The Pascagoula Panthers captured history with a thrilling 56–54 victory over the Terry Bulldogs (25-9) in the MHSAA 6A Championship Game at the Mississippi Coliseum on March 5, securing the program’s first state title.

Pascagoula Claims First Gold in Dramatic Finish

It took resilience, depth, and late-game composure for Pascagoula (27-6) to finally break through after semifinal exits the previous two seasons. The championship matchup turned into a back-and-forth battle featuring multiple lead changes, with neither team able to create separation until the final minute.

Despite battling a right ankle injury, Nettles, the Mr. 6A Basketball winner, pushed through limited minutes and delivered one of the game’s biggest plays. With under a minute remaining, Nettles scored a clutch layup to give Pascagoula the lead, setting up the final defensive stand.

Griffin led the Panthers with 15 points and earned Game MVP honors, but his night came with late drama. After fouling out in the closing minutes, he was forced to watch from the sideline as his teammates finished the job.

“I never lost faith, man,” Griffin said. “My guys got me. My brother, Jacob Griffin, took a cut from me. That’s just heart. My guys, they played hard. We just had to take over. In these situations, they count on us.”

Depth Delivers Down the Stretch

Head coach Wright emphasized the importance of the Panthers’ role players, especially with Nettles limited for stretches of the game.

Wright praised Nettles’ toughness and leadership throughout the playoff run.

“He’s been bound to an ankle injury all year,” Wright said. “For him to come in and play the minutes he played was huge. He was big in the win over Jim Hill. He was big again for us tonight.”

When Pascagoula took a 53-52 lead in the final minute, the Panthers locked in defensively and never surrendered it. Free throws and stops down the stretch sealed the historic victory.

Terry guard Keshawn Jones led the Bulldogs with 14 points, keeping Terry within striking distance throughout the night, but Pascagoula’s late execution proved decisive.

Historic Moment for Pascagoula

After years of knocking on the door, the Panthers finally broke through, turning persistence into a championship. Through injuries, foul trouble, and pressure-packed moments, Pascagoula leaned on toughness and teamwork to bring home the first state crown in program history.