ROLLING FORK – The spring sports season at Porters Chapel Academy began on a windy, bone-chilling Mississippi Delta night.

The basketball Eagles were stunned by Immanuel, a team from Columbus, in the opening round of the North Central Academy-A Tournament in Rolling Fork, 55-45. Earlier in the day, the Lady Eagles (9-16) fell to No. 1 seed Strider, 45-43.

If PCA had won either game, it would have advanced to Friday’s second round, and ultimately the state tournament.

&#8220We started this season with the goal of a state championship, and we didn’t want to accept anything less than that,” PCA boys coach Jim DeLaughter said. &#8220We feel like we have built some momentum here and we are making strides as a program.

&#8220Hopefully next year, we will be in this same positon and be able to come out on top.”

Porters Chapel lost to CM&I in the championship game of the Academy 4-A tournament and earned a second seed. Poor shooting and a bevy of turnovers, coupled with a strong second-half effort by Immanuel, ruined any chances of a rematch with CM&I.

Matt Cranfield scored 12 points and Hayden Hales had 11, but the Eagles shot 35 percent from the floor and watched as Immanuel converted 16 free throws in the fourth quarter.

&#8220All you can do is put them on the line and hope for the best,” DeLaughter said.

Porters Chapel held a five-point lead at halftime. but watched as it decreased to two at the end of the third quarter.

Two minutes into the fourth, Immanuel took its first lead of the second half, 32-31, and were able to build the lead to 42-35 with two minutes to play.

With a minute to play and Immanuel leading 47-40, PCA’s Wesley Purvis tied up an Immanuel player under the basket. Purvis was whistled for a foul, and DeLaughter then was slapped with a technical foul for slapping his hands together and saying twice, &#8220he got all ball.”

Jared Cooper hit three free throws for a 50-42 lead. Immanuel hit five more free throws down the stretch to secure the victory.

Cooper led Immanuel with 15 points and Jake McGill scored 14.

(G) Hebron Christ. 45, PCA 43.

A season of surprises almost landed Porters Chapel’s Lady Eagles in the state tournament.

Katie Easter hit two free throws with 3.2 seconds to play in the fourth quarter and Bailey Williams missed a desperation heave at the buzzer as top-seeded Hebron Christian survived.

Lauren Johnson scored 12 and Katie Koestler added 10 for the Lady Eagles, who finished the season at 9-16.

PCA qualified for the North Central tournament with a last-second game-winner to beat Veritas in the district tournament.