Upon first glance, you couldn’t have drawn the Class AAA South State bracket any more in favor for the Adams Christian Rebels.

But then again, it could also be the absolute worst if they’re not careful.

The Rebels open the tournament at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday against Copiah Academy, a young team that didn’t win a game in district during the regular season. But it’s the top half of the bracket that’s got everyone relieved with powers Central Private and Jackson Prep having an awfully good chance to play each other in the second round.

If that happens, there’s one less really good team to worry about as area teams begin South State tournament play this week.

&uot;You couldn’t draw it any better than what we’ve got,&uot; AC point guard Glenn Williams said. &uot;Central Private has to play Prep, and that’s always a tough game. Finishing first or second in the South will be huge. You won’t have to start out with Jackson Academy or MRA at state. Hopefully we’ll take it one game at a time.&uot;

That’s what got AC head coach John Gray a bit worried. It’s the Colonels that present a problem for his club &045; they’re young, playing better and have absolutely nothing to lose in this type of situation.

But like Central Private has to beat Lamar Wednesday to earn a shot at Jackson Prep on Friday, the Rebels have to first beat Copiah in order to advance in the tournament.

Gray’s Rebels beat Central Private in their last game last week in possibly one of the better-played games of the season, but they haven’t played since.

So combining the off day with a game against a team his team has beaten twice isn’t setting well.

&uot;You can have a great season and a disappointing second season if you don’t play well,&uot; Gray said. &uot;They put Central Private and Prep together, which in my mind are the best two teams. But we’ve got to win, and they’ve got to win. Most of these schools can beat each other on any given night. I’d feel real fortunate if we can get back to the level we finished here with Central Private. I just wish we could have started playing right then. I’d feel real good.&uot;

Since then it’s just been a few days of practicing and reading box scores in the paper of everyone else in the district with the off day Friday. It was too late in the season to schedule a warm-up game or anything to get ready for the tournament.

Not so, Williams said. That win over Central Private was enough of a lift to carry the team on to do just about anything. If anything, the Rebels may be too excited heading into Wednesday’s game because now they know it’s all or nothing.

&uot;We’ve had four days of practice,&uot; Williams said. &uot;I’m ready to play. We ought to be ready by Wednesday. That (Tuesday win) was huge. They had beaten Prep twice and were already out for us since we beat them last time. It gave us some confidence going into the playoffs. Their five losses came to us twice and Brookhaven Academy three times.&uot;

But if there’s an X factor you’re looking for, it could be the returning core of players who were on that South State runner-up squad from a year ago. Williams sank a half-court shot to give the Rebels a win over Jackson Prep in the semifinals, and they fell to Hillcrest Christian &045; the eventual Overall champ &045; in the finals.

Looking at Copiah in the first round, however, still gives Gray a case of the willies.

&uot;They’re playing the best they’ve played all year,&uot; he said. &uot;It’s hard to beat people over and over. They’ll find weak points in your game. I’m concerned about that. I’ve got a lot of respect for Coach (Michael) McAnally, and his kids play hard. Whether we understand all that and come ready to play remains to be seen.&uot;

The Lady Rebels, meanwhile, will face Copiah at 7 p.m. Wednesday in their opener after finishing as the No. 3 team in the South. The Lady Colonels earned the No. 2 seed from the North after Jackson Prep got the top overall spot.

Copiah is a team that beat Adams Christian twice during the regular season, but the Lady Rebels have gone back to work in hopes of netting a first-round upset.

&uot;Copiah is awfully good, but everybody in this league is,&uot; Lady Rebels head coach Keith Walters said. &uot;But our girls will play well. They beat us five here and 30 there. Mitch (Mitchell) does a good job and has been for a long time. They just do a really good job of getting up and down the floor.&uot;

That’s what the Lady Rebels have spent most of their time working on, and they used the AC boys’ team running a press Monday to get prepared for what they’ll see from Copiah. The Lady Rebels would love to keep it a half-court game since they match up well with Copiah, and they’ll have to handle the pressure to do so.

&uot;We’d like to get the ball inside,&uot; Walters said. &uot;They do a good job in their half-court defense as well. There’s no easy game. It’s that way every night out. I haven’t been with these girls but about a week and a half, but I’ve enjoyed it. They work hard and are a joy to be around. I think we’ll play well.&uot;

Trinity Episcopal, meanwhile, drew a first-round bye with their 7-A championship and will play at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday against the Briarfield-University Christian Prep winner from Monday night.

A win would put the Saints in the state tournament next week at University Christian School.

WCCA plays at 5:30 p.m. today against Humphreys Academy, the No. 4 team out of District 5. A Rams win would put them up against Glenbrook School, the District 6 champion, at 8:30 p.m. Thursday.

On the girls’ side, WCCA faces Porter’s Chapel at 4 p.m. today in a first-round game. The Lady Eagles enter as the No. 4 team out of District 5, and the winner will face District 6 champion Claiborne at 4 p.m. Thursday.

Tensas Academy won’t play until 7 p.m. Thursday when it faces the winner of today’s Humphreys-Glenbrook winner in the second round. The Lady Chiefs drew a first-round bye with their District 7 championship and can clinch a spot in the state tournament with a win Thursday.

Centreville’s Lady Tigers, the No. 4 team out of District 4, will face Simpson Academy at 7 p.m. Wednesday in a first-round game at Simpson Academy. A win will clinch a spot at the Class AA tournament at Canton Academy.