The All-Southeastern Independent Conference girls’ and boys’ basketball teams have been announced and among them are several players from Flora Macdonald Academy.

Cougars’ varsity basketball players juniors Luke Cothron and Joel Kindred and senior Lateef McMullan have been named to the to the All-SEIC boys’ team, while senior Kathleen Wood is the lone recipient on the girls’ All-SEIC team.

Cothron was also named Co-SEIC Player of the Year with Word of God’s John Wall.

Making All-SEIC in cheerleading were Cougars’ cheerleaders Sadarah Norton, Taylor Pevia and Danielle Ray.

Basketball statistics proved worthy of Cothron’s selection as he averaged 27 points; 17 rebounds; and five blocks shots a game for his Cougars’ team, finishing the 2008-09 season with a record of 24-11.

“It feels pretty good,” said Cothron of his selections. “We played hard because we knew we played against the best. Next year, we want to win the conference and win the state championship.”

As for his first-year head coach, Derrick Bond, he had nothing but positive things to say about his team and his players.

“It feels pretty good, too,” said Coach Bond, who also coaches the Lady Cougars. “We played such a wide open system, offensively, the numbers are going to be there, but we had a good year. We didn’t finish where we wanted to be, but wanted to be able to compete, but we came up short and that just gives us motivation for next year and something to build towards.

The play of his junior center, Cothron, he calls unbelievable.

“He’s got a lot of room for more growth, but obviously he’s one of the best players in the state (of North Carolina) if not the best. I can’t think of anyone else out there to match up with him court wise, perimeter wise, he’s just very versatile and can do it all. We only lose Lateef (McMullan) this year, but the rest of them will be back next year.”

In the 2009 NCISAA 1A Boys’ State Tournament, the Cougars of Flora Macdonald Academy beat Cape Fear Christian, 76-61, in the first round of the tournament. They then met up with United Faith and were beaten in the second round, 63-59. United Faith went on to win the 1A Boys Championship.