Believe it or not, ACCS boys basketball coach Paul Hayles was surprisingly upbeat Thursday night after the Rebels’ 67-40 loss to Wilkinson County Christian Academy.

&uot;This was basically our fourth meeting as a team,&uot; Hayles explained.&160;&uot;The first time we handed out uniforms. The second time we walked through the offense in the cafeteria. The third time we were run out of the gym by a tornado warning. The fourth time we played WCCA.&uot;

Hayles isn’t kidding, either.

The Rebels hit the court with less than two hours’ total practice time on their sneakers.

The ACCS boys’ opening basketball game was marred a bit by lingering football injuries and a practice schedule shortened by football playoff games.

&uot;My point guard (Trey Mardis), who was a 4A All-District player, played despite having a separated shoulder,&uot;&160;Hayles said. &uot;And Ty Smith played with a hyper-extended elbow.&uot;

Smith led the Rebels with 10 points. Garrett Gamberi had 8.

&uot;To have no practice time, we did pretty good,&uot; he said.

Hayles said the Rebs (0-1) have their work cut out for them this year.

&uot;We knew going in this entire year was going to be a learning process,&uot; he said. &uot;We know about 15 percent of what we’ll use on offense this year.&uot;

&uot;WCCA had a very athletic team,&uot; Hayles said. &uot;And (WCCA) coach Ricky Gray did a great job with them.&uot;

Adams Cornett led the Rams with 16, and Jason Reed had 14.

The Lady Rebels lost 43-29 after a first-half lead. The Lady Rams outscored ACCS 13-0 in the fourth quarter.

Amber Heffner and Kittie Marks led ACCS is scoring with 4 a piece. Jennifer Tolbert scored 9 for the Lady Rams and Kim Leonard and Emily Lewis each added 8.

ACCS opened the game with a ceremonial toss from Rudy Case who was the 1930 senior captain and leading scorer for Natchez High School.

&uot;He’s what we consider our No. 1 basketball fan,&uot; Hayles said. &uot;With fans like him, it would make anybody feel good about playing.&uot;

ACCS plays Jackson Prep Monday.