Shelby County Today

February 17, 2016 - Panola College School of Energy held its fifth annual welding competition on Thursday, February 11, 2016. The competition recognizes and introduces high school students to the welding program at the College. Twelve independent school districts attended the event, including Beckville, Carthage, Center, Converse, Ebarb, Many, North DeSoto, Shelbyville, Stanley, Timpson, Wylie, and Zwolle. Isaiah Malloy, Timpson ISD, placed first; Jessie Johnson, Many ISD, placed second; Trevor Chaney, Many ISD, placed third; Sarah Masters, Many ISD, placed fourth, and Isaac Shofner, Center ISD, placed fifth. Matheson, Red Ball Oxygen, and Pipeline Supply & Service served as competition sponsors, providing equipment and prizes for the winners. Judges were Jeremy Reese, Jaime Castaneda, and Joseph Russell, from Trinity Industries.

Submitted by Donna Yates

February 16, 2016 - Panola College rodeo team was back in action February 12-13 for the 6th Southern Region Rodeo in Athens TX.

The men’s team started the weekend off right with two freshmen placing in their event, the Bareback Riding. Kole Chandler scored 71 points in long go round action, while teammate Bailey Plaisier,  scored a 69 point long go ride. Both scores where good enough to earn them a spot in the top ten for a very important short round ride. The short round proved to be very exciting and very lucrative for the two young men. Bailey scored a 75 point ride, while Kole scored a 74 point ride, both where good enough rides to earn points for the team in the short go, long go and the average.  Kole won 4th overall earning 70 team points, Bailey won 6th overall earning 50 team points.

Taylor Gooch would rise to the challenge for the Women’s team in the Goat tying event. Taylor’s first round she posted a fast time of 8.4 seconds, the short round time was 8.5 seconds. The total time of 16.9 seconds was good enough for a 3rd place finish and 87.5 team points. 

The Bull riding event was dominated by Panola College this weekend. Sophomores, Fulton Rutland and Braden Richardson, both rode their long go bulls and where two of the top four bull riders to make the short go round. Fulton scored 82 points in round 1 and 78 points in round 2. The scores posted were good enough to win both go rounds, and the average, earning the team 180 points. Braden scored 73 points in the long go round and a 4th place finish, claiming 60 points for individual standings. The big weekend for the Oklahoma cowboy, Fulton Rutland, rocketed him to first place in the Southern Region standings. The top 2 in the Regional standings will move on to the CNFR in July. 

The Rodeo Team will be back in action again February 26-27 in Robstown, TX., where Texas A&M of Kingsville will host the 7th Southern Region rodeo.

Submitted by Jeffrey Collins

February 15, 2016 - The Fillies Basketball team will host their annual  Pink Out Game on February 17 against Kilgore College at 5:30 PM at the Arthur Johnson Gymnasium in Carthage, TX. The Fillies will have an auction for the Pink Game Jerseys and all proceeds raised will go towards The Cure Starts Now Foundation that Lauren Hill founded to help find a cure for DIPG.

On October 1, 2013, Lauren Hill, a senior basketball player at Lawrenceburg (Ind.) High School, committed to play college ball at Mount St. Joseph University. Less than two months later, after going to the hospital thinking she had a concussion, tests revealed she had Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, a form of brain cancer.

As a freshman at Mount St. Joseph University and the tumor progressing faster than expected, the NCAA allowed the schools to move the game up two weeks in the hope Hill would be healthy enough to play. In September 2014, doctors told her she has only a few months to live. Hill scored 4 points in that game. Lauren Hill passed away on April 10, 2015 at the age of 19 but her legacy and fight to raise money for DIPG still continues.

Hill’s goal was to reach $2,200,000.00, which the foundation has passed raising $2,204,248.00 to date.  Please help us make Lauren's legacy a lasting legacy. We appreciate any assistance you provide the team. Please join us in the fight against Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma.

Donations will be accepted during the men's and women's basketball games.

http://www.thecurestartsnow.org/

Thanks for your generous support. It is greatly appreciated!

February 15, 2016 - At the age of two Charles Tucker tipped off his career in basketball in Lansing, Michigan. Now at the age of 20, Charles Tucker is living his dream of being a college basketball player at Panola College in Carthage.

Tucker, also known as “Cha Cha,” is a humble and selfless person, mellow and goofy off the court. But when the basketball game starts, his demeanor transforms into this person that is focused and intense, making him a huge weapon for the Panola Ponies.

 “Basketball means a lot to me because I feel it’s a way God has allowed me to spread his word and influence and has made it an enjoyable experience. On the court I feel like I’m in my own little world for as long as the game is going on. It’s like nothing off the court can hurt, harm, or affect me. I’m like a totally different person,” said Tucker.

 At a very young age, Tucker had many basketball role models. Tucker’s dad, Dr. Charles Tucker, is a world class sports agent who owns his own sports agency company called Sports and Psychological Consultants, based in Michigan. Dr. Tucker has represented many famous athletes, including Andre Risen, who had a very successful career in the NFL playing wide receiver. Risen appeared in 186 games and was primarily known for his time with the Atlanta Falcons.

Dr. Tucker also represented Franco Harris, who played running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers for 12 seasons; Isaiah Thomas, who played for the Detroit Pistons for 13 years; and Magic Johnson, an NBA legend who played for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Charles Tucker’s godfather, Steve Smith, who was also represented by Dr. Charles Tucker, played for various NBA teams over a 16-year playing career. Dr. Charles Tucker currently represents his son’s best friend Jabari Parker, who plays for the Milwaukee Bucks. Jabari Parker and Charles Tucker were roommates at the USA Junior National Team tournament and have maintained a close relationship ever since then.

During Charles Tucker’s high school days, he played at two different high schools: his freshman, sophomore, and junior years, he played at Lansing Eastern in Michigan, and his senior year he attended Montrose Christian in Maryland. Out of high school Charles chose to play basketball at Tennessee State University, but didn’t feel it was a good fit. While searching for his next college, Charles was contacted by Panola College Head Coach Grant McMillan.

“Coach McMillan’s interest never swayed,” Charles said, adding that Coach McMillan had a major impact on his decision to attend Panola College. “Cha Cha has helped change this program,” said Coach McMillan. “He has been everything that we thought he would be when we recruited him. He is playing at a very high level, and deserves all the attention he is getting. He took a leap of faith with me and going the JUCO route, like we tell all of our guys: success never rewards the wrong person, he is prime example of that.”

While at Montrose Christian High School, he led his team to a 19-5 record. During high school, he was selected to the USA Men’s Development National Team comprised of the nation’s top under-16 talents. As a freshman, Charles made 18 starts, averaged 5.1 points, 2.2 assists, and 1.3 rebounds in 21.5 minutes a game. He was the team leader in assists. He scored a career high 16 points against Southern Illinois. He was named OVC Freshman of the Week on February 2, 2015, after helping TSU to its first two conference wins the previous week.

So what’s next for Charles Tucker? He says his plan is to attend a four-year school and pursue a degree in finance with an ultimate career path toward working as a financial adviser or manager. He plans to continue his basketball career for as long as possible, with a goal of playing in the NCAA tournament, and ultimately in the NBA. The most humbling thing about Charles Tucker is that even in this day and age where college athletes sometimes think they deserve prima-donna treatment, Charles Tucker’s ultimate dream “is to have a legacy of making an impact on our youth.”