MCC Basketball Sweeps Past Coahoma

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College basketball squads returned to the court on Monday night with its final non-division doubleheader as Coahoma Community College invaded the Graham Gymnasium. The night started off on the right note as the Lady Eagles snapped it’s six-game losing streak to open the season by defeating Coahoma by a final count of 70-64. The MCC men completed the sweep later on in the evening by defeating the Tigers by a final score of 82-74 and also moved its current winning streak to three. The Lady Eagles improved to 1-6 overall with the win, while the MCC men moved its overall record for the season to 4-2.

MCC will return to action after the Thanksgiving break with its first MACJC South Division games of the season on December 3 against East Central Community College. The road doubleheader for MCC in Decatur will begin with the women’s game at 5:30 and the men will follow at 7:30.

Andriel Moss led the way in scoring on Monday night for the Lady Eagles with 16 points and Maia McCullum followed with 13 points. Andrianna James also had a solid night in the first win of the season for the MCC women with 12 points.

The MCC men had four different players to score in double figures on Monday night and Ken’Darrius Hamilton led the way with 19 points. Devin Paicley-Smith, Denarrius Gray, Demarius Calvert all followed with 11 points apiece in the home win.  

Meridian Community College’s Tennis Teams Finish Fall Ranked in the Top Twenty

From School Reports

In the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association/Oracle College Fall Rankings, Meridian Community College is excited to announce that Jason Pimenta, who hails from Auckland, New Zealand, is ranked number nine in the polls released November 18, 2015.  Jason has had a fantastic fall season going undefeated in Region XXIII and Southern JUCO ITA Regional play.  Jason qualified for the National Small College Championships that were held in Sumter, South Carolina, at Palmetto Tennis Center in October.  Jason played Hironi Koyangi, a sophomore, from Ventura College his first round. 

After losing a set 6-2, he settled down and won the second set 6-2 before succumbing to an injury in the third set tied at 3-3 with Jason serving to go up 4-3. Hironi won the match in the third with a 6-3 score. Hironi came in as the number one seed in the tournament in 2014 and eventually finished in 5^th place.   Jason could never completely recover during the rest of the tournament but refused to default his matches.  He lost to Ryan Brough from TJC 7-5, 6-0 and to Ismael Mzai from Seminole State 6-4, 6-2.

Pimenta brings so much to Meridian; he is an outstanding student, a team leader,and a tremendous athlete with a great attitude.  Sam Butler, a sophomore, comes in ranked 38^th.  Only fifty players are ranked nationally in singles.  In doubles, Pimenta/Butler finish the fall ranked number sixteen. The ITA/Oracle rankings only rank twenty-five doubles teams.   Pimenta/Butler drew an at-large opportunity to participate in doubles at the National Small College Championships in Sumter. Pimenta’s number nine ranking in singles and the number sixteen in doubles are the highest rankings received in the fall by Meridian Community College men’s tennis players.  The men’s team is ranked number eighteen without the help of incoming freshman, Breno Goncalves from Portugual, who will join the team in January. Along with these players, Coach Wanda McPhail will count on sophomores Walt Harrington, Reed Kasper, and Sean Grice and freshman, Noah James, Will Irvin, Alex Vaughn, John Taylor Champion, Nathan Hollis and Joshua Redmond.

Meridian Community College women are ranked fifteenth behind stellar play of four incoming freshmen and a solid group of returnees from 2014-2015.  Only twenty-five teams are ranked on both the men’s and women’s side.   At the Southern JUCO regional, Meridian’s women placed five ladies in the quarterfinals and three in the semifinals.  Paige Gibson is the only nationally- ranked player on the women’s side for the fall season. She is ranked in the top fifty at number forty-three.  Meridian’s ladies have had a great fall season behind the play of sophomores Gibson, Jami Daugherty, Alden Hartley, and Brittany Allen as well as outstanding play from a strong group of freshman ladies:  Taylor Miller, Kyra Holway, Hayden Hill, and Shelby Zachry. 

These ladies will be joined in the spring by soccer player, Jordyn Hull.  Meridian’s tennis teams are now concentrating on academics and taking a chance to do a good deal of community service.  Meridian returns to the courts January 30 with an exhibition match and Parent’s Day.   To see results and or Region rankings visit the ITA website at www.itatennis.com and click on the menu bar at the top Awards and Rankings and click on rankings in the drop down menu.  Meridian placed other players in the Region III rankings.  Region III encompasses seven states. 

MCC Baseball Announces Early Signing Class

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College baseball team held a special ceremony on Tuesday afternoon to announce that eight of its current players have signed scholarships to continue their collegiate careers. The ceremony was held at the Casteel Gallery on the campus of Meridian Community College in front of family and supporters of the Eagle baseball team.

