Central, Arkansas Baptist, Jones County, Meridian and an a road date with West Palins Missouri to end the season on Feb. 23. Nevertheless, Robbins is ready to for the Tigers to get onto the hardwood in a game-type situation and show what the talented team can do. “I am excited for a lot of different reasons,” Robbins said. “I just want us to stay the course with simple everyday stuff.” Staying the course may just lead Robbins and company to the ultimate goal of winning a state, region and national championship.

Northeast Mississippi Community College

Northeast

Basketball

All-Americans Throughout the history of Northeast Mississippi Community College, superior athletes 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

Antonio Foster - 2010 Offensive Lineman, Honorable Mention Valdosta, GA

MEN’S BASKETBALL 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

Adrian ‘Odie’ Smith - 1956 Guard, All American Kirksey, KY Vince Del Negro - 1959 Forward, All American Springfield, MA

Clay Johnson -1989 Guard, All American Booneville

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Qyntel Woods - 2002 Forward, All American Memphis, TN

BASEBALL Chase Porch - 2008 Designated Hitter, 3rd Team East Union

GOLF Craig Lauderdale - 1990 All American Booneville Chase Williams - 2007 All American Corinth Blake Hatfield - 2010 All American Booneville

SLOW-PITCH SOFTBALL Stephanie Stubblefield - 2000 Infielder, All American Ecru

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 Academic All American Mooreville Callie Weaver - 2008 Shortstop, NFCA 2nd Team Houston

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-to22

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

Northeast

Basketball

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Record: All Games Conference Non-Conference

Player

Overall (11-12) (6-6) (5-6)

Home (7-5) (3-3) (4-2)

Away (4-7) (3-3) (1-4)

Neutral (0-0) (0-0) (0-0)

TOTAL 3-PT REBOUNDS GP GS MIN AVG FG FGA PCT FG FGA PCT FT FTA PCT OFF DEF TOT R/G PF

10 Amber Johnson 11 Tiffany Martin 12 Chelsey Whitaker 13 Breanna Howard 14 Zoe Hammack 20 Patra Hubbard 21 Carleigh King 22 Erin Strowder 23 Kiana Jones 24 Bree Harris 25 Anna Brooke Page 30 Hillary Miller 31 Suriah Blanch 34 Alex Hill 35 T.K. Westbrook TEAM

23 23 23 18 14 23 5 22 5 19 23 19 18 10 2

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Northeast

Opponents

0.0 80 0.0 57 0.0 59 0.0 13 0.0 8 0.0 68 0.0 3 0.0 73 0.0 0 0.0 25 0.0 144 0.0 21 0.0 10 0.0 36 0.0 0

216 154 130 45 33 166 3 157 1 82 236 53 40 62 0

.370 .370 .454 .289 .242 .410 1.00 .465 .000 .305 .610 .396 .250 .581 .000

108 40 36 13 22 45 1 7 1 59 0 0 0 0 0

.361 64 84 .762 .250 39 66 .591 .389 40 49 .816 .077 9 18 .500 .182 2 2 1.00 .244 26 53 .491 1.00 1 2 .500 .286 48 78 .615 .000 0 0 .000 .322 14 15 .933 .000 108 149 .725 .000 18 34 .529 .000 5 14 .357 .000 18 31 .581 .000 0 0 .000

597 1378

.433 101

332

.304 392 595

.659

260

669

929 40.4 376 366 560

43 244 1687 73.3

693 1569

.442

338

.275 267 440

.607

309

646

955 41.5 476 237 510

30 281 1746 75.9

Opponent

78 60 82 27 16 89 1 97 2 19 150 64 44 81 0 119

Score

3.4 2.6 3.6 1.5 1.1 3.9 0.2 4.4 0.4 1.0 6.5 3.4 2.4 8.1 0.0

30 40 39 22 19 37 2 61 1 18 43 19 19 26 0

43 77 51 14 20 55 0 34 0 10 42 6 6 8 0

49 92 67 22 21 80 0 49 0 17 75 30 28 25 0 5

3 1 2 3 0 1 0 9 0 0 19 0 3 2 0

40 39 24 14 9 31 0 36 0 7 28 3 4 9 0

263 11.4 163 7.1 172 7.5 36 2.0 22 1.6 173 7.5 8 1.6 196 8.9 0 0.0 83 4.4 396 17.2 60 3.2 25 1.4 90 9.0 0 0.0

W L

Record

Attend

L L L

0-1 1-1 2-1 2-2 2-3 2-4 3-4 1-0 3-5 1-1 8-6 5-5 5-6 6-6 7-6 2-1 7-7 2-2 8-7 3-2 8-8 3-3 9-8 4-3 10-8 5-3 10-9 (5-4) 10-10 5-5 10-11 (5-6)

