[2/13/03]Porters Chapel Academy took nothing for granted in the second round of the MPSA Class A South State tournament in Minden, La., on Wednesday night and handed Huntington Academy a 66-49 loss.

The victory sends the Lady Eagles into the Academy-A South State semifinals and a guaranteed spot in the state playoffs. PCA will square off against the winner of tonight’s Glenbrook-Deer Creek game on Friday at 2:30 p.m.

Brady Willis scored a game-high 24 points and Annie Beaugh had another stellar performance and poured in 15 points, all but three coming in the second half. Beaugh scored a game-high 27 in the tournament opener.

Brittany Willis, despite suffering a cut eye early in the second quarter, came back and pitched in 13 points in the win, and seldom-used senior Jessica Lord poured in nine.

“Jessica was a spark for us early in the game and her offensive and defensive presence in the post opened everything back up on the perimeter,” PCA coach Kevin Griffin said.

After trailing 10-4 at the end of the first quarter, PCA used a tenacious full court press to explode for 26 points in the second quarter and led by seven at the half.

“Our pressure picked up and we found a new gear to start that second quarter,” Griffin said. “Everyone started playing with a sense of urgency.”

PCA went on a 14-5 run to open the second half and never looked back.

“We played about as good offensively as we can play from the standpoint that we weren’t running many sets, but doing things away from the ball like cutting and screening,” Griffin said. “Those things get lost sometimes when we try to be really structured.”

Sarah Ashmore led three Huntington players in double figures with 18 points, while Erin Hedrick scored 15 and Emily Hazlip netted 11.

(B) Briarfield 64, Claiborne 62

Phillip Tomlinson scored a game-high 28 points 15 in the fourth quarter and Jeff Bagbey scored 16 as Briarfield advanced in the Academy-A South State Tournament.

The Rebels, who won the Conference 5-A championship, led by five at halftime and held off a late Claiborne charge to secure the victory.