After years of searching for an identity and navigating eligibility restrictions, the Destin High School girls basketball team is on the verge of its first playoff appearance.
- The program has faced significant challenges since its inception, including Florida High School Athletic Association rules that previously kept the Lady Sharks out of postseason play and the task of building a roster from scratch.
This season marks a turning point. With playoff eligibility secured, Destin seems to have found its stride under Head Coach Susie Pierce, who took over in 2024 and became the first coach to last more than one season with the program.
Pierce’s first year was difficult, with the team managing just two victories. This season, the Lady Sharks have already won 11 games — five times last year’s total — and sit at 11-11. In a relatively weaker 2A Region 1 field, that record could be enough to earn a playoff spot.
“It’s huge. We’ve tried really hard to make a turning point in the program,” Pierce said. “We’ve really locked in as a team and decided to turn the program around together. I’m happy for the girls, especially my seniors, who played when only four people would show up to a game. Now, they have the chance to play for a district championship, and we have a solid chance. They’re excited, and it’s great for the school.”
Point guard Neilya Stewart has been central to the turnaround, leading the team with 14.5 points per game.
- “She’s run the program and she’s done everything she could possibly do for these girls,” Pierce said. “She’s the coach on the court and she makes everything happen.”
The Lady Sharks also feature a strong frontcourt with Angel Wilson and Briana Demeter, while senior guard Bailey Gaffney and Kaylee Kasier provide additional scoring. Ava McLean has contributed valuable minutes off the bench.
The roster is young, with only two seniors — Gaffney and Evie Gherdovich — making Destin’s success this season even more notable and pointing toward continued growth.
Pierce credits the team’s progress to a newfound sense of unity.
“We have come miles this year,” she said. “When we started out, we were a bunch of individuals. Now we’ve got team focus, we’ve got chemistry together, and the young kids have bought into the system and the work ethic it takes.”
Pierce also identified areas where the Lady Sharks need to improve: situational awareness, time management and staying composed when games get tight.If Destin can secure a playoff spot, it will mark a milestone for Pierce, her players and the program’s trajectory.
