NATCHEZ — The regular season is over, and now Natchez High School basketball awaits the season’s real challenge — postseason play.

The Natchez High girls and boys squads will jumpstart their postseason runs today with the Region 6-5A tournament.

“We feel comfortable that we can get to the championship game, but I want us to make a statement and win it outright first,” girls coach Alphaka Moore said. “Our whole philosophy is that all of the other games don’t matter as much as the end goal.”

The boys and girls squads are on opposite ends of the spectrum regarding seeding for the tournament, which the school will host. Natchez High girls basketball will be the No. 1 seed, and the Natchez boys are the No. 4 seed.

The Natchez girls will face No. 4 seed Brookhaven High School, set to tip at 7:30 p.m. after two earlier games. The Natchez boys face No. 1 seed Provine High School immediately following.

The finals and consolation games are set for Friday. The day will lead with the girls consolation game at 4 p.m., followed by the boys consolation game. The girls final will be played before the boys game, set for 7 p.m.

Provine is fresh on the minds of the Natchez boys and coach David Haywood. In the most recent meeting approximately three weeks ago, Haywood’s squad was tied with Provine 67-67 when a foul was called with 1.2 seconds left that sent Provine to the line to ice the game, 71-67.

“We’re trying to build on some of the positive things (from that game),” Haywood said. “If we can come out and demonstrate the same poise and decision making, I think we can play with anybody.”

Haywood said there is hardly a gap in the level of play between the four teams in the region, which could make for a chaotic tournament.

“Everyone in our district has beat one another or it’s been a one-point game or two-point game,” Haywood said. “You can see the difference as far as the mental makeup before the game even starts.”

As for the girls squad, Moore and her team are riding back-to-back state championships. Moore said it is hard to know what it will take to win the (region) championship again this season, because the region changes yearly and has turned over significantly. Moore’s team has been through some challenges throughout the season as well, with its most recent obstacle coming in losing senior Zyaire Ewing to an ACL tear in January.

“We’ve had a lot of girls who have had to step up because of different injuries,” Moore said. “Now everyone has come into their own role. I try not to put pressure on the players but it’s on my mind throughout the season.”

Natchez concluded its regular season on the road against Jim Hill, and both the boys and girls teams left Jackson with losses.

Haywood said all teams’ records are 0-0 now.

“We ran into a team on their senior night, so they’re going to play with a lot better energy,” Haywood said. “We were flat and didn’t match their energy.”

As the tournament host, both coaches said their teams will feed off the advantage of a warm welcome and no travel.

“Natchez is two hours away from everywhere in Mississippi, and we definitely don’t want to go north,” Moore said.

Haywood called for the city to turn out for its biggest public school at the start of the postseason. He said the home crowd could play a role if momentum would swing his team’s way, but said the game will come down to which team is more focused at tip-off.

“We need to get the city out so the kids can fill in the crowd,” Haywood said. “We’re playing a team we’ve already played twice, and on one given night you have to put your best foot forward. Every possession counts.”