Flyers Rout Black Knights in Season Opener on Big Days for Dent, Apple
Sayaun Dent scored 28 points and grabbed 17 rebounds as the Sandhills Community College men's basketball team opened the season with a 104-74 victory over Community Christian College on Saturday afternoon in Lancaster, SC.
The sophomore set career highs in both departments, was 12-for-13 from the charity stripe, and also recorded five assists and five steals. In all, five Flyers scored in double figures, including Evan Davis 12, and Savion Staton, Corry Addison and Tyrell Allmond with 10 apiece.
It was a milestone 200th win for Coach Mike Apple (200-67), beginning his ninth year at Sandhills.
"Sayaun was very efficient," the coach said of the 6-foot-3 product of West Bladen High School. "He was good on the boards and very active defensively."
The Flyers play their first home game of the season on Wednesday against Lenoir CC. The tip-off is at 7 p.m. and it is Student Night at The Hangar. They split a pair of games against the Lancers last season.
The Flyers built a lead of 52-33 at halftime against a Black Knights' squad playing in its very first game for the college's new men's basketball program. They launched 102 shots and controlled the boards by a wide margin, getting 24 offensive rebounds.
Freshmen forwards Derreco Miller and Cameron Richardson contributed to the dominance on the glass by grabbing nine and seven boards, respectively. In all, 11 of the 14 Flyer players who saw action made it into the scoring column.
A couple of concerns expressed by Apple afterward were the team's 25 turnovers and a 17-for-31 performance on the free throw line that included Dent's 12-for-13.
Sandhills CC – Idlett 4 1-1 9, Staton 5 0-2 10, Dent 8 12-13 28, Addison 4 2-5 10, Davis 6 0-4 12, Ratliffe 1 1-2 4, Allmond 5 0-0 10, Yow 0 0-0 0, Bryan 2 0-0 6, Bailey 0 0-0 0, Miller 2 0-0 4, Williams 0 0-0 0, Richardson 4 0-2 10, Medins 1 1-2 3 Totals 42 17-31; Christian Community College – Smith 10 1-2 28, King 3 2-2 9, Taylor 4 1-2 9,Clark 1 1-2 3, McBryde 4 6-6 14, Squaries 0 0-0 0, Pinkney 0 0-0 0, Willard 1 0-0 3, Byrd 2 0-0 4, McDonald 2 0-0 4 Totals 27 11-14 74.Three-point goals: SCC 3 (Bryan 2, Ratliffe); CCC 9 (Smith 7, Willard, King).