The Paschal Lady Panthers basketball team has made history! For the first time ever, they are district champions. After an early loss to Arlington Heights, the team fought their way back, winning every game for the rest of the season. They secured the district title with a big win against Polytechnic on February 2nd.
This is a huge accomplishment for Paschal. The girls’ basketball team hadn’t made the playoffs in 42 years, one of the longest droughts in Texas history. But after moving from 6A to 5A in 2024, head coach Shannon Brown knew this team had a chance to turn things around.
The season didn’t start off great. The Lady Panthers struggled in non-district play, losing eight of nine games between November and December. But once district games started, everything changed. The team caught fire and finished with an incredible 9-1 record.
“The move to 5A put us in a position to succeed, and the girls capitalized on the opportunity,” Brown said. “It’s a great feeling to know all the hard work and time that we put in paid off. Seeing a group of people come together to achieve the goals they set at the beginning of the season is why I coach. It is fun for everybody including players, coaches, the school, and the community. It brings a lot of joy and boosts our motivation to continue on that same path for years to come.”
The district title-clinching game against Polytechnic wasn’t easy. The Lady Panthers were only up by three points after the first quarter, but they stayed focused and kept building their lead. By the final buzzer, they had officially made school history.
The team has come a long way. The last time Paschal’s girls’ basketball team made the playoffs was in 1983, under Coach Langston. Now, the Lady Panthers didn’t just make the playoffs, they dominated. They have outscored their district opponents by a huge 383 points this season.
When Brown was asked if she knew this moment was possible from the start of her Paschal career she said, “Of course! It was my goal the day I stepped foot on campus.”
With a district title in hand, the Lady Panthers have made history.