“These young men have put in the work on the field and in the classroom to fulfill their dreams of playing at the next level,” said Coach Dillon Sudduth. “It is proof that if you buy in to our program, on the baseball field and in the classroom, then you will have an opportunity to continue your career personally while also helping us achieve our goal of winning a National Championship. We also have the expectations that other fellow sophomores will have the same opportunity in the spring.”

Four members of the pitching staff put their name on the dotted line Tuesday. Former West Lauderdale pitcher Ryan Lane, Neshoba Central standout Austin Harrison, Colby Shaw of Centreville Academy, and left hander Hunter Mullis out of Columbus High School all made next year’s plans official. Lane inked with Mississippi College, Harrison signed with Louisiana Tech, Shaw is headed the University of New Orleans, and Mullis will join his teammate Lane at Mississippi College.

Four Eagle position players also signed on Tuesday. Infielder Jaylon Keys of Northeast Jones is headed to Southern Miss, outfielder Kyle Bayles of Northwest Rankin will continue is career at South Alabama, infielder Nate Romans of Canton, Ohio is returning to his home state to play for Ohio State, and catcher Dalton Smith of Hernando joins a long line of Eagles at Delta State.

MCC Soccer Receives Postseason Honors

From School Reports

 

The Meridian Community College soccer program enjoyed another successful year of postseason honors as several players took part in the Third Annual MACJC Men’s and Women’s All Star Soccer game which were played on Saturday in Ridgeland, MS on the campus of Holmes Community College. The MCC program had four players that participated in the weekend of activities that served as a showcase for the most outstanding players in the league and allowed  four-year coaches the opportunity to get a closer look at the best players in the MACJC.

The MCC women sent two players to the event, while the MCC men sent two of its best from the 2015 squad. Kaytee Nelson and Chanler Pickering represented the MCC women, while Cristian Lopez and Gage Peterson took to the field for the MCC men. The four players represented MCC as members of the South Division team in both of the matches that were played on Saturday. The North Division women defeated the South by a final of 2-1, while the South Division men took a 5-3 victory over the North.

The appearances for the MCC soccer program didn’t mark the only high marks for the season as several players were also credited with other postseason awards to close out the 2015 season. Freshman Effie Morrison was named a member of the All-Region 23 squad for her impressive play this season for the Lady Eagles. Morrison received the fifth most votes of any player in the conference and led MCC in most offensive categories in 2015. Morrison led MCC in goals during the 2015 season with 18 and also collected four assists.

MCC also had a pair of women named to the MACJC All-State Team and one member of the men’s team also received recognition of being name All-State. Kaytee Nelson and Kylee Burke were named members of the All-State squad for the women, while MCC men’s goalkeeper Joe Smith was named a member of the men’s All-State Team. Nelson, a former Northeast Lauderdale star, closed out her MCC career by becoming one of the top defenders in the conference, while Burke was also named to the All-State Team in large part to her solid work in 2015 on defense. Smith was named to the All-State Team from the MCC men’s team due to his solid play at keeper this season as the freshman collected over 200 saves.

MCC Track Stars Sign with NCAA Schools

From School Reports

Meridian, MS – Thursday afternoon on the campus of MCC, three track and field student-athletes announced their decisions on where they will attend school for the 2016-2017 school year.

The young men that signed Thursday included 2 time NJCAA National Champion, Kendrick Smith, 2 time NJCAA Runner-Up, Chris Lewis and NJCAA National Qualifier, Cravorkian Carson.

Smith, an Alabama native, signed his National Letter of Intent with The University of Alabama.  Smith in his freshman year at MCC won a National Championship in the 200 meters indoors, and then followed it up with a National Championship in the 100 meters outdoors.  Smith also captured All-American status in both indoor and outdoor seasons.  He also broke the school record in the 100 meters and the 200 meters indoors and was the anchor leg on MCC’s school record 4x100 meter relay.

Lewis, a Louisiana native, signed with Louisiana State University (LSU).  In his freshman year at MCC, Lewis posted NJCAA Runner-Up finishes in the 60 meters indoors and the 100 meters outdoors.  Lewis broke the school record in the 60 meters indoors, and was the first leg on the school 4x100 meter relay.

Carson, a Mississippi native, signed with The University of Southern Mississippi.  In Carson’s freshman year, he was a NJCAA indoor and outdoor qualifier in the 60 meters indoors and the 100 meters outdoors.  Carson was also the second leg on the school record 4x100 meter relay team.

The MCC track and field team will open their 2015-2016 season on Jan. 8, at LSU.