HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 5002 Offered March 27, 2006 Commending the Booker T. Washington High School boys' basketball team. ---------- Patron-- Howell, A.T. ----------

WHEREAS, Booker T. Washington High School (25-6) of Norfolk won the 2006 Virginia High School League Group AAA state boys' basketball championship at the Siegel Center on March 11, 2006; and

WHEREAS, before a crowd of approximately 7,500 fans, Booker T. Washington High School defeated the Herndon High School Hornets for the Bookers' first state boys' basketball championship since consecutive title wins in 1985 and 1986; and

WHEREAS, Darren Sanderlin, the current coach of the Bookers, was the player who made the winning shot in the Bookers' final game in its 1984-1985 season; and

WHEREAS, in this years' matchup with Herndon, a determined Booker T. Washington team grabbed an early lead and set the pace of the game; the momentum mounted in the Bookers' favor in an exciting game that offered numerous lead changes, exciting offense, and good coaching; and

WHEREAS, key to the Bookers' hard-fought victory was the tenacious defensive play of David Saunders and Antoine Perry in containing Herndon's McDonald's All-American, Scottie Reynolds; and

WHEREAS, the title game was intense throughout, with the Bookers' Randy Clark and Myles Holley scoring four straight rebound baskets in the final minutes of the fourth quarter; and

WHEREAS, Booker T. Washington High School won the championship game, 55-51, in the last 28 seconds by making four straight free throws and successfully thwarting two attempts by Herndon in the last seconds to win the game; and

WHEREAS, Brandon Plummer was high scorer with 17 points; Antoine Perry was second-highest scorer with 12 points; and Myles Holley, Randy Clark, David Saunders, and Brandon Jay either scored or made valuable contributions to a tremendous team effort; and

WHEREAS, Booker T. Washington High School's triumph is a tribute to the leadership of Head Coach Darren Sanderlin and his dedicated staff; the guidance of athletic director Timothy Haynes and the principal Cynthia Watson, the school's first female head administrator; the talent and hard work of the players; and the support of the students, faculty, and fans of Booker T. Washington High School; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend and congratulate the Booker T. Washington High School boys' basketball team on an outstanding 2005-2006 basketball season; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Head Coach Darren Sanderlin on behalf of the Booker T. Washington High School boys’ basketball team as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for their championship performance.