An inability to sink free throws sank First Presbyterian Christian Academy on Friday night at the St. James Sports Center.
The Highlanders fell 63-61 to August Home School despite getting 31 points from Herbert Roberts. First Presbyterian made only 11 of 23 free throws in the game, and missed 9 of 15 in the fourth quarter.
“That was the difference in the game,” FPCA coach Ernie Walthour said. “Ahmad (Muhammed) hit one to tie the game but you have to make those free throws, especially late in the game. Augusta is well coached and they fought back and won the ball game. We just couldn’t close it out and in games like this you have to be able to close it out because a good team will hang around until the end. We lost it.”
The Highlanders knew the competition was going to be tough when the Eagles’ Austin Grown drained a 3-pointer to open the scoring.
But the Highlanders made good shots and Roberts found his groove, dropping in 11 points in the second quarter as FPCA built a 28-18 halftime lead.
Roberts quickly hit 12 more points, including two from behind the 3-point line, in the third quarter. But the Eagles’ made a half time adjustment and the Highlanders got a little lax on guarding Matt Miles.
Miles hit a pair of treys and finished with 25 points in the second half for AHS, which took the lead with 12.9 seconds to play and held on for the win.
The Highlanders are 7-4 overall and 3-1 in the Georgia Independent School Association’s Region 2-AA.
First Presbyterian was scheduled to host Region 2-AA foe Edmund Burke Academy Saturday for homecoming. Representatives from Under-Armour were also scheduled to be at the event for a brief ceremony congratulating FPCA on its recent win of the Under-Armour Undeniable Challenge.
The school took first place winning $140,000 worth of Under-Armour apparel and athletic equipment. The score from yesterday’s game was unavailable at press time. Pick up a copy of Wednesday’s Coastal Courier for Saturday’s results and more information regarding Under-Armour’s presentation.

FPCA 13|15|17|16-61, 11 of 23 at the line, Herbert Roberts 31, D’Angelo Streeter 9,
Augusta 9|9|16|29 – 63, 9 of 13 at the line, Matt Miles 25 points