[2/14/02] The Porters Chapel Academy Lady Eagles are happy to be back in the MPSA Academy-A South State tournament back as a conference champion; back resting with a first-round bye; back as a No. 1 seed.

So why do so many people think they’re just happy to be here?

PCA plays its first game in South State tonight at 7 against Central (La.) at Trinity Episcopal School in Natchez. The Lady Eagles can clinch a berth in the Academy-A State tournament with a win.

“Even if we don’t win South State, we can go and have some fun. So this is really a big one, because if you win you go to State and are guaranteed at least two more games,” PCA coach Mitchell Willis said. “Plus it’s a big deal to make it to state. Seventy percent of the schools are sent home by then.”

That’s just the state average. In Warren County, 75 percent of the teams are finished. The boys and girls teams at Vicksburg High and Warren Central lost their division tournament openers Tuesday, as did St. Al’s boys. PCA’s boys didn’t advance to their tournament.

The Lady Eagles enter tonight’s game with a 19-9 record, capped by its fifth straight undefeated season in conference play. But the gap between the Lady Eagles and their conference foes narrowed this season and PCA was beaten handily by some of the state’s top teams.

It’s all created a sort of underdog feeling around the Lady Eagles fans, but the players quickly brushed it aside.

“I think we can be right where we were last year. I think all of our confidence is still here,” PCA senior Kayla Barnette said. “I think we’re just as good as anybody is.”

They’ll get a chance to prove it if they can get by Central. A semifinal matchup with Trinity on the Lady Saints’ home floor is looming on Friday, and another game with Riverdale is possible after that. Riverdale beat PCA handily in two meetings this season and is a favorite to win the state tournament.

“I think a lot of people didn’t expect us to win district. Now that we’ve won district, they may be saying they’re better than we thought.’ I don’t listen to that kind of stuff anymore,” Willis said.

Barnette said the Lady Eagles are ready for the heavyweights that will come their way over the next two weeks.

“We’re through with the little girls now,” Barnette said. “We’re stepping up to play the big girls.”

The first in line for PCA is Central, which beat Pine Hills 54-29 in the first round on Tuesday. Willis said the Lady Pioneers’ height could give the Lady Eagles some problems.

“They can be dangerous inside because they have a big girl. If they’re that big, we’re going to try to do a lot of running,” Willis said, adding that PCA’s 6-foot center Jessica Lord would be a key. “Jessica may be able to match up with this girl … If they put her down there on the block, she’ll do pretty good.”