14 minute read
S.A.F.E Center
NEARS COMPLETION TO ADVANCE CCC ATHLETICS AND CLARKSDALE COMMUNITY
The phrase “The New Coahoma” is being echoed throughout the CCC campus, as the institution is currently constructing an over million-dollar Student Activity and Family Enhancement Center that will be known as the S.A.F.E Center. The facility promises to enhance student-athlete life, the entire student population, and the Clarksdale community. The constructor of the building is Flagstar Construction of Pontotoc, Mississippi.
CCC President Dr. Valmadge Towner generated the idea for the new facility. A president who is always on the prowl for creating initiatives and avenues to enhance the college, Dr. Towner met with Jerone Shaw, chief of staff at CCC, to begin implementing a building designated to benefit so many different groups.
“It’s a 10,000-square-foot facility, and it’s there to accommodate far more than athletics because the community will have access to it,” said Shaw.
The physical project to construct the center started on November 16, 2020. Phase one was completed around April 16, 2021, and phase two has an expected completion date near late fall 2021.
Phase one of the project consisted of constructing the building’s outer and supportive structures, including implementing the roof, windows, doors, and concrete floor. The entire exterior building is constructed out of steel.
Phase two consists of the building’s overall interior buildouts, including plumbing, bathrooms, lighting, heating & air conditioning, and a second-floor suitable for housing weight equipment.
The center is coming at a crucial time for CCC’s Athletic program, whose coaches are all eager to keep building upon recent successes.
Travis Macon, head football coach, is excited to see this plan come to fruition and all of the benefits that a new weight room and training facility will bring in advancing his program.
“It’s definitely going to aid in our players getting bigger, faster, and more robust. Still, most importantly, it’s going to help us in recruiting because other teams use their facilities to ensure players sign with them by comparing their campuses to others,” said Macon.
The center will include a weight and strength training section, an open running turf to perform activities while having enough space for inclement weather, and physical therapy and training
rooms. The athletic and physical trainer will use the therapy room to aid student-athletes in rehabilitation and condition strengthening if they were injured while playing. Coach Macon expressed that each section of the center is necessary and will assist in athletic teams’ overall development. “The different racks to complete workouts will be key; the game has changed in the past 20 years, and we have to adapt with it. Strength is a big component in getting wins,” said Macon. The center will be a significant addition to the athletics department, but Shaw is hopeful members of the community will also use it to live a healthier lifestyle. “We are calling it a student activity and family enhancement center because the whole campus can use it as well as the community. The main thing is access and availability, whether you are an athlete or not, and that’s important. It’s all about health. We need a
facility to help us maintain our physical and mental health,” said Shaw. Athletic Director Reggy Hankerson envisions the S.A.F.E. Center as just the beginning of It’s a 10,000-square-foot facility, and it’s there “ CCC’s advancement. “Adding this project is a gamechanger not only for athletics but for our institution; it’s a better recruiting tool, and it’s just an overall opportunity to accommodate that allows us to get better in our respective sports,” far more from said Hankerson. athletics because the community will have access to it.“ The specific weight and training items have been decided and will be added when phase two is complete. Once again, the athletic department is hopeful for a spring 2022 completion and opening date. Please visit www.coahomasports.com for up-to-date information regarding the facility’s completion and an opening date.
PICTURED: This photo, from May 2021, shows the phase of the project that adds the finish packages to the building’s exterior completed in Phase I. Flagstar Construction is continuing this project with the wonderful crew at Major Andrews of Major Design Studio.
Photo courtesy of Flagstar Construction LLC.
DESPITE THE CHALLENGES OF THE PANDEMIC, WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM
CREATES HISTORIC SEASON AND LEAVES WINNING LEGACY
Whenever a Coahoman mentions 2021, they will always speak about the Coahoma Lady Tigers. Despite a global pandemic, this hardworking and driven team gave fans something to cheer and smile about for four consecutive months. Head Coach Stephanie Murphy directed this dedicated team, assisted by Isaiah Butler.
The 2021 women’s basketball season was long-awaited by fans due to the cancellation of the 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, teams across the Mississippi Athletic Community College Conference (MACCC) had no idea that Coahoma would have a historic campaign, winning the MACCC North Division, tying with Jones College as the State Champions, and be runners-up in the MACJC Region 23 Tournament.
The illustrious team had a 14-game winning streak and defeated teams they had fallen to in previous years, all in this 2021 season.