11-12 (6-6)

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Date TEAM STATISTICS

NEMCC

OPP

SCORING Points per game Scoring margin FIELD GOALS-ATT Field goal pct 3 POINT FG-ATT 3-point FG pct 3-pt FG made per game FREE THROWS-ATT Free throw pct REBOUNDS Rebounds per game Rebounding margin ASSISTS Assists per game TURNOVERS Turnovers per game Turnover margin Assist / turnover ratio STEALS Steals per game BLOCKS Blocks per game ATTENDANCE Home games-Avg/Game Neutral site-Avg/Game

1687 73.3 -2.6 597-1378 .433 101-332 .304 4.4 392-595 .659 929 40.4 -1.1 366 15.9 560 24.3 2.2 0.7 244 10.6 43 1.9 0 12-0 -

1746 75.9 693-1569 .442 93-338 .275 4.0 267-440 .607 955 41.5 237 10.3 510 22.2 0.5 281 12.2 30 1.3 0 11-0 0-0

SCORE BY PERIODS Opponents Northeast

1st 2nd OT1 815 912 20 781 889 17

11/01/10 11/04/10 11/09/10 11/13/10 11/15/10 11/29/10 12/02/10 12/06/10 12/14/10 12/16/10 01/06/11 01/08/11 01/13/11 01/17/11 01/20/11 01/22/11 01/27/11 01/31/11 02/05/11 02/07/11 02/12/11 02/14/11 02/21/11

a Northwest-Shoals h Motlow h Jackson State h Easr Central a Jones County a Meridian * h Northwest * a Holmes h Northwest-Shoals a Motlow h Jones County h Meridian * a Coahoma * a Itawamba * h Mississippi Delta * h East Mississippi * a Northwest * h Holmes * a East Mississippi * h Coahoma * h Itawamba * a Mississippi Delta a Co-Lin

88-104 73-51 80-67 82-83 67-103 74-81 80-70 74-82 82-79 61-52 73-95 82-79 59-47 75-77 68-52 52-61 83-77 92-79 70-90 60-93 74-78 72-69 66-78

W W

W W W

OT W W

L L L L L L L

Note:*denotes a conference game.

TOTAL 1747 1687 DakStats by Daktronics Inc. Brookings, SD

P/G

39 10 14 1 4 11 1 2 0 19 0 0 0 0 0

22 56 15 45 14 68 13 14 3 13 23 66 0 1 24 73 0 2 2 17 45 105 23 41 11 33 28 53 0 0 37 82

A TO BLK ST PTS

Northeast Mississippi Community College

Northeast

Basketball

From: zfranks08@tigers.nemcc.edu To: mjmiller@nemcc.edu Subject: Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2011 13:23:03 -0600

Record: All Games Conference Non-Conference

Player

Overall (11-14) (7-5) (4-9)

Home (8-4) (4-2) (4-2)

Away (3-8) (3-3) (0-5)

Neutral (0-2) (0-0) (0-2)

TOTAL 3-PT REBOUNDS GP GS MIN AVG FG FGA PCT FG FGA PCT FT FTA PCT OFF DEF TOT R/G PF

11 Tyler Pritchard 12 Tyler Reed 14 Jonathan Jenkins 22 Nick Tate 23 Jermaine Holliman 24 John David Little 30 Cody Garret 33 Robert Wade 34 Charlie Easley 40 Josey Pettigrew 42 Jamie Cheaires 50 Cedric Janes 54 Daniel Burton TEAM

25 6 3 25 24 23 24 22 21 2 6 24 25

9 0 0 5 4 5 6 3 2 0 0 7 2

50 0 0 50 45 60 40 0 20 0 0 0 20

Northeast

285

Opponents

270

2.0 123 0.0 0 0.0 1 2.0 27 1.9 145 2.6 44 1.7 61 0.0 152 1.0 20 0.0 1 0.0 7 0.0 83 0.8 31

269 1 6 73 337 123 146 315 54 1 20 162 64

.457 .000 .167 .370 .430 .358 .418 .483 .370 1.00 .350 .512 .484

88 0 2 47 186 74 77 55 19 0 6 0 4

.307 111 159 .000 1 2 .000 6 11 .383 21 33 .323 54 86 .297 34 43 .390 34 52 .255 69 112 .211 9 19 .000 2 3 .167 6 9 .000 40 59 .000 16 28

