As expected, the Georgia Independent School Association Region 2-A title will be decided Monday with the First Presbyterian Christian Academy Highlanders facing area rival Bethesda.
The game was originally scheduled for Friday night, but the snow and icy conditions expected at South Georgia College in Douglas forced the schools to move the match to tomorrow.
The Highlander boys made it to the region finals by defeating Citizens Christian 101-33 on Thursday night.
"We know it’s a tough game," Highlander coach David Jones said.
Jones said the Blazers will be coming at them full throttle and his boys will have to play team ball to keep an advantage on the court. He said it was the one mistake they made when they played Bethesda in Savannah two weeks ago when the Blazers managed a 57-55 win.
"We have to control the boards," he said. "We have to rebound better and we have to have a much better shot selection."
The coach said he thought there was too much individual play in their last game against Bethesda, and in order to win this round and the region title his players need to remember the concept of team play on the court.
"I think if we play team ball on both ends of the floor, we’ll be just fine," he said.
The GISA 2-A region tournament is at South Georgia College. The Lady Highlanders are scheduled to play at 7 p.m. and the boys’ region title game is at 8:30.
Faith Baptist forges past
Killian Hills in round one
Neighboring private school Faith Baptist Christian Academy in Ludowici has already started its quest for another state title. The Crusaders took a 78-44 win against Killian Hill in round one in Valdosta.
Faith Baptist’s Jamil Donovan hit a double-double with 20 points and 16 rebounds. Jaquez Motley had 21 points, four assists and four steals in the win.
Crusader coach Jared Sellars said he thinks they’ll likely play a Bible Baptist team from Hampton for the state title.
"They like to get up and down the court a little bit so I think it will be an exciting game," Sellars said. "Honestly, I think if we play our game we should be OK."
The coach said he is concentrating on the state title, but once that is behind him he is ready for another challenge. The Crusaders will travel to Tennessee for a national tournament. Last season, they placed third.
Sellars said if they win first at nationals, Faith Baptist will be ready to go against bigger school divisions.
Motley said he knows his Crusader team has what it takes to win state. "Yeah, we are going to win this."
The Courier will bring you the results from the Highlanders’ region game and the Crusaders’ state run as they become available.