Before last season’s Red Carpet Classic game between Porters Chapel and St. Aloysius, there was a sense of anticipation for the first meeting of Vicksburg’s two private schools.

The buzz has declined considerably for Saturday’s rematch.

Red Carpet Classic

Saturday, at Warren Central

Admission: $6

GIRLS

10 a.m. – St. Aloysius vs. PCA

1 p.m. – Vicksburg vs. Northwest Rankin

4 p.m. – Warren Central vs. Brookhaven

BOYS

11:30 a.m. – St. Al vs. PCA

2:30 p.m. – Vicksburg vs. Northwest Rankin

5:30 p.m. – Warren Central vs. Brookhaven

PCA (5-6) had lost two in a row, by a total score of 110-38, heading into tonight’s district game against University Christian. St. Al (3-12) had lost seven in a row, including all five games in January, going into tonight’s game against Sebastopol.

The losing streaks and disappointing seasons have changed an intriguing rivalry game into one where both teams just want any kind of success to get their confidence back.

“It really has to be just another game. We haven’t been playing like we need to be,” St. Al senior forward Luke Burnett said. “This is our chance to start playing to our potential. It’s not going to be near as big, but it’s still a big game.”

The PCA-St. Al boys’ game is one of six in a daylong lineup at Warren Central.

PCA and St. Al’s girls tip things off at 10 a.m., followed by the boys’ game at 11:30 and a doubleheader between Vicksburg and Northwest Rankin at 1 p.m. Warren Central and Brookhaven finish things off with a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m.

Like the Eagles and Flashes, Warren Central’s boys are in desperate need of a strong outing.

The Vikings are just 2-19 this season and have dropped five in a row. They’ve also lost several players to injury, academics and moves since New Year’s, making the final stretch of an already long season even more difficult. Facing a talented team from Brookhaven (16-4) is just the latest challenge.

“We’re running a skeleton crew out there,” WC coach Jesse Johnson said. “The other night we had five 10th-graders out there. Immaturity is playing a big part in our demise.”

Vicksburg and Northwest Rankin will play for the second time this season. The teams met in the first round of the Northwest Rankin tournament in late December, with Northwest winning the girls’ game 65-47 and Vicksburg taking the boys’ game 74-54.

The surging Gators (16-2) figure to have another easy time on Saturday against the struggling Cougars (4-18).

The Missy Gators (13-6), though, hope to avenge the earlier loss as they begin a tough season-ending stretch. Their last six games are against teams with winning records. Northwest Rankin (18-5) is among the best of the bunch.

“We’ve made some changes on defense since then that have made us a little more threatening. Hopefully we can rebound and control the boards better than we did,” Hartzog said. “We’re getting a little more confident, and getting to know each other better. The more you play, the more it helps.”

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Contact Ernest Bowker at ebowker@vicksburgpost.com