.698 .500 .545 .636 .628 .791 .654 .616 .474 .667 .667 .678 .571

23 0 1 12 27 7 34 46 18 1 5 63 29 29

58 1 2 28 47 37 81 100 36 0 12 108 57 26

81 1 3 40 74 44 115 146 54 1 17 171 86 55

695 1571

.442 176

558

.315 403 616

.654

295

593

888 35.5 527 437 437

74 279 1969 78.8

711 1523

.467 152

477

.319 434 644

.674

336

697 1033 41.3 547 367 507

45 177 2008 80.3

Score

71 3 4 59 70 33 44 71 32 1 5 68 64

117 3 8 82 36 49 65 31 8 0 4 13 21

81 4 7 33 57 49 30 70 7 0 9 56 27 7

0 0 0 1 15 0 3 35 4 0 0 7 9

71 0 4 37 47 17 28 34 5 0 3 20 13

P/G

27 0 0 18 60 22 30 14 4 0 1 0 0

Opponent

3.2 0.2 1.0 1.6 3.1 1.9 4.8 6.6 2.6 0.5 2.8 7.1 3.4

A TO BLK ST PTS

384 15.4 1 0.2 8 2.7 93 3.7 404 16.8 144 6.3 186 7.8 387 17.6 53 2.5 4 2.0 21 3.5 206 8.6 78 3.1

W L

Record

Attend

75-86 L 97-90 W 81-93 L 79-76 W 85-87 OT L 59-77 L 69-76 L 81-78 W 76-80 2OT L 100-101 L 65-74 L 90-80 W 100-77 W 85-75 W 66-63 W 93-92 2OT W 81-91 L 58-71 L 98-89 W 61-74 L 105-76 W 66-77 L 2-0 Wf 83-92 OT L 59-70 L

0-1 1-1 1-2 2-2 2-3 2-4 2-5 3-5 1-0 3-6 1-1 3-7 3-8

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Date TEAM STATISTICS

NEMCC

OPP

1969 78.8 -1.6 695-1571 .442 176-558 .315 7.0 403-616 .654 888 35.5 -5.8 437 17.5 437 17.5 -2.8 1.0 279 11.2 74 3.0 0 12-0 -

2008 80.3 711-1523 .467 152-477 .319 6.1 434-644 .674 1033 41.3 367 14.7 507 20.3 0.7 177 7.1 45 1.8 0 11-0 2-0

SCORE BY PERIODS Opponents Northeast

11/01/10 11/04/10 11/09/10 11/13/10 11/15/10 11/18/10 11/29/10 12/02/10 12/06/10 12/14/10 12/16/10 01/06/11 01/08/11 01/13/11 01/17/11 01/20/11 01/22/11 01/27/11 01/31/11 02/05/11 02/07/11 02/12/11 02/14/11 02/22/11 02/28/11

a Northwest-Shoals h Motlow h Missouri St.-West Plains h East Central a Jones County a Wallace State a Meridian * h Northwest * a Holmes h Northwest-Shoals a Motlow h Jones County h Meridian * a Coahoma * a Itawamba * h Mississippi Delta * h East Mississippi * a Northwest * h Holmes * a East Mississippi * h Coahoma * h Itawamba * a Mississippi Delta n Pearl River n Pearl River

5-8 6-8 2-1 7-8 3-1 8-8 4-1 8-9 4-2 8-10 4-3 9-10 5-3 9-11 (5-4) 10-11 6-4 10-12 (6-5) 10-13 6-6 11-13 (7-5) 11-15

Note:*denotes a conference game. fdenotes a forfeited game.

1st 2nd OT1 OT2 TOTAL 900 1042 45 19 2006 930 989 34 16 1969 DakStats by Daktronics Inc. Brookings, SD

1 of 1

Northeast Mississippi Community College

10/18/11 1:49 PM 25

Northeast

Basketball

NE welcomes five into Sports Hall of Fame Northeast inducted five new members into its Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, October 8. Joining the hallowed halls of the Sports Hall of Fame were (left-right) former Lady Tiger basketball coach and current Northeast Dean of Students and Athletic Director Ricky Ford, former Tiger football player Jim Drewry, former Lady Tiger basketball player Sherry Slayton-Holland and former Tiger football player Johnny Buskirk along with Northeast president Dr. Johnny L. Allen, Ed.D. Former Tiger basketball player Vincent Del Negro was also inducted along with Ford, Drewry, Slayton-Holland and Buskirk but was unable to attend the induction ceremony.

