Flyers Dispatch Vanguard on Sophomore Night

The Sandhills Community College basketball team heads into the postseason on a positive note after defeating Vance-Granville CC 94-60 Wednesday on Sophomore Night at The Hangar.

Two-year standouts Tee Hardy, Tony Harper and Will McNeill were honored before a game that turned sharply in the Flyers' favor about midway through the first half. Leading 19-17, McNeill fed Hardy for a basket in transition that initiated a 25-3 run. Freshman Josh Smith drained three treys during the splurge that led to a 46-24 advantage at the intermission.

The Vanguards never got any closer than that the rest of the way. Smith capped a 24-point night with a base line drive for a dunk and his sixth three, raising his season total in that department to 86. McNeill added 19 points, including three treys and seven assists. Khalil Hairston and Jeremias Easterling each contributed a dozen points.

Harper, Hairston and Easterling grabbed seven rebounds apiece on a night the Flyers did not allow any second chance baskets.

"I think we're starting to get to the point where we need to be at this time of the season," said Hardy who accounted for seven of the points in the early game-breaking run. "Nobody wants the season to end. We've got to beat Davidson."

This weekend the Flyers (19-10) travel westward to Hudson, N.C. where Caldwell Tech will host the Region X tournament. Coach Mike Apple's squad faces No. 2 ranked Davidson County CC (26-2) on Saturday at 5 p.m. in a semi-final game. The winner will meet the survivor of Saturday's other contest between Caldwell and Central Carolina CC for the championship on Sunday.

Having lost twice to both Davidson and Caldwell in the regular season, the Flyers have a tall task ahead of them. But then the Region X tournament hasn't always played out according to form in Apple's first four years as coach of the Flyers that has included three Region X titles, a national title in 2012 and a trip to the national tournament a year ago.

"We've been there and done that," Apple said of the prospect of facing elimination games this weekend. "I feel we match up well against Davidson. What we have to do is match their runs with runs of our own which has been a challenge the other two times we played them. We have to defend them every possession and I think our guys will give that a go."

A lot has been asked of this season's only three second-year players that all played a big part in the 2015 tournament run. Hardy, Harper and McNeill have each significantly increased their production statistically from a year ago. Hardy's 13.7 points per game scoring average is second on the team to Smith at 14.5. Harper has nearly doubled his output in points, rebounds and blocked shots from last season. Since converting from shooting guard to point guard five games ago, McNeill is averaging almost 10 points and six assists per game.

"I try to do what I can for the team whether it's scoring points or getting assists," McNeill says. "I'm glad coach has allowed me to have that type of freedom."

Apple describes the trio as good players that genuinely like each other and have embraced being a part of the team. They are all likely to have opportunities to resume their basketball careers at four-year colleges next season.

"I'm real appreciative of their efforts," the coach says. "I've really gotten to know these guys and am going to miss them."

Flyer notes: One of the statistics that pops out from the game are the team-best five offensive rebounds run down by 5-foot-8 freshman D'Angelo Harris in 12 minutes of action. Mary Helm has been one of the most vocal Flyer fans this season. She and her husband Bob adopted the team after moving to Seven Lakes from Wilmington about a year ago. There they were avid UNC-Wilmington Seahawks rooters for many years. "They are a good bunch of youngins, I can feel it," she says of the Flyers. A number of area high school players attended Wednesday's game, including ones from Pinecrest and Hoke County. Hoke coach Quame Patterson accompanied members of his team. Rivals Hoke and Pinecrest are both involved in conference tournament semi-final games on Thursday.

Vance-Granville – Mims 0 0-0 0, Gooch 2 0-1 4, Hall 6 9-9 22, Beverly 7 0-0 17, Avery 1 0-0 2, Moore 2 0-0 4, Whitley 1 0-0 2, Reid 2 4-5 8, Adams 0 1-2 1, Carter 0 0-0 0, Marrow 0 0-0 0 Totals 21 14-17 60. Sandhills – McNeill 7 2-4 19, Hardy 4 0-0 9, Smith 9 0-0 24, Easterling 3 5-6 12, Harper 0 1-2 1, Liluashvili 2 1-2 5, Lathan 1 0-0 3, Merriweather 0 0-0 0, Harris 1 0-2 2, Stevons 3 0-0 7, Hairston 5 2-2 12 Totals 35 11-18 94. Three-point goals: VGCC 4 (Beverly 3, Hall); SCC 13 (Smith 6, McNeill 3, Lathan, Hardy, Stevons, Easterling).