‘I’m so stinking proud.’ Pascagoula girls hoops chasing bigger goals as team builds stronger
The Pascagoula Panthers aren’t going away anytime soon.
The girls finished the season with a 20-7 record and swept through its region with a perfect 6-0 mark. It wasn’t the crowning moment of a slow rebuild, but rather another step in the growth of a strong program that has loftier goals than a quarterfinals playoff appearance.
In its second straight trip to the third round of the state tournament, Pascagoula was turned back 69-34 by a Harrison Central team led by Stone transfer Hayleigh Breland.
Though the strong year came to a hard end, head coach Crisla Herchenhahn is proud of the girls that helped build the program back from a sluggish period that began with a two-win season in 2018.
“Obviously this wasn’t the turn out I wanted and I really wanted it to at least be a closer game,” Herchenhahn said. “But I’m so stinking proud of our kids because these are all Pascagoula kids. They started playing together when they were in seventh grade and they stuck together and worked their butt off to put Pascagoula on the map. Pascagoula kids did this.”
The Panthers lose a few starters from their 20-win team but do bring back some experience, including Bethany Graves, one of the better forwards in South Mississippi.
“I think we’re just turning the corner,” Herchenhahn said. “I think Bethany is going to be a phenomenal player and we’ve got some good young guards coming that we’re going to help build around her with. I can’t say enough about the seniors we’re losing, but I am absolutely excited about what’s coming back.”
Pascagoula will reload and be back as one of the most dangerous teams on the Coast once again.