Northeast Mississippi Community College will induct five new members into its Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, October 8 as part of the Homecoming 2011 festivities on the Booneville campus. Northeast alumni Ricky Ford, Jim Drewry, Johnny Buskirk, Vincent Del Negro and Sherry Slayton Holland will all be enshrined into the Northeast Sports Hall of Fame during a luncheon held at the Claude Wright Room inside the Haney Union on Saturday, October 8. Drewry and Buskirk are both former football players for the Tigers while Ford, Del Negro and Slayton starred on the hardwood for the Tigers and Lady Tigers. Ford, who guided the Lady Tiger basketball program for 30 years, also serves as athletic director and dean of student services for the college. A reception will be held in the Black and Gold Room on the first floor of the Haney Union at 11 a.m. before the induction luncheon at noon in the Claude Wright Room. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased by contacting the Northeast business office at 662-720-7251. Deadline to purchase tickets for the luncheon is September 23. Ford, Drewry, Buskirk, Del Negro and Slayton Holland join an illustrious cast of Sports Hall of Fame inductees. During the 2010 induction, 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 all became members of the Sports Hall of Fame. In its second year (2009), Northeast Sports Hall of Fame inducted five members to join the initial 10 inductees with former basketball players Gerald Caveness, Clyde Jones, Evelyn Thompson, and football player Larry Parker along with former Tiger basketball coach Harvey Childers all inducted during the second year. Northeast’s inaugural inductees of ten former coaches, players and supporters of Northeast Mississippi Community College athletics included Harold T. White, W.B. ‘Bill’ Ward, Ken Lindsey, Chuck ‘Doddle’ Floyd, Gene Garret, Adrian Smith, Kenneth ‘Cat’ Robbins, David ‘Nub’ Strickland, Earline ‘Woodsie’ Woods and Bonner Arnold. Jim Drewry (Tiger Football 1950-51) 26

Jim Drewry led Northeast to its first two winning seasons as the Tiger quarterback on the 1950 and 1951 seasons. In 1950, Drewry helped lead a Doug Hamley squad to a 6-2-2 mark and the Mississippi Conference Valley Championship with a 32-14 win over Sunflower Junior College. During his time as the Tiger quarterback, Drewry guided Northeast to a 11-6-3 overall record that included back-to-back wins over Northwest Mississippi Community College (31-0 in 1950 and 34-7 in 1951) and Northeast’s 47 points against UT-College in 1951 still ranks as the sixth highest point total in school history and as the fourth highest winning margin for Northeast in its 52-year football history. Following his time at Northeast, Drewry went on to play at Delta State University but it was his time on the sidelines at Kossuth, Booneville and Tishomingo high schools that Drewry made a name for himself. However, it was his time at Delta State that Drewry got his first taste of being a coach and helped guide the 1954 Statesmen football team to an undefeated record and a national championship as part of E.B. Chadwick’s coaching staff as a student assistant. Drewry began his coaching career at Kossuth in 1958 and spent two seasons as the Aggies head man before moving to Brandon as an assistant coach in 1960. Drewry returned home in 1965 and began his first stint as Booneville’s head coach leading the Blue Devils to three bowl games and a Tombigbee Conference co-championship in 1977 before leaving for his second stint at Kossuth from 1979-86. After retiring to sell insurance in 1987-88, Drewry returned to the sidelines at now defunct Tishomingo High School in 1989 before returning to the Blue Devils in 1990 and guiding Booneville until his retirement in spring 2010. During his second stint with Booneville, Drewry saw most of his success leading the Blue Devils to three state championships and four state runnerup finishes. Drewry carried his work ethic into his final year as Booneville head coach where in his 50th season as a head coach, the former Northeast signal caller directed his team to a 13-1 record (starting out 13-0) and appearance in the Class 3A state semifinals. In the spring 2010, Drewry finally hung up his coaching whistle at the

