Joey Bell scored a First Presbyterian Christian Academy record 44-points and Terrence Alston had a school record 18 assists in Thursday's 96-58 victory over Fullington Academy.
The win places the Highlanders in the final two in the chase for the state crown. The boys now face GISA 2-A region rival Bethesda Saturday.
The Blazers secured their shot at the title by dropping LaGrange Academy 62-40.
The Blazers and the Highlanders faced each other twice in the regular season with FPCA getting a victory at home and Bethesda doing the same in Savannah.
Highlander coach Darrell West said back then he would be happy with a split during the regular season. He had a feeling they would see each other again as they chased the state title. Now he's focused on bringing down the top seeded team.
"We've got to play a better post defense than the last time we played them," West said. "We need to take the game to them. All the pressure is on them. They've been favored all year and they have all the seniors."
West said the Highlanders can win.
"Our players need to repeat what they did yesterday," he said. "We need big games out of those big three (Bell, Alston and Mike Brown). I need TA to run the offense and run the ball club and show the leadership he has shown all this year and last year. Joey Bell and Mike Brown have shown their leadership in shooting the ball well. They just need to play to their best. Also, players like AJ Ansley and Hakeem Golden will be key because Bethesda is strong on the inside and if those two guys can slow down their inside players and we continue to shoot the way we have, I believe we will be all right and bring home the title to Hinesville."
The state title game is scheduled for 1:40 p.m. at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville.
FPCA 96, Fullington 58
Joey Bell 44 points, 1 assist, 4 rebounds, 1 block, 5 steals
Mike Brown 25 points (8 three-pointers), 2 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 steals
AJ Ansley 11 points, 1 assist, 6 rebounds, 9 blocks (school record), 1 steal
Kyle Weinerth 6 points, 1 assist, 1 steal
Terrence Alston 3 points, 18 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal
Sunny Patel 3 points
Josh Rodgers 2 points, 1 assist, 6 rebounds
Hakeem Golden 2 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals
Halftime score was FPCA 54, Fullington 21
The win places the Highlanders in the final two in the chase for the state crown. The boys now face GISA 2-A region rival Bethesda Saturday.
The Blazers secured their shot at the title by dropping LaGrange Academy 62-40.
The Blazers and the Highlanders faced each other twice in the regular season with FPCA getting a victory at home and Bethesda doing the same in Savannah.
Highlander coach Darrell West said back then he would be happy with a split during the regular season. He had a feeling they would see each other again as they chased the state title. Now he's focused on bringing down the top seeded team.
"We've got to play a better post defense than the last time we played them," West said. "We need to take the game to them. All the pressure is on them. They've been favored all year and they have all the seniors."
West said the Highlanders can win.
"Our players need to repeat what they did yesterday," he said. "We need big games out of those big three (Bell, Alston and Mike Brown). I need TA to run the offense and run the ball club and show the leadership he has shown all this year and last year. Joey Bell and Mike Brown have shown their leadership in shooting the ball well. They just need to play to their best. Also, players like AJ Ansley and Hakeem Golden will be key because Bethesda is strong on the inside and if those two guys can slow down their inside players and we continue to shoot the way we have, I believe we will be all right and bring home the title to Hinesville."
The state title game is scheduled for 1:40 p.m. at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville.
FPCA 96, Fullington 58
Joey Bell 44 points, 1 assist, 4 rebounds, 1 block, 5 steals
Mike Brown 25 points (8 three-pointers), 2 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 steals
AJ Ansley 11 points, 1 assist, 6 rebounds, 9 blocks (school record), 1 steal
Kyle Weinerth 6 points, 1 assist, 1 steal
Terrence Alston 3 points, 18 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal
Sunny Patel 3 points
Josh Rodgers 2 points, 1 assist, 6 rebounds
Hakeem Golden 2 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals
Halftime score was FPCA 54, Fullington 21