By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

PASCAGOULA — The antepenultimate game of the 16th annual “Panther Classic is an interesting match-up.

In more ways than one.

The Ocean Springs boys face the defending Class 7A state champion Meridian at 5:30 in the annual affair here at Pascagoula High School in the fifth contest of an eight game day.

Not only is the game a rematch from last year’s Class 7A South State quarterfinals game, but the Wildcats have ended the season for the Greyhounds each of the last two years with decisions in the postseason.

In addition, Meridian is led by former Pascagoula head coach Ron Norman, who stands 6-0 against OSHS in the past decade dating back to his time at the helm of the Panthers.

“I’m excited for January. This is what we have been working towards all year, district play and the district tournament” second year OSHS head coach Collin Goley said, Friday afternoon after practice. “.We obviously have a big game with Meridian Saturday. It’s going to be a fun, tough, physical game and we’re looking forward to it.”

Both teams come into the contest at the .500 mark on the year, as the Greyhounds come in at 8-8 and the Wildcats at 7-7.

Ocean Springs is coming off two losses to end the annual “Admiral Hardwood Club Holiday Classic” in Gulfport last weekend.

The Greyhounds won their opening game in the event before falling to eventual tourney champ Starkville in the semifinals and then Madison Central in the third place contest.

Maddox Noblitt and Nolan Wells each scored 11 points apiece for OSHS in the loss to the Jaguars to wrap up the action.

The 56-42 win over Mobile Davidson (Ala.) in the first round of the event marked the first win for OSHS in the Holiday Classic since 2004.

In his first season at the helm of the ‘Hounds, Goley guided the OSHS boys squad to their first playoff win also in 20 years with a 61-47 decision over Pearl last year.

Under Norman last year, the Wildcats won their second state championship since his arrival from Pascagoula just before the start of the 2016-2017 season.

Norman spent three seasons in charge at PHS. Norman, who came to Pascagoula in 2013 after an extremely successful career at Wayne County High School, continued that success at PHS. He guided the Panthers to a 24-5 mark in 2016, his final season there, and was an impressive 68-25 in three seasons at the helm of the Panthers. His squads won three straight Region 7-5A crowns, and made three consecutive trips to the overall Class 5A State Tournament.

Norman also won the 5A state championship in 2011 with the War Eagles.

Since taking over in Meridian before the 2016-17 season started, he has gone 186-50 to date. His best year record-wise with MHS came in 2018, the year following the last Wildcat state title, when they went 32-2.