Northeast Mississippi Community College

Northeast age of 79 and with over 50 years in the football. Drewry, who had retired one time before after the 1987 season, ended his coaching career as Mississippi’s all-time winningest football coach, passing Joe Bradshaw in the fall of 2009 with a 59-6 win over S.V. Marshall in the first round of the Class 3A state football playoffs. Drewry finished his career with a 346-157-5 record in head coaching stops at Booneville, Kossuth and Tishomingo where his teams made the state playoffs 17 times and brought home the Class 2A state championship trophy in 1990, 1999 and 2000. Drewry has been the recipient of many awards and honors and was named the 2009 Power of Influence Award recipient by the American Football Coaches Association. In addition to the 2009 Power of Influence Award, Drewry has also been inducted into the National Federation of State High School Associations Hall of Fame and the Mississippi Association of Coaches Hall of Fame. In 2000, he was inducted into the Delta State University Alumni Coaches Hall of Fame and was named the Tombigbee Coach of the Year in 1967, 1969, 1978 along with being the District 1 Coach of the Year in 1985. Drewry has also been honored as the Division 1-3A Coach of the Year in 1986, the Daily Corinthian Coach of the Year in 1993, 1997 and 1999 along with the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal Coach of the Year in 1999 and the Class 2A Coach of the Year in 1999 and 2000. In 2003, Drewry was named All-American Football Foundation’s Gerald R. Ford All-American High School Coach of the Year, and in 2005, he was the first Mississippi recipient of the NSSA-USA Football Champions Award. Drewry has also had the honor of having a street named after him in the city of Booneville. Currently, Drewry sits on an advisory board for the the American Football Coaches Association and has been figured in a trio of books about football in the state of Mississippi — Gridiron Gold, Gridiron Glory (which featured the Northeast alumni on the cover) and Y’all vs. Us showcasing the rivalry between Booneville and Baldwyn. Johnny Buskirk (Tiger Football 1968-69) Johnny Buskirk’s career at Northeast started off a new era of Tiger football. Buskirk championed the Northeast football team during the first two seasons after coming off an 11-year hiatus from 1957-67 and led Northeast to an 11-7 record during that time. During his freshman year at Northeast, Buskirk was named the most outstanding player averaging nearly 270 yards per game running and passing and was nationally ranked for his offensive talents. Buskirk’s sophomore season saw the Tiger signal caller bring the most success to Northeast’s football program since Horace McCool coached the team to a 10-1 mark in 1956. Buskirk led Northeast to a 7-2 mark his sophomore year and more importantly was the Tiger Award recipient for that year and was named the most outstanding back in Mississippi inside the junior college ranks. Buskirk is one of only a handful of football players to end his Northeast career on a four-game win streak. During the 1969 season, Buskirk capped his sophomore season with wins over Northwest, Copiah-Lincoln, a close 20-18 decision over Itawamba and a season-ending win over Perkinston. Under Coach Bill Ward’s guidance, Buskirk was one of two National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-Americans produced by Northeast in 1969. Joining Buskirk on the All-American team was tight end Donnie Clayton. In 1969, Buskirk led the Northeast to a 7-2 mark and in both his freshman and sophomore years, the former Tiger signal caller led Northeast to high offensive outputs. In 1968, Northeast put up 48 points against Itawamba and then turned the trick again in 1969 with a 48-14 showing against East Central. The 48-point performance ranks fifth in school history for points scored and sits just one touchdown and extra point away from the top mark. Following his time at Northeast, Buskirk took his skills to Mississippi College where he was a quarterback, running back and kick returner. Buskirk’s talents helped him set a record at Mississippi College that holds to today – his six kickoff returns against Furman College in 1970 are still listed in the Mississippi College record book.

Basketball Following his time at Mississippi College, Buskirk entered the coaching ranks and was named the Tippamingo Conference Coach of the Year in 1974. Vincent Del Negro (Tiger Basketball 1958-59, 1959-60) Vincent Del Negro would have made Dominque Wilkins jealous as the “Human Highlight Reel” in the late 1950s. In his first six games as a freshman on Bonner Arnold’s Tiger basketball team, Del Negro broke out for 172 points – a 34.4 points per game average – and never looked back. During his freshman season in 1958-59, Del Negro helped lead the Tiger basketball team to the North Half Tournament and a 9-3 mark during North Division play before becoming an unanimous selection for the AllState Team. In his first six games with the Tigers, Del Negro dropped 32, 32, 32, 34, 39 and 42 points – the latter two coming in a 109-85 win over Memphis State and a 96-95 decision over East Mississippi in Scooba. During the 1959-60 season, Northeast made an improvement on its 12-12 record of Del Negro’s freshman campaign with a 15-12 mark that included wins over Freed-Hardeman and nationally ranked Vincennes (Ind.) 62-61. In the one-point win over Vincennes, Del Negro let fellow Tiger captain Bobby McCarley knock down the last shot – a 23-foot jumper – but the 6-5 center had the final say, when Del Negro pulled down the game-ending rebound to seal the victory. While scoring just 16 points against Freed-Hardeman in their first meeting, Del Negro made up for lost time with a 45-point effort against FreedHardeman in an 83-69 win and turned the trick once again with a 45-point night against East Mississippi in a 100-74 showing. Del Negro’s biggest night came in a 46-point effort against Sunflower. Del Negro was also popular with the student population as evident from him being voted Most Athletic on the Northeast campus during his sophomore year. McCarley and Del Negro were also selected to play in the national allstar game together in Coffeyville, Kansas at the culmination of his sophomore season. During his second season in Booneville, Del Negro led the nation with a 33.4 points per game average while racking up 1,022 points and was named a first-team All-American. Del Negro helped lead Northeast to the North Half championship his sophomore season as the Tigers finished as runner-ups in the state. Del Negro was an all-around athlete. During regular season play, the 6-5 center average 33.024 points per game, in North Half play 34 points per game and in the State Tournament 31.5 points per game. In his two seasons at Northeast, Del Negro average 32.6 points per game as a freshman and 33.4 points per game as a sophomore. Following his time in Booneville, Del Negro played for legendary coach Adolph Rupp at the University of Kentucky after signing a grant-in-aid scholarship with the program following his appearance in the national allstar game. Sherry Slayton Holland (Lady Tiger Basketball 1985-86, 1986-87) Sherry Slayton Holland made an immediate impact on the Northeast basketball scene when she joined Ricky Ford’s Lady Tigers during the 1985-86 and 1986-87 seasons. Alongside Phyllis Stafford for two years and Kunshinge Sorrell Howard her first year, Slayton helped guide the Lady Tigers to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national tournament in both her years in Booneville. During her freshman season, Slayton 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. Slayton bested her freshman year one season later when the Lady Tigers went undefeated -- 34-0 -- en route to the 1987 national championship. During her two years at Northeast, Slayton 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. Northeast swept through the regular season during Slayton’s sophomore year undefeated and knocked off Northwest Mississippi Community College

