The FPCA Lady Highlanders experienced deja vu Saturday afternoon, losing 50-48 to Edmund Burke Academy.
“I hate to say it but it was just like the Curtis game the night before when we had a lead and just didn’t finish it at the end,” FCPA coach Rosby Fraiser said.
It was a close game from tip to finish. FPCA trailed 27-26 at the half.
In the final two minutes of the game, FCPA scored to take the lead, but the Lady Spartans retook the lead in the final 30 seconds to defeat the Lady Landers by a bucket.
“We allowed them too many second shots and third shots at the basket and that is the reason they were able to beat us late,” Fraiser said.
The Lady Spartans used a box-and-one defense to isolate FPCA scorer Aaliyah Wilson. She had 38 points against Curtis Baptist, but Edmund Burke’s strategy paid off, limiting her to six points.
FPCA senior guard T’era Alston put in 30 points for the Lady Highlanders.
“When they went to a box-and-one on Aaliyah I knew that we would have to have someone that could score. T’era Alston really stepped up big for us and she also gave us a great effort on defense,” Fraiser said.
FPCA falls to 3-4 and 0-2 in region play. The Lady Highlanders took on Robert Toombs Academy Tuesday night.
In the boy’s game, FPCA routed Edmund Burke Academy, 76-33.
Highlander Domonique Kirkley drilled a 3 pointer to start the game. FPCA continued to score at will and force turnovers on defense. Edmund Burke got on the score board with a trey midway through the first quarter and then the Highlanders took over.
FPCA led 18-5 in the last four minutes of the opening quarter, then let loose a scoring barrage. The Highlanders went on a 12-point run.
In the second quarter, Edmund Burke continued to struggle and FPCA showed some mercy, working the ball around the perimeter and looking for the best shot.  Even when slowing the ball down and taking jump shots from the elbow and the baseline, the Highlanders still scored at will.
FPCA was able to play its bench most of the second quarter and the entire second half.
“We were just better physically than Edmund Burke but we still played good basketball today. We are continuing to play better basketball every game,” FPCA Head Coach Ernie Walthour Sr. said.
Highlander guard Chris Guilfo led FPCA in the scoring column with 19 points. Herbert Roberts chipped in 14 points and D.J. Bratcher finished with 12 points.
“Our guards are doing a really good job right now. We have a good rotation so I can move people in and out and we don’t lose anything. I am really pleased with how our post game continues to develop too,” Walthour said.
The Landers had five 3-pointers and were 5-for-8 from the free throw line.
“We are happy the way we are playing right now we just won our third game this week and we are 2-0 in region play right now. We need to keep on playing good strong basketball and winning region games to put ourselves in position to win a region title,” Walthour said.
The Highlanders are 8-8 overall and 2-0 in region play. FPCA faces region rival Robert Toombs Tuesday night at St. James Sports Center.
“Robert Toombs has been decent lately. They will have some talent so we will have to continue to play our best basketball,” Walthour said.

EBA 50, FPCA 48 (girls)
FPCA: T’era Alston 30, Aaliyah Wilson 12, Brooke Standard 6


FPCA 76, EBA 33 (boys)
FPCA: Chris Guilfo 19, Herbert Roberts 14, D.J. Bratcher 12, Ahman Muhummad 9, Josiah Alleyne 8, Armon White 5, Domonique Kirley 5, Damian Osborne 4