Many did not see these successes coming, but coaches Murphy and Butler did. They knew the hard work that the girls had put in months before the 2021 season would pay off. They envisioned what these ladies were capable of, and they knew how to place CCC on a national stage once again. Coach Murphy believes she will always reminisce about the entire season, from beginning to end, because no one could write such a fantastic journey.
“The season was filled with some lows but also with extreme highs. It was just fun all the way around and a great experience to be a part of it. This will always be a special moment in my life and something I will always reflect on,” said Murphy.
Success was the result of several challenges the team faced. The Fall 2020 academic semester began and pushed these studentathletes to work in the classroom and then give 100 percent at practice. Murphy would receive terrifying news in October 2020 that five of her players had COVID-19.
Practice sessions got placed on hold, but more importantly, coach Murphy had to trust and believe that her players would recover and be healthy.
“It was already challenging dealing with the previous season not being played, and then we had our COVID outbreak, and we were home for two weeks. So there were a lot of surprises along the way, but we remained mentally tough and kept moving forward,” said Murphy.
The Lady Tigers would return for the Spring 2021 season, ready to prove that they were prepared to make CCC a reckoning force despite the odds and all the challenges.
The season started on January 25, 2021, and the Tigers competed on their home court in the Pinnacle against Holmes Community College. The Lady Bulldogs were victorious by two points, winning 60-58.
Colleges in the MACCC were not surprised by CCC’s loss and believed the season would end just like previous years, but this was just the first game. Three days later, the ladies won the battle of the Delta, defeating Mississippi Delta Community College 57-49.
The following week, CCC lost by a whopping 20 points, 65-45, to East Mississippi Community College. Some fans believed that CCC’s season would not transition and end well.
Assistant Coach Butler explained that his job was to remain positive and show the team that he fully trusted Coach Murphy’s vision, no matter the outcome and that he believed they would have a successful season.
“It’s real. I believe in what Coach Murphy believes in. The players know Coach B (Butler) and Coach Murphy are always on the same page. When they know, I believe they buy into the system. We are the coaches and their mentors,” said Butler.
The girls locked into the coaches’ program and believed, despite the rough start to the season.
Amazingly, the Lady Tigers upset Itawamba Community College (ICC), defeating them 79-77 and ending a 12-game losing streak against ICC. Once again, other teams declared it as just luck, but the Lady They defeated Holmes, who won on their first meeting; beat Northwest Mississippi Community College, and then beat East Mississippi—yes, the exact East
Mississippi they lost to by 20 points earlier in the season.
Next up was ICC, who was leading the North Division. On March 8, the ladies traveled to Fulton,
Mississippi, to battle on ICC’s home court. Not only were the leaders of the North Division on the line but so were simple respect and bragging rights. CCC upset ICC for a second time, with a 56-46 victory, to become the new leaders of the North.
The victory was coach Murphy and Butler’s favorite victory of the 2021 season.
“Getting the win at ICC was the best because it was the biggest win of the season and also the most significant success of our tenure, being here for three years,” said Murphy.
“Beating ICC on the road was major because that sealed the deal, and then we realized what we needed to be successful for the year and to see it happen was such a blessing,” said Butler.
The Lady Tigers’ performance took Mississippi by storm, and different media outlets wanted to give CCC the exposure it deserved. JucoWeekly.com published an exclusive story introducing coaches
Murphy and Butler and explaining how they were upsetting the best teams in the conference. In addition, the ladies received a news feature that aired on prime-time television via The Delta
News channel.
VALENCIA WATSON
LEXINGTON, MS HOLMES COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL GUARD | 5’ 3”
coahomacc.edu
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These media outlets got more people talking about the great season CCC was having and garnered more support for the team.
Later that week, CCC scored a season-high of 83 points against Northeast and continued its dominance by winning 11 games, becoming the MACCC North Division Champions and co-State Champions.
CCC Athletic Director Reggy Hankerson expressed a complete feeling of pride and joy for the institution gaining both titles.
“It was a great feeling, as it showed all the work Coach Murphy, her staff, and the girls put in over the season, and the College was so happy to see that they were rewarded for their accomplishments,” said Hankerson.
CCC had completed the ultimate upset and gave the entire city of Clarksdale an astonishing achievement to cheer about.
The fantastic group had one more battle, the Region 23 Tournament. Coach Murphy prepared her team to compete against the Southwest Mississippi Bears—with home-court advantage. In front of a supporting and roaring packed Pinnacle arena, the ladies punched their ticket to the semifinal round that would take place at Mississippi College in Clinton.