Northeast Mississippi Community College

Northeast

Basketball

80-78 for the MACJC State Championship and then swept through the Region XXIII tournament before heading to Senatobia for the NJCAA National Women’s 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. It was during the 1986-87 National Tournament that Slayton made a name for herself on the hardwood and was named the Most Valuable Player for the tournament. During her sophomore season, Slayton led the Lady Tigers in steals per game and assists per game with 3.8 and 6.6 per game, respectively. Northeast’s undefeated season also saw Slayton piece together a 14.2 points per game average. In her two years at Northeast, Northeast captured two North Division championships, two state championships, two Region XXIII championships, back-to-back Tyler, Texas Invitational Championships, a national runner-up finish and a national championship. Following her sophomore season, Slayton was named an NJCAA AllAmerican alongside Lady Tiger Phyllis Stafford. Following her time at Northeast, Slayton took her talents to the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) where she was joined by a pair of former Lady Tigers – Phyllis Stafford and Jackie Martin. Ricky Ford (Lady Tiger Basketball 1981-2011, Athletic Director 2006-Present) Former Northeast Mississippi Community College women’s basketball coach Ricky Ford left his “built Ford tough” mark on many Lady Tiger teams since coming to Northeast in 1981. On March 7, 2011 Ford announced he was stepping down as women’s basketball coach at Northeast. Ford ended his career at Northeast with an overall record of 588-226. During his 30-year coaching career, Ford only had four sub-.500 seasons and the first of those did not come until his 2002-03 Lady Tigers finished 11-12 but even it finished as the North Division runner-up. Within five years since taking over the Lady Tiger program in 1981, Ford had transformed the Lady Tigers into national title contenders that included

a national runner-up finish in 1986 and a national championship in 1987. During Ford’s illustrious career, the Lady Tiger basketball coach led his team to 15 North Division titles, nine MACJC State Championships with 6 (six) of those state championships being consecutive and three Region XXIII crowns while leading the Lady Tigers to the National Junior College Athletic Association’s (NJCAA) national basketball tournament on three separate occasions. Ford went to the national tournament a final time in 2005-06 as the Lady Tigers captured the North Division, MACJC State and Region XXIII titles and finished the season as the nation’s No. 21-ranked team after appearing in the national event in Salina, Kan. Following his final national tournament appearance, Ford was honored as the Division I, District O, Region XXIII Coach of the Year - an award that is given to the head coach of each of the 16 regional championship teams. One year after his national tournament appearance, Ford continued his success in the MACJC as the veteran mentor led the Lady tigers back to the Region XXIII tournament for a twenty-fifth straight year as the Lady Tigers once again captured the North Division - their fourth straight division title and successfully defended their 2006 MACJC State Title. While Ford may hung up his coaching whistle, the veteran coach still has plans to carry that same passion he showed on the basketball court into the academic life. Ford was appointed Dean of Student Services at the beginning of the 2011 spring semester following the retirement of Kenneth Pounders, and is currently in his sixth year as athletic director for the college. His responsibilities as athletic director has Ford overseeing the day-today operations of an athletic department that features eight varsity sports, an all-female cheerleading squad and also coordinates the annual MACJC AllStar Football Classic game that is held each year in December. Prior to coming to Northeast, Ford built successful basketball programs at Booneville High School coaching the Lady Blue Devils for four years and the Blue Devils for a pair of seasons. Ford’s overall career record stands at 676-253 and carries a winning percentage of 72.7 percent into retirement. Before putting on the coaching whistle, Ford also played basketball under Northeast Sports Hall of Fame coach/basketball player Kenneth Lindsey.

