MCC Basketball Sweeps Past Faulkner State

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College basketball squads closed out the fall semester by playing host to Faulkner State Community College on Thursday night at the Graham Gymnasium. MCC came away with a doubleheader sweep on Thursday night as the Lady Eagles secured a 63-56 win, while the MCC men rolled past the Sun Chiefs by a final count of 91-75. The MCC women improved to 7-2 overall and the MCC men improved to 2-6 overall for the 2016-2017 regular season.

MCC will take a long break for the holidays and will return to action on January 5 against East Mississippi Community College at the Graham Gymnasium. The MCC women will take on the Lady Lions at 5:30 that evening, while the MCC men will battle the Lions at 7:30.

The Lady Eagles secured its fifth straight win on Thursday night in impressive fashion by taking a 63-56 win over Faulkner State. MCC led 32-21 at the halftime break and never trailed in the second half to notch the home victory. Freshman Qiayon Bailey led the way in scoring for MCC with 11 points and Jatiah Lathan added seven points off the bench in the victory. Former Meridian High star Kashari Gordon and Rokila Wallace each chipped in with six points apiece for the Lady Eagles.

The MCC men completed the sweep of Faulkner State in the final game of the night by also taking an impressive 91-75 victory. Sophomore Ashton Pierce led the MCC charge on the offensive side with 22 points and sophomore DJ Mitchell also poured in 21 points to help pace the Eagles. Former Southeast Lauderdale product Johnny Knox also had a solid night with 10 points and Mike Woodard added nine points in the winning effort.

MCC Basketball Rolls Past Taylormade Academy

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College men’s basketball team collected its first victory of the 2016-2017 victory on Monday at the Graham Gymnasium as the Eagles rolled right past Taylormade Academy by a final score of 110-67. The victory also marked the first win for first-year head coach James Green at Meridian Community College as the Eagles had four players score in double figures.

Former Hattiesburg High School star Mike Woodard led the way in the scoring department for the Eagles with 29 points and 21 of those points came from three-point range for the sophomore sensation. Former Southeast Lauderdale product Johnny Knox poured in 14 points to help lead the charge, while DJ Mitchell had a solid scoring night for the Eagles and finished with 17 points. Freshman Zachary Scales also had a great night for the home team and tallied 10 points in the first win of the season for the Eagles.

MCC basketball will return to action Thursday night with a home doubleheader against Faulkner State Community College. The MCC women will take to the floor at 5:30 p.m. and the MCC men will play its scheduled game at 7:30 p.m. at the Graham Gymnasium.

MCC Basektball Splits Set With PRCC

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College basketball squads returned to action on Saturday afternoon with its first MACJC South Division games of the season against Pearl River Community College. The Lady Eagles were able to squeeze out a very impressive 73-66 win over the Lady Wildcats, while the MCC men fell at the hands of the PRCC men by a final tally of 70-56.

The Lady Eagles have now won four straight games and moved its overall record to 6-2, while the Eagles fell to 0-6 for the season.

The MCC men will return to action this Monday night with a home contest at the Graham Gymnasium at 5:30 p.m. against Taylormade Academy. The MCC women and men will both play their final games of the fall semester next Thursday (December 15) at the Graham Gymnasium against Faulkner State Community College. The women will play at 5:30 p.m. followed by the men's contest at 7:30 p.m.

The Lady Eagles held a 38-32 lead at the halftime break on Saturday against PRCC and was able to hold on for a huge 73-66 conference victory. Freshman Shannon Tate led the way in scoring for MCC with 11 points off the bench, while Andriel Moss also turned in a solid performance off the bench for the home team with 10 points.

Former Meridian High star Kashari Gordon, Rashonae Rice, and Rokila Wallace each finished the game with nine points apiece for the green and white.

The MCC men couldn't overcome a strong second half performance by the Wildcats and fell by a final count of 70-56. MCC only trailed by one point at the halftime break, but PRCC outscored the Eagles 26-11 over the last 11 minutes of the contest. The highlight offensively for the Eagles came in the game came from Mike Woodard as he hit four three-point baskets to collect 12 points in the first half.

MCC Tennis Inks First Signee For The 2017-2018 Season

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College tennis program got a nice jump on its signing class for the 2017-2018 year by signing one of the best young tennis players in the state of Mississippi. Oxford High School tennis standout, Max Mauney, signed a National Letter of Intent recently in a ceremony at Oxford Parks and Recreation Tennis Center.

Pictured with Max are his sister, Ellie; his mother, Jennifer; and his dad, Joey. Also, standing on the right is the award-winning State Championships coach at Oxford High School, Louis Nash. Max is a three-time 5A State Champion, 5A Mixed Doubles State Champion in 2016, two-time 5A Boy's Doubles State Silver Medalist, MAC All State Tennis Team 2015, and a four-time MS representative Southern US Tennis Association Invitational. Max's prowess does not stop on the court. He is an outstanding student academically. He has completed four AP classes going into his senior year. Max served as a Page for Governor Phil Bryant during the 2015 Legislative session. He is a member of Oxford -University United Methodist Church.

MCC Athletes Give Back to Community

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College athletic department gave back in a big way on Tuesday afternoon around the Meridian area by volunteering for the Salvation Army. Student-athletes from the baseball, softball, tennis, soccer, and golf teams volunteered at various locations around Meridian by ringing the world famous bells for the Salvation Army to help raise money for the organization.

MCC Tennis Begins Signing Class With Local Star

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College tennis program announced its first signee to its 2016-2017 signing class on Monday afternoon as local star Julia McCarty signed her national letter of intent to join the Lady Eagles next season. McCarty is a home-school student in the Meridian area and is the daughter of Britt and Amy McCarty. Julia has played for several years; she has taken lessons from Kevin Gillette and is a seasoned tournament player.

McCarty won the State Games tennis tournament in her age group and also qualified for and played in the USTA Southern Regional Tournament along with wins in many other tournaments. McCarty is currently ranked sixth in the state of Mississippi in 18’s and should bring a wealth of experience to the program next season. Off the court, Julia was named Lauderdale County’s Distinguished Young Woman of 2016 and won the overall Talent and Fitness awards, and then went on to compete in Mississippi’s Distinguished Young Woman Program in July of this year. McCarty is heavily involved in many church activities at Highland Baptist Church and has a heart for missions, especially Haiti. McCarty has been on four mission trips to Haiti and has a personal connection with a child there, who she sponsors.