Frances Mullins and family gathered at the Vidalia Upper Elementary School Saturday afternoon to cheer on 9-year-old Marsha Pierite at her first basketball game.

“She’s my angel,” said Mullins, who lights up when talking about her daughter.

Mullins said her daughter recently transferred to Vidalia Upper Elementary from a private school in Ferriday, and that basketball has been good for her.

“This is all new for her, but she needed this. I think every kid needs to be socially balanced, and this helps her interact with kids her age. I think it’s been eye-opening and mind-opening for her. She loves it.”

Pierite’s dad, Marshall, is also glad is his daughter is involved in a sport.

“Basketball is one of my favorite sports, so I’m excited she’s playing,” he said.

And when Mullins calls her daughter an “angel,” she means it quite literally.

“I got pregnant with her two weeks after a doctor told me I could never have a baby,” she said.

“She was a blessing from God. She changed my life. She is the best thing that has ever happened to me, and no amount of money in the world could take the place of her.”

At halftime, Pieritie’s team was winning 8-0. There are about 11 games this season, and Mullins plans to attend them all.