Sports Hall of Fame Inductees Northeast Sports Hall of Fame 2008

David ‘Nub’ Strickland, Football W.B. “Bill” Ward, Football coach/Athletic 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

2009

Harvey Childers, Men’s Basketball Coach Gerald Caveness, Men’s Basketball Clyde Jones, Men’s Basketball 28

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/Athletic Director

2011

Ricky Ford, Women’s Basketball Coach/Athletic Dir. Jim Drewry, Football Johnny Buskirk, Football Vincent Del Negro, Men’s Basketball Sherry Slayton, Women’s Basketball

MACJC Sports Hall of Fame 2011

Kunshigne Sorrell Howard, Women’s Basketball

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/Athletic Director

Northeast Mississippi Community College

Northeast

Basketball

Athletics brought hope in 2010-11 Throughout the 2010-11 academic year, the Northeast athletic department continued to bring praise to the college. Whether it was on the gridiron, hardwood, diamond, tennis courts or the golf course, Northeast athletics continued to excel inside and outside of the classroom. Ricky Smither’s Tiger football team posted the twelfth winning season in the college’s 51-year football history when Smither’s troops finished with a 5-4 overall record and a 4-2 mark in the Mississippi Association of Community/Junior Colleges (MACJC) North Division in 2010. Northeast’s 4-2 mark in the North Division helped the Tigers finish in a tie for second place in the ultra competitive North Division. Northeast garnered national attention during week six of the season after the Tigers were able to knock off defending MACJC State Champion East Mississippi 49-42 in a shootout in Scooba where Tiger running back Jaquise Cook (Ripley) Ran for 267 yards and four scores against the Lions. Cook was awarded the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Player of the Week honors following his week six performance. In addition to posting the team’s first winning season since 2005, the Tiger football team also captured the attention of the national media when Northeast was included in the NJCAA National Top 20 Football Poll for the week of October 19, 2010 at No. 18 after the Tigers opened up the season 5-2. Not to be outdone, five different Tigers were honored by the MACJC with All-State status with wide receiver Josh Jarboe (Atlanta, Ga.), defensive back Brynden Trawick (Atlanta, Ga.), linebacker Anthony Brown (Cairo, Ga.), defensive back Jeremy Spikner (Olive Branch) and offensive lineman Antonio Foster (Valdosta, Ga.) all being selected to the All-State squad. Foster continued to represent the Tigers on the NJCAA Region XXIII squad and became the first Tiger football player to garner All-American status in 30 years when the Valdosta, Georgia native was selected as an honorable mention All-American. On the hardwood, David Robbins led the Tiger basketball team to appearances in the MACJC State Tournament and the NJCAA Region XXIII Tournament after finishing as the North Division runner-up with a 7-5 mark in the North Division and an 11-14 mark overall. The Tigers found the same opponent awaiting them in both the state and region tournaments – 19th-ranked Pearl River Community College – and the Tigers gave the Wildcats a run in the state tournament before falling in overtime 92-83. Due to his effort on the court, sophomore point guard Tyler Pritchard (Iuka) was honored as a NJCAA Region XXIII selection after his 19-point effort against Pearl River in the Region XXIII Tournament and the Northeast sophomore was selected to play in the MACJC All-Star Basketball Game in Decatur following the season. In women’s basketball, Ricky Ford’s longtime run as Lady Tiger head coach came to an end after 30 years when Ford stepped down following the Lady Tigers appearance in the post-season. Ford helped lead the Lady tigers to a fourth place finish in the North Division (6-6) and faced off with the MACJC 2010-11 state champion and state tournament host Copiah-Lincoln Community College in the first round of the state tournament. After posting a 11-12 overall mark, the Lady Tigers had a pair of individuals selected for the MACJC All-North Division second team as Erin Strowder (Memphis, Tenn.) and Anna Brooke Page (Belmont) garnered individual honors. Sophomore point guard Amber Johnson (Pine Grove) was selected to play in the MACJC All-Star Basketball Game in Decatur following the season. Ford wrapped up his 30-year coaching career at Northeast with a 588226 collegiate record and carries a 72.7 winning percentage overall with

