This season has become a battle of attrition for the Porters Chapel Eagles.

First, they had to endure a brutal stretch of seven games in 11 days. Then, they had to withstand the loss of a third of their roster. And now the hard part begins.

PCA starts what it hopes will be a solid postseason run today in the District 5-A tournament when it faces Benton. A state championship probably isn’t in the cards for the undermanned Eagles, but a win today will put them in the MPSA Class A South State tournament and guarantee at least three more games and another week of basketball.

“I would love to play another week,” senior guard Jason Greer said. “If you lose, it’s not the end of the world. But as a senior, it’s your last time and you want to go out with a bang.”

PCA (6-15) has had a tough and unusual time of things since the calendar turned to 2009. It’s lost four of its original 12 players — one quit and three were injured — and heads into the district tournament with only an eight-man rotation.

That has helped the Eagles develop a couple more weapons, though. Guard Matthew Warren has emerged as a 3-point threat and a solid complement to post player Jacob Rachal.

“Even without three starters, we’ve had people step up. Matthew Warren has helped us, Colby (Rushing) has played well at point guard,” PCA coach E.J. Creel said. “You work with the best you have. Some bench players have stepped up and played well. But it’s hard not having that depth.”

PCA also had to play through the busy stretch in mid-January that wore the team down mentally and physically. Finally, there was the odd game last week against CM&I, when the power went out late in the first quarter. CM&I, the tournament’s top seed, was ahead 23-5 at the time and awarded the victory. The winner of the PCA-Benton game today will play CM&I in the second round on Thursday.

A rematch with CM&I isn’t high on the Eagles’ wish list, but it is an achievable goal they said. PCA won its first game against Benton this season, but lost the rematch last week. The second meeting was game No. 7 of its long week and a half.

“It would’ve been better to be a third or sixth seed. But it could definitely be worse,” said Creel, whose team is seeded fifth. “We can beat (Benton) hands down. But if we don’t come to play, we have proven we’ll definitely get beat.”

While the Eagles hope to move on, PCA’s girls team is looking for a strong showing, win or lose. The Lady Eagles have gone just 3-18 this season, but did play first-round opponent Veritas tough in one meeting this season. It was a two-point game at halftime, and Veritas ended up winning by 10.

“The last time we played them here, we gave them a real good game. They pressed us the whole game and we handled it,” Creel said. “Anything can happen.”

Creel added that shaking off a disappointing season and low tournament expectations may be the team’s biggest hurdle.

“They hear that nobody expects them to win, that teams are more talented than them. It’s a mental game for them. They’re playing themselves every time they get on the floor, as much as the other team,” Creel said. “I just try to tell them anything can happen. Remember how we played them last time, break their press and have fun.”

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Contact Ernest Bowker at ebowker@vicksburgpost.com.