By ROBERT L. LEE

RESERVE – The Reserve Christian Eagles may be used to the flashing lights and arena-style atmosphere of their home gym, but only one player on the team has experienced playing in front of 12,800 seats. Junior Chris McClain was the sixth man on the 2000 team when the Eagles played in the semifinals. This year, McClain is expected to start the semifinal matchup with Doyline alongside fellow juniors Matt Jackson and Frankie Francois. Freshman Marlon Brumfield and eighth-grader Demond Carter round out the starting crew.

This year’s trip to Lafayette will be the third time the Eagles have advanced to the Top 28 in the past four years. The Eagles are scheduled to take to the court today at 2 p.m.

The blemish in their past playoff streak came last year, when the Eagles lost their lead in the fourth quarter of their quarterfinal game. No doubt that scar helped propel the Eagles through their recent quarterfinal victory over French Settlement. With only a 29-27 halftime lead and a 45-42 lead entering into the fourth quarter, memories of last year’s loss must have been haunting the red and blue.

The looming pressure grew heavier when with less than five minutes remaining, the Lions cut the Eagles’ lead down to only one point. With the Lions in position for their fourth tie and possibly, their first lead of the game, the Eagles suddenly broke free and rallied to top 25 points in the fourth quarter. Their quick addition of points and strong defense allowed Reserve Christian to stretch its lead to a final 70-55 win. Carter led the overall scoring charge with a final 20 points, followed by Brumfield with 16 and McClain with 14 points. Francois followed in the double digits with 13 points, while Jackson, Dwayne Myers and Richard Holmes added four, two and one to the Eagles score.