Several First Presbyterian Christian Academy boys’ basketball players, as well as their first-year head coach, received honors after winning the Georgia Independent School Association Region 2-AA Championship last week.
Immediately after beating Trinity Christian in the region title game last Friday in Dublin, Highlander head coach Shane Smith received the Region 2-AA Coach of the Year Award.
Also, Highlanders Ahman Muhammad, Domonique Kirkley, Wallace Smith and Miguel Pineda were named to the All-Region team. Lady Highlander Brooke Standard was named to the girls’ team.
“It was honor and a surprise to be named coach of the year. I definitely wasn’t expecting it,” Shane Smith said.    
He led the Highlanders to a 20-2 overall season and 10-0 region mark. He said he wanted to honor the memory of his friend, former Highlander coach Ernie Walthour, who was killed in July 2013, reportedly during an armed robbery. Smith said this season’s Highlanders, especially the senior players, have fought all season to honor their former coach and mentor.
The Highlanders were scheduled to play Windsor Academy in the first round of the Georgia Independent School Association AA state tournament Thursday in Eatonton. Results were unavailable at press time.
Editors note: FPCA won 81-60. Read Sunday's Courier for the complete report.