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Former Meridian High standout Marcus McQuarley and the East Mississippi Community College Lions are ranked No. 7 in the NJCAA preseason rankings. Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star
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EMCC coach Buddy Stephens led the Lions to the MACJC state title last year. Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star
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Lofty Lions
East Mississippi pegged No. 7 in NJCAA preseason rankings
MERIDIAN —
The way Buddy Stephens sees it, his East Mississippi Community College Lions aren’t defending an MACJC state championship.
No matter how the reigning state champions look at it, it appears EMCC will be in the mix for the title again, at least according to the NJCAA preseason rankings released Wednesday. The Lions, who defeated Mississippi Gulf Coast 75-71 in the title game before claiming the Mississippi Bowl, open the season ranked No. 7 in the Top 25.
EMCC finished 11-1 and ranked No. 4 last year.
“We’re very fortunate and very blessed,” Stephens said. “You look at the schools in the Top 10 and for us to be mentioned with them each of the past three years is such a great honor for our program.
“Preseason rankings don’t mean anything, it’s not something they ask you at the coin toss, ‘What’s your ranking?’ But it shows the respect that people have for our program, and we’re very pleased with that.”
Rounding out the Top 10 are Blinn (Texas) College earning the top spot after winning the national title last season, Arizona Western (the team EMCC beat 27-24 in the Mississippi Bowl) at No. 2, Fort Scott (Kan.) at No. 3, Navarro (Texas) College fourth, Gulf Coast at No. 5, Butler (Kan.) sixth, Snow (Utah) College at No. 8, Ellsworth (Iowa ) ninth and Grand Rapids (Mich.) ranked 10th.
Joining EMCC and Gulf Coast, who meet in the season opener in Perkinston on Sept. 2, in the rankings from the MACJC are No. 13 Pearl River, No. 19 Jones County, No. 22 Northwest Mississippi and No. 25 Coahoma.
EMCC returns just 15 lettermen, including only seven starters off last year’s team. That reinforces Stephens’ philosophy that the state title is in the past and that this year’s Lions still have to prove themselves.
In addition the No. 7 spot in the NJCAA rankings, EMCC is picked fourth in the JCGridwire.com’s Dirty 30 and No. 17 in The Sporting News’ preseason rankings.
“People want to say we’re defending the state title,” Stephens said. “We’re not defending anything. That’s in the past and is part of history and is over with. They can’t take our rings and championship away.
“Those guys on the other side don’t care what color your jersey is or what your ranking is. They’re just trying to beat you.
“It’s a new year and a new team and they have to earn it.”
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