When Natchez High School last visited the Sunkist Shootout Tournament in Lafayette, La., two years ago, the team was pretty well satisfied to finish as the tournament runner-up.

That was then.

&uot;I have a good feeling we can win this,&uot; said junior forward Vasshun Newborne.

With a 14-1 record, a No. 3 state ranking and two tournament titles already under their belt, it’s no wonder the Bulldogs are confident about their chances.

&uot;All we have to do is play hard on defense, hustle and play with determination,&uot; said junior guard Burton Broudy. &uot;Determination got us this far.&uot;

Natchez will face host Lafayette High School in the first round of the double-elimination tournament at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Senior forward Nakarrie Thompson isn’t worried. &uot;It should be a good game,&uot; he said. &uot;We’ve been playing pretty good on the road. It should carry over.&uot;

Despite facing 15 talented teams from Louisiana and Mississippi, the Bulldogs don’t see anything they can’t handle.

&uot;I look forward to playing anybody,&uot; Newborne said. &uot;As long as we keep our minds focused on what we want, play hard with a lot of intensity and play together as a unit, we’ll be all right.&uot;

After taking a break from basketball last week for mid-term exams, the players are anxious to return to the court, Broudy said.

&uot;We still practice and run a little bit to stay in shape,&uot; he said, and finishing exams &uot;takes a load of my mind.&uot;

But this tournament is more than another set of games, Broudy said. The tournament represents an opportunity &uot;for one of those shining moments, just like coach says.&uot;

Thompson explained. &uot;We’ve already won two tournaments,&uot; he said. &uot;Now we’re looking forward to this. Then we look forward to district, and then South State. We win a few more tournaments, we win the state championship.&uot;