NATCHEZ — Trinity Episcopal and Cathedral School will bring in the New Year with a cross-town battle for some bragging rights tonight when the two schools face off on the hardwood at Cathedral School.

On the boys’ side, Cathedral coach Peter Arnold said the game is not really considered a rivalry because the two teams do not play each other often, but he expects it to be special for the players.

“They all know each other from football and just growing up in the same area,” he said. “There will be bragging rights in that regard. But other than that it’s an important game, because it’s our next game. It’s only the third time we’ve ever played, and a true rivalry doesn’t take place until you’ve played quite a few times.”

Arnold said he does expect the game to draw some attention, however.

“It will be a really good team in Trinity, and we’re a pretty good team ourselves,” he said. “I expect a really big crowd. It will be a lot of money at the gate for us, a good crowd and there should be everything set for a good game.”

Both teams participated in holiday tournaments last week, and each came away with different results. Cathedral went 3-0 at the WCCA Tournament and finished in first place.

“We did great,” Arnold said. “We were lucky they needed another team and got invited. We played three games and against WCCA and Amite School Center we played great. We didn’t play that good against Centreville, but they had something to do with that.”

Arnold said the tournament games kept his team sharp.

“Having played those games this week definitely helps us get ready to play Trinity (tonight).”

Trinity started off the Brookhaven Academy Tournament on a positive note by winning its first two games against Riverdale Academy and Porter’s Chapel. But the Saints struggled in their final two contests falling to Parklane Academy in the semi-finals and Bowling Green in the consolation game.

“Just honestly we are not very good right now,” head coach David King said. “We are trying to teach the kids the game of basketball. We lost four starters from one of the best ball clubs we’ve ever had, and it’s sort of been an up and down type of deal. We had a couple of good games, but played very poorly at Brookhaven.”

Trinity has also suffered from a lack of practice time this season.

“We are 10-3 and have only had eight practices,” King said. “It obviously is showing that we need some time to get in the gym.”

But King said the important part of the season is still ahead of the Saints.

“We have a month left before it all boils down to the district tournament,” he said. “That’s all that matters.”

King said moving forward starts with Trinity’s game Monday.

“Cathedral wants to beat us, and we want to beat them,” King said. “We are just trying to get better, and they have a good ball club. We have our hands full.”

Arnold said he hasn’t had the opportunity to see the Saints play, but he knows they will be a tough test.

“I haven’t seen Trinity, but I know they have a really good record,” he said. “I’m really not sure what they do or who all they have going right now, but I know they have really good athletes out there.”

The Saints (10-3) and the Green Wave (9-6) will face each other at 7:30 p.m. tonight.