[2/1/03]The Porters Chapel Academy Lady Eagles are playing their best basketball when it matters most.

Seven different Lady Eagles scored at least four points Friday night as PCA (28-5) won its regular-season finale, 66-30 against Rebul. PCA held Rebul (12-15) to just 7-for-33 shooting and didn’t allow a point for the first 11 minutes of the second half.

It was the fifth straight win by 16 points or more for PCA, which begins the Conference 5-A tournament Monday at 7 p.m. against Briarfield. The tournament will be played at Tallulah Academy.

“I think they’re getting used to me, and I think I’m getting a good feel for what their abilities are as players going into the tournament,” said PCA coach Kevin Griffin, who took over as coach in early January. “If we play well, I feel like we can get into the Class A state tournament.”

First, PCA must handle Briarfield. It’s something the Lady Eagles have easily done twice this season, winning 64-13 and 65-23. A win Monday would put the Lady Eagles into the South State tournament.

If they win the conference tournament, PCA would be on the opposite side of the bracket from powerhouse Riverdale and may have an easier time advancing to the state tournament. The top four teams at the South State tournament advance to the state tournament.

“If we play like we’re capable of playing, we can go all the way,” said PCA senior Brady Willis.

The Lady Eagles controlled the game against Rebul from start to finish. The Lady Raiders managed only three first-half field goals, but stayed in the game thanks to their free throw shooting.

Although the number of fouls called was about even, most of PCA’s fouls against Rebul were shooting fouls and the Lady Raiders were 9-for-11 from the line in the first quarter.

PCA led 14-11 after one quarter, but was more cautious in the second and stopped challenging as many shots. The Lady Eagles held Rebul to 2-for-10 shooting in the second period, took a 32-18 lead at halftime, and then slowly pulled away in the second half.

“We were fouling shooters, and we have to be the second person off the floor on defense,” Griffin said. “We told them at halftime we have to be smarter on defense, yet still play hard.”

Brady Willis led PCA with 22 points and nine rebounds, Brittany Willis had 16 points, and senior Courtney Angel had eight. Jamie Lambert had 17 points and Jessica Jimenez had eight points, 14 rebounds and four steals for Rebul, which was missing three starters to injury and dressed out only seven players.

“We got tired. We just ran out of gas,” Rebul coach Richard Elam said.

That’s something the Lady Eagles hope doesn’t happen during their postseason run.

“I know we’ve lost some district games, and that’s disappointing,” said PCA senior Brittany White, who had six points and four steals against Rebul. “We thought we were going to be the best ever. But every good team is going to have its bad games, and now it’s up to us to finish strong.”