Pearl River Central lost five senior starters from last year’s basketball team.

The losses have meant a tough start to this season for the Blue Devils.

PRC and head coach Alan Lumpkin stand 1-8 on the year heading into Friday’s Region 8-4A opener against Poplarville.

“We have gotten off to a slow start, we are still trying to find our indentity,” Lumpkin, in his third year at the helm of the Blue Devils, said.

The Blue Devils have dropped six straight since their only win over Purvis, a game in which forward Cody Ladner tallied a season high 35 points, the best by a PRC player so far this season.

Teammate John Nixon tallied 31 against Bogalusa last week, and Je’Barr Locure and Ricky Chisum have both also contributed in double figures consistently for the Blue Devils this season.

“That is what has happened to us so far,” Lumpkin added. “We will have one or two players each night that will come up with a big night but we have to be more consistent.”