It’s been a season of firsts for Chilton Christian Academy.

The Patriots (8-10, 6-0 area) went undefeated in area play for the first time, and CCA will host a sub-state round game for the first time since the program made the jump to Alabama Christian Education Association’s Division I.

But if Chilton Christian is to make its first state tournament appearance, the team will have to earn its first playoff win over Northside (Dothan).

“It’s been really a surprising season because we’re so young, but we’ve won the games we had to,” CCA coach Todd Stephens said.

The next must-win game is scheduled for 5 p.m. tonight, when Northside visits. The Knights (16-8, 4-1) defeated Chilton, 43-26, on Jan. 27 and in the sub-state playoff round the past four years—but those four games were at Northside.

“We are ecstatic to play here,” Stephens said.

Another reason for optimism about the Patriots adding another first to their accomplishments is the way the team has progressed over the course of the season. CCA struggled early without last year’s do-everything senior Ashley Velke, but co-captains Greda Brock and Summer Hall have been at the forefront of the maturation process.

Brock (averaging about 15 points a game) and Hall (11) are easily the team’s leading scorers, but Stephens said everyone in a CCA uniform will have a role in tonight’s game.

“I’ve got 11 girls, and I’ve got 11 ballplayers,” he said.