NATCHEZ – The 2000-2001 Trinity Episcopal Saints were indeed the surprise team in high school basketball in the entire Miss-Lou area.

With only one senior on last year’s team, the Saints still went 21-4 overall, 10-0 in MPSA District 5-1A, won the district tournament and advanced to the Class 1A South State tournament before being upset in the first round by Tensas Academy.

&uot;We’ve been to South State three of the last five years,&uot; said Saints head coach David King. &uot;We’ve had some great players here that have gone on to play college ball. There’s a lot of tradition here.&uot;

Fresh off winning the Class 1A state championship in football, the focus now shifts to basketball.

&uot;All of our starters were on the state championship team,&uot; King said. &uot;I believe that these kids believe that they’re going to win.&uot;

The Saints are currently 2-0 overall and 2-0 in district play.

&uot;Our goal is to go after the 1A state title,&uot; King said. &uot;Which means we’re going to have to stay healthy. We should be one of the top four teams in 1A.&uot;

He said the emergence of Dudley Guice will be the key. Another player he said could step up is junior Marcus Archer. Among the key players returning are District MVP Chad Ridley, Chase Brown, Ryan Rachal, Gregory Ketchings, and Walt Ketchings.

&uot;The talent’s there. Depth is a problem,&uot; King said.

Once again, the Saints are the team to beat in District 5-1A, but, like King said, &uot;Everybody’s out to get us in district.&uot;

Among the teams he expects to give the Saints a run at the district championship are Huntington and Chamberlain-Hunt.

&uot;(Huntington’s new head) coach (Michael) McAnally will have his kids ready,&uot; he said. &uot;CHA is as athletic as anyone we’ll face. Ben’s Ford will be a darkhorse. They’ve got five seniors.&uot;

The Saints begin a long stretch of road games when they play at Chamberlain-Hunt in Port Gibson in District 5-1A action Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.