a 676-253 record. On the tennis courts, Jeff Melson continued to transform the Tiger and Lady Tiger tennis teams into state and national contenders. During the 2010 MACJC state tournament, Northeast saw its whirlwind season come to an end as the Tigers placed four matches into the semi-finals of the state tournaments and the Lady Tigers had two matches reach semi-final status with Chelsey Whitaker (Alcorn Central) reaching the finals of the state tournament. Led by sophomores Ward Bynum, Colin Holley, Ben Ferrell, Ben Ford and Matt Murphy, the Tiger team had one of its most successful season in recent history and finished the year ranked in the top 30 by the International Tennis Association (ITA) at the end of the season. On the links, Craig Lauderdale continued to keep the Northeast Tiger golf team in the national spotlight as Austin Holt (New Albany) continued Northeast’s streak of national tournament appearances when the Tiger sophomore qualified for the NJCAA National Golf Championships at Goosepond Colony Golf Course in Scottsboro, Ala., in May. In 2010, a pair of Tiger linksters – Blake Hatfield (Booneville) and Brandon Robbins (Corinth) – qualified for the national event while Hatfield made a solo appearance in Northeast’s first year back in Division II competition in 2009. During the 2007 and 2008 season, Northeast went undefeated through the Mississippi Association of Community/Junior Colleges (MACJC) Division III ranks and captured the Region XXIII crown and appeared in the NJCAA Division III National Golf Championship in Jamestown, NY. Holt rallied back on the final day of the four-day national event to finish in a tie for 57th overall with a four-day 305. On the softball diamond, Jody Long’s Lady Tigers returned to the 2010-11 MACJC State Tournament in Perkinston and gave host Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College a run in the first round of the tournament before seeing their season come to an end. Northeast finished a 25-23 record on the softball diamond and the program sits just one win shy of the 300-win plateau since switching over to fast-pitch competition in 2011. In 11seasons, Northeast is 299-232 and has a 137-56 record in the North Divisionheading into the 2012 campaign. With its 25 wins during the 2010-11 season, Northeast recorded its most wins since the 2008 Lady Tiger softball team pieced together a 3420 mark en route to a North Division championship. On the baseball diamond, Kent Farris’ club finished the year with a 22-20 mark and was 12-12 in the North Division and came away with a season split against rival Itawamba Community College claiming a 4-2 victory in Fulton and 6-1 decision against the Indians in Booneville on April 13. Corey Smith of New Albany and Jacob Long of Vardaman were named to the MACJC All-State first team while Trae Allison of Hernando and Will Wallis of Ripley were named to the All-State second team. Jordan Gurley of Corinth was awarded with a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-Region XXIII golden glove selection at third base. Northeast’s cheerleaders made the successful transition from a co-ed squad in the 2009-10 season to a squad of 10 during the 2010-11 year under the leadership of cheerleading coach Jennifer Johnson.

Northeast Mississippi Community College

Northeast

Basketball

2011-12 Cheerleaders Cheerleaders for the 2011-12 academic year include (front row l-r) Alyssa Moon of Tuscumbia Ala., Chelsea Stacks of Saltillo, Robbin Hamilton of Columbus, Becky Burk of Pontotoc, Kamryn Tucker of Amory along with (back row l-r) Emily Flemming of Booneville, Aerial Armstrong of Blue Springs, McKenzie Smith of Vardaman, Casey Davis of Booneville and Rebecca Collier of Ackerman. Jodie Stenson of Booneville will serve as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Spirit the Tigerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; mascot.

Aeriel Armstrong Sophomore Blue Springs

Becky Burk Freshman Pontotoc

Rebecca Collier Sophomore Ackerman

Casey Davis Sophomore Booneville

Emily Flemming Freshman Booneville

Robbin Hamilton Freshman Columbus

Alyssa Moon Freshman Tuscumbia, Ala.

McKenzie Smith Sophomore Vardaman

Chelsea Stacks Freshman Saltillo

Kamryn Tucker Freshman Amory

Northeast Mississippi Community College

Northeast

Basketball

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Northeast Mississippi Community College

Northeast

Basketball

2011-12 Schedule

Date

Opponent

Location

OCTOBER 24 UNA^# Away 25 Mid-South^@ Away Blue Mountain^@ Away 27 Blue Mountain^# Home NOVEMBER 1 Wallace St. Home 5 East Central Away 7 Ark. Baptist Home 10 Wallace St. Away 14 Jones Co. Away 28 Meridian Away DECEMBER 1 Northwest* Away 5 Holmes* Home 13 Jackson St.# Away JANUARY 7 Meridian Home 9 Jones Co. Home 11 Columbia St. Home 17 East Miss.* Away 19 Coahoma* Home 23 Itawamba* Home 26 Miss. Delta* Away 30 Ark. Baptist Away FEBRUARY 2 Northwest* Home 6 Holmes* Away 9 East Miss.* Home 13 Coahoma* Away 16 Itawamba* Away 20 Miss. Delta* Home 23 West Plains (Mo.)@ Away 27-March 1 MACJC Tourn. MARCH 7-10 NJCAA Region Tourn. *-North Division, ^-Scrimmage,@-Men Only, #-Women Only

Northeast Mississippi Community College

Time

6 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 1 p.m. 5 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 5 p.m. 6 p.m. 5 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 7 p.m. 1 p.m. 3 p.m. 2 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 6 p.m. 5 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 6 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 7 p.m.