No. 2 Ranked Flyers Meet Titans in Battle of 4-0 Teams at The Hangar on Wednesday
The Sandhills Community College basketball team goes into Wednesday's game at The Hangar against Guilford Tech as the No. 2 ranked team in the nation according to Monday's NJCAA Division III Men's Basketball Committee Poll.
The Flyers and the Titans take 4-0 records into the contest that tips off at 7 p.m. Both teams participated in the Chatlee Marine Classic on Friday and Saturday at The Hangar and earned victories over the same two opponents.
Coach Mike Apple's squad defeated Dabney S. Lancaster CC 106-74 on Saturday while the Titans, who received votes in the Division II poll, beat Shooting For Greatness Academy 97-90.
In addition to Division II Guilford Tech, the upcoming schedule calls for home games against Division II Patrick Henry CC on Saturday and Division I Brunswick CC on November 23. Mixed in is another home game against Mount Zion Prep on November 19.
The Flyers defeated Guilford Tech and Brunswick, and lost to Patrick Henry a year ago, all in exciting contests.
"I think we're ready for some of those games now," Flyers' Coach Mike Apple said. "Obviously teams like Guilford Tech, Patrick Henry and Brunswick are going to be good tests for us. They should kind of tell us where we are in the early season."
The Flyers used steals by Sayaun Dent, Corry Addison and Savion Staton to fuel a 15-0 start against Dabney S. Lancaster, a college from Clifton Forge, VA, in its first season of men's basketball. Six minutes into the contest, Tyrell Allmond fed Cameron Richardson for a dunk that made it 25-6. The teams pretty much traded baskets until the intermission that arrived with the home team on top 56-35.
About five minutes into the second half, Richardson, Allmond and Derreco Miller combined for 13 points during a 15-2 run that established the Flyers biggest lead of 33 points. But the hustling Roadrunners scored 19 of the next 21 points to slice the margin to 86-70.
A basket and a pair of free throws by Dent restored order. Later threes by Zion Bailey and Cameron Williams helped produce the final margin.
"The outcome was never in doubt, but you really want to control things from the beginning to the end and I didn't feel we did that," Apple said. "We got out to the lead and then kind of took our foot off the gas. Doing that kind of stuff, especially against the better teams, can get you beat."
Elijah Idlett led five Flyers in double figures with 16 points. Dent's second double-double of the season included 15 points and 10 rebounds. Addison and Staton each scored 13 and Richardson added 11.
Addison also contributed six assists and six steals. Miller was credited with three blocked shots. The Flyers converted 80 per cent of their free throws (28-for-35).
Herkimer County CC, the team that defeated the Flyers at the National Tournament in Rochester, MN last March was displaced in the No. 1 spot by Richland (TX). Herkimer was knocked from the undefeated ranks 66-64 by Mohawk Valley (NY).
Dabney S. Lancaster – Dabney 4 2-5 10, Leffler 1 2-2 4, Darcus 1 0-0 4, Hudson 8 5-6 25, Baker 0 2-2 2, Roldan 0 0-0 0, Brown 4 7-12 15, Rawlings 0 0-0 0, Key 4 0-0 10, D. Lewis 1 0-1 2, J. Lewis 1 2-3 4, Davis 0 0-0 0, Gibson 0 0-0 0, Roman 0 0-0 0, Simmons 0 0-0 0, Baggot 0 0-0 0 Totals 24 20-31 74; Sandhills – Idlett 7 1-1 16, Staton 5 2-4 13, Dent 4 7-7 15, Addison 4 5-6 13, Davis 1 1-2 4, Ratliffe 0 2-2 2, Allmond 3 2-2 8, Yow 0 0-0 0, Bryan 0 4-4 4, Bailey 2 0-0 5, Miller 3 1-3 7, Thomas 1 0-0 2, Williams 2 0-0 5, Richardson 4 2-2 11, Medins 0 1-2 1 Totals 36 28-35 106. Three-point goals: DSL 6 (Hudson 4, Key 2); SCC 6 Idlett, Staton, Davis, Bailey, Williams, Richardson).
by Charlie Bergmann
photo by Donna Ford