Porters Chapel Academy’s Matthew Warren has enjoyed a surge in confidence since last season.

In the Eagles’ season opener Tuesday night against Newton County Academy, Warren accounted for nearly half of his team’s points in a 47-38 win over the visiting Generals. Warren scored a game-high 23 points and also had eight rebounds for coach E.J. Creel’s Eagles.

“Matthew’s confidence has grown a lot. We saw where he could shoot the ball from outside at the end of last year, but this year, we need him to become more assertive to score,” Creel said.

Warren showed that in the season debut. He knocked down five 3-pointers and was 4-for-4 from the free throw line.

“I think being coachable was the big thing,” Warren said of his improvement.

Warren hit two shots in the game’s first three minutes to give PCA an early 6-0 lead. But from there until the fourth quarter, neither team could make much of anything. PCA was just 9-of-38 through three quarters while Newton County (3-3) was 11-of-35 and had 13 turnovers.

The Eagles held a 27-25 lead going into the fourth quarter. There, they picked up both their offense and defense. The Eagles forced 10 turnovers in the final quarter, made 6-of-9 shots from the field, and also made 7-of-10 free throws.

Two makes by Warren handed PCA a 29-25 lead, but Newton came back by hitting three of its next four shots to retake the lead at 32-29. The Generals’ Corey Jones gave his team their final lead at 34-32, but Warren erased it with his last 3-pointer with 4:18 left to make it 35-34, PCA.

With three minutes to play, Jay Wiley came up with his third steal of the quarter and that led to a Zach Rachal layup following a deep lob pass from Colby Rushing. It was one of 10 assists on the night for Rushing.

“I was curious on how we would play because we’re not in that good of shape, but I can’t complain because the guys played well,” Creel said. “I was very happy with their effort.”

Warren said the Eagles picked it up defensively.

“We started to fill gaps and cover up their main guys. Then we saw the lob pass to Zach was wide open,” Warren said.

Rachal made three baskets off the lob and finished with 10 points and six rebounds.

Newton coach Bobby Richardson said the Eagles took advantage of his team’s inconsistencies.

“We’re still struggling with a lot of things,” Richardson said. The Generals ended with 23 turnovers and got to the free throw line just three times and made none.

Wiley had a good overall game with nine points, six rebounds, four steals and three blocks.

Andrew Hanna led Newton with 17 points and Jones had nine.

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Contact Jeff Byrd at jbyrd@vicksburgpost.com