Several local boys’ basketball teams have been heating up the scoreboards as 2011 draws to a close. Faith Baptist Christian Academy has won four of its last five games, Liberty County High School remains undefeated and Bradwell Institute and First Presbyterian Christian Academy notched wins in tournament play.
The Panthers continued their  winning ways at the Gentleman’s Classic Tournament in Statesboro. On Monday, they beat Glenn Hills 57-55, then beat Osborne 80-63 on Tuesday and on Wednesday they defeated Mundy Mills 74-64 to stay undefeated at 11-0.
Liberty County starts Region 2A-AAAA action on Jan. 6, hosting Richmond Hill at 8 p.m.
Bradwell Institute also is competing at the Gentlemen’s Classic. On Tuesday evening, the Tigers saw one slip away when Glenn Hills came back from an 18 point deficit to win 76-75 at the buzzer. Dazjon Tinae led BI with 23 points. The Tigers return to Region 3-AAAAA action on Jan.6 at Windsor Forest.
Faith Baptist Christian Academy, from Ludowici, improved its record to 11-5 over the holiday. On Dec. 13, the Crusaders traveled to Jacksonville, Fla., where they beat Potter’s House Christian 86-74. The team was led by JJ Frazier, who scored 27 points, and Kirk Hill, who sank 22. Jaquez Motley chipped in 19, Mike Merritt added eight and Ebuka Ezeanaka contributed four.
The Crusaders then traveled to Charlotte, N.C., where they played in the Showcase of Champions tournament on Dec. 16 and 17.
In game one, the boys beat Crossroads Charter 73-51. Once again Frazier paced the squad with 26 points. Motley sank 13, Hill 10, Merritt four and Ezeanaka scored three. The boys then throttled Piedmont Community Charter winning 79-39.
Frazier led the team again with 29 points. Motley chipped in 13, Merritt 12, Keldon McCrary six, Hill three, Trey Adams two and Eazanaka added two.
After Christmas break, the Crusaders suffered a loss during a two-day tournament in Daytona Beach. On Tuesday, the boys fell 70-56 to Providence, from Jacksonville. Frazier led the squad with 18 points and Motley also had double digits hitting 14.
The boys rebounded Wednesday night with an 83-58 victory over Palatka. Frazier hit a game-high 34 points. Motley added 14, Hill seven, Merritt four and McCrary three.
The Crusaders are off until Jan. 6, when they travel to Marietta to play Covenant Christian.
The First Presbyterian Christian Academy Highlanders took game one of the Bi-Lo Holiday Classic in Augusta Wednesday night.
The FPCA boys beat Crestwood, out of Sumter, S.C., 71-66 in overtime. Ahman Muhammad scored 15 points and got 15 rebounds to earn the game ball. Herbert Roberts led FPCA in scoring with 18 points, six rebounds and four assists. Chris Guilfo scored 10 points and pulled down seven rebounds and dished out four assists. Domonique Kirkley chipped in 10 points. DJ Bratcher added nine points and two steals and Josiah Alleyne had nine points, eight rebounds and four assists.
The Highlanders were scheduled to play Ridgeview Thursday and will play tonight in the final bracket games.