LEARNED — Porters Chapel Academy advanced all the way to the MAIS Class A semifinals last year without winning a tournament.

That’s something that weighed on junior forward Ted Brisco. The weight is off after Porters Chapel stormed past Newton Academy 56-31 Saturday night to win the District 5-A tournament championship at Rebul Academy.

Brisco was a big reason why. He led the Eagles with 20 points, nine rebounds and five assists.

“I dearly wanted to win a championship, so it feels good to do so,” Brisco said.

Now it’s on to the Class A South Central Tournament, which will also be hosted by Rebul. PCA (20-4) will open against the fourth-place team from District 8-A, Heidelberg Academy, Tuesday at 7:45 p.m. The two teams met last season in the consolation game of the state tournament. Heidelberg won and kept the Eagles from going to the MAIS Overall Tournament.

This year, the Eagles are better. The additions of Alton Burden and P.J. Lassiter have given them a lift.

“We’re better this time,” Brisco said. “Our defense has picked up and we have more shooters like P.J.”

Lassiter came up big against Newton. He made three 3-pointers in the second quarter, then added another in the fourth to torch the Generals’ zone defense. He finished with 16 points.

For PCA coach E.J. Creel, the district title was her first as a coach to go with five she won as a player for the school’s girls team. Creel credited the late addition of road games at Washington School and Simpson Academy as good preparation for the postseason.

PCA played both the week before the division tournaments, and both went on to win their respective divisions in Class AAA and AA.

“It might have been the best thing for us,” Creel said. “Washington School busted our bubble. We came back, adjusted and then played Simpson. We lost a close game, but came back and made some simple adjustments.”

The other three matchups in the South Central Tournament include Russell Christian against Ben’s Ford on Tuesday. Wednesday’s games have Lamar Christian, the District 8-A champ, taking on Park Place while Newton Academy faces Prentiss Christian.

If PCA beats Heidelberg, it will play the Russell-Ben’s Ford winner in the semifinals Friday night at 7:15. The other semifinal is at 6 p.m. Friday, and the boys’ championship game is Saturday at 7:15 p.m.

The first-round games are all elimination contests. The four winners will earn spots in next week’s Class A State Tournament at Delta Academy in Marks.

Also on Tuesday, Tallulah Academy’s girls and boys teams will play in the Class A South Tournament in Haynesville, La.

Tallulah’s girls will face Glenbrook in a first-round game at 6:30 p.m., and the boys play tournament host Claiborne Academy at 7:45.

Up next

PCA vs. Heidelberg

Tuesday, 7:45 p.m.

at Rebul Academy