Family, friends, high school coaches, and teachers all rallied their support and made the trip to Mississippi College. Coach Murphy expressed complete gratitude to everyone who showed their support in Clinton.
“I will forever say thank you to those who watched online and especially those who made the trip to Mississippi College. The fans were really invested, and it was a team effort from the community, administration, and another athletic team,” said Murphy.
The buzzer sounded, and the results read 70-51 in favor of CCC. The Lady Tigers proved that they could perform at a high level no matter the location or tournament or even how many eyes were watching. Next, the ferocious team would face the No. 1 team in the country, Jones College, who was 19-0 for the 2021 season.
Tiger fans cheered on at tip-off, knowing how drastically these girls’ lives could change at the end of 40 minutes and what that would mean for CCC. There were 747 fans at the A.E. Wood Coliseum, making it the largest audience some of the Lady Tigers had ever played in before. Jones fought hard to keep its undefeated record, and at halftime, CCC was down 42-18. This score was the lowest CCC ever had at halftime for the season.
The ladies came out of the locker room to start the second half, not with their heads down but still ready to fight. They pushed through two 10-minute quarters, showing that they were there to finish a great season. They demonstrated that they could get through Jones’ fantastic defense to score while also playing outstanding defense themselves to hinder Jones from the basket. In the end, the score read 80-46.
“It showed the fortitude and the mental mindset Coach Murphy placed in her girls to remain consistent and focused, and they did that and were successful,” said Hankerson.
The victorious season was monumental for the women’s basketball program, as four-year college scouts attended CCC games and stayed glued to the online broadcast with the hope of signing talented players who executed in the Finals.
Coach Murphy expressed how beneficial a winning season was to ensure her girls received the best offers possible.
“Winning opened doors for recruiting, as more teams started coming. It helped that we could sell facts and not a dream,” said Murphy.
CCC’s top scorer, Jurnee McLaurin, will be attending Grambling State University in fall 2021. The Soso, Mississippi, native scored double figures in 29 out of 35 games while at CCC.
McLaurin received player of the week honors in March 2021. She also earned her way onto the All-MACCC and All-Region 23 teams and was awarded North Division Player of the Year.
Grambling Head Coach Freddie Murray recruited McLaurin for her versatility. “She is an extremely versatile guard and can score the basketball in a variety of ways,” stated Murray. “Her ability to get to the rim and shoot the three will allow her to be very successful in our system.”
Coach Murphy was ecstatic for McLaurin, who truly matured from her freshman season to ensure she led the team with her experience. “I feel like a highly proud parent. I am so happy for her,” said Murphy. To know she chose Grambling because the coaches reminded her of myself and Coach Butler is such a blessing—that she perceives us that way shows that we did something right.”
McLaurin will be accompanied by her CCC teammate Mary Wilkins. The Greenville, Mississippi, native’s impressive season earned her a spot on the North All-MACCC first team. Grambling was impressed by her tenure at CCC, averaging 10 points and five rebounds. The Grambling head coach selected Wilkins due to her strength and determined mindset.
“She is a strong and skilled wing that can shoot the three and knows how to score—a proven defender with a winner’s mentality that works hard and competes in everything that she does,” said Murray.
Geonna Marshall, a 6’1” forward, signed with the Tougaloo Bulldogs, while Ayani Cockrell has committed to Dillard University. In addition, Braylin Tate and Itasha Paty have committed to Lane College. Hankerson believes CCC has proven that students graduating high school can trust the process to attend CCC, improve on their skills and academics, and be allowed to excel at a four-year college.
“Their signings have shown you can come to Coahoma and do well in your academics, and we can springboard you to four-year institutions,” said Hankerson.
The Lady Tigers took their success from the court to the classroom by having the highest grade point average of all Coahoma Athletic teams, boasting a cumulative 3.1 GPA.
Coaches Murphy and Butler are excited about the new 20212022 season and are hopeful to continue carrying on the legacy of victory.
“I see us still having the same mindset, having that work ethic and setting the standard high,” said Murphy.
The coaches have already signed new players to replace the hardworking sophomores who graduated and will continue searching for the type of players that will fit CCC’s winning brand.
“We want kids that fit us. So, having high character kids is essential—disciplined kids who want more out of life and who want to graduate and not just play ball,” said Murphy.
