[1/19/05]The Sharkey-Issaquena Academy boys hardly looked like a Top 5 team in MPSA Class A Tuesday night at least in the first half.

Things changed in the second and home-standing Porters Chapel Academy was no match. SIA guard Zach McDaniel scored a game-high 17 points all in the second half to lead the Confederates past the Eagles, 53-35.

SIA (20-7, 7-2 District 4-A) is in prime position for one of the top three seeds in February’s Academy-A state tournament.

Confederates coach Cori Britt said his team must play with intensity in order to combat its other shortcomings.

“We’re not very tall and we don’t shoot that well, so we have to play with a lot of intensity,” Britt said. “We’ve struggled with that on the road, especially against good teams.

“We were really lucky to be tied at the half. We just had to regain our poise and rely on our intensity to get us going.”

PCA (9-11, 4-6) had an 18-13 lead with about a minute left in the first half. SIA scored the last five points of the half, capped by a three-point play from Seth Brown to tie it up at 18-all.

Jordan Clark continued the SIA surge to start the second half with two inside baskets.

Then McDaniel started getting into the act by either driving or spotting up for jumpers.

Jess Hodnett dropped in a pair of 3-pointers to complement five points from McDaniel as SIA went up 35-28 by quarter’s end.

PCA got a trey from Dean Hill to open the fourth to make it 35-31 but that would be the closest it would come in the final seven minutes.

McDaniel drove in a pair of baskets and a follow up by Clark off a 2-on-1 break made it 43-33 with 4:36 to play.

“There are four quarters to a game, but we didn’t play like it,” PCA coach Mike Grzanich said.

(G) Porters Chapel 36, SIA 17

The PCA girls stayed within striking distance of district-leading Tensas by stomping SIA.

The Lady Eagles improve to 9-1 in district play and 16-7 overall.

Tied at 2-2, PCA reeled off eight straight points to go up 10-2. They were never challenged afterward.

Annie Beaugh scored six points in each of the second and third quarters to finish with a game-high 16.

Amy Beaugh chipped in 10, eight of which came in the second half.

SIA (6-18) was led by Tiffany Darnell with four points.