Buchanan resigns from HHS

- The Daily Journal Girls Coach of the Year Dana Buchanan of Houston told her players that she will not be returning as the Lady Hilltoppers’ head coach next season on Wednesday.

“It was a very difficult decision, but I haven’t been as happy with basketball as I feel like I should be. I feel like my hearts not in it right now and that’s not fair to the kids that I would be coaching for me to stay,” said an emotional Dana Buchanan.

Buchanan took over a struggling Lady Hilltopper basketball program five years ago and turned it into a contender as Houston finished 21-11 and before losing to her former high school Southeast Lauderdale in the second round of the Class 3A State Tournament in Jackson this season.

Her time and dedication to the program established a family-like bound with all of the players that had been with her through the good time and the bad.

“I told the girls that I love every one of them. I spent more time with them than I do my own family and that made it real difficult to make a final decision because of the kids.If you are about the kids then you should have never become a coach,” Buchanan said.

Buchanan not only credit’s the hard work and dedication of the players to her successful tenure in Chickasaw County, but also credit’s the support of the community as another cornerstone to their success.

“I love this town and want to thank everyone that has ever had anything to do with our program. I want to encourage everyone to keep supporting the girls because a large part of our success came from the support we had from everyone in the community,” Buchanan said.

Buchanan has no plans to continue coaching next season, but will not rule out a return to coaching in the future.

Lady Wolves gain a four-peat

By Brandon Speck

- EW Coach Bill Brand said earlier in the week tat despite winning three MHSAA championships, losing this weekend’s opportunity for a fourth would leave a bad taste for his seniors.

Pitcher Jessica halterman (24-6) made sure that didn’t happen on Saturday, leading her team to an 8-2 win and a sweep of Smithville in the 2009 Class 1A series at Freedom Park in Ridgeland.

“It’s an honor to win this last one with the people I’ve ben playing with all my life,” Halterman said. “We have a real tight friendship. We’re inseparable.”

The Lady Wolves started off the series with an 8-5 win over the Lady Noles on Friday as Senior Caitlyn Williamson got a two-out RBI single to move the Lady Wolves to 3-1 followed by Jordan Sisk scoring on a Smithville error.

Smithville power pitcher, Kami Roberts took the loss for the Lady Noles.