The start of the postseason marks a fresh start for everyone — even teams that haven’t won a game all season.

The winless Porters Chapel Lady Eagles (0-21) get one more chance for a lasting memory when they take on host Rebul Academy in the first round of the District 5-A tournament tonight at 7.

Rebul easily won both regular-season meetings against PCA, 49-19 on Dec. 1 and 49-16 on Jan. 12.

PCA did keep the second game close for nearly a quarter, though, and has played some of its best basketball down the stretch. It lost a close game to district foe Park Place and played crosstown rival St. Aloysius tough for three quarters before running out of gas.

PCA’s Marshedia Graise scored a season-high 23 points in the loss to St. Al.

“Since that St. Al game, they have done nothing but pick it up. If they played three or four teams in our district like they played St. Al, they would have won a few games,” PCA coach E.J. Creel said.

Win or lose, Creel said she’ll be satisfied with another spirited effort tonight.

“We’re outmatched, but that’s OK. We’re going to play as hard as we can and if we get beat, that’s OK,” Creel said. “We play as hard as we can, that’s all you can ask.”

PCA’s boys team went undefeated in the district and was rewarded with a first-round bye in the tournament. Its first game is Friday night at 7:45, against either Park Place or Mt. Salus.

With the bye, the Eagles (18-4) are also guaranteed of a spot in next week’s MAIS Class A South Central State Tournament, which will also be held at Rebul Academy.

That doesn’t mean they’re looking too far ahead, though. There are rewards for winning this tournament, not just advancing.

“This tournament is going to determine what seed we are,” center Talbot Buys said. “We need to go into the next tournament as the number one seed.”