Flyers Reclaim No. 1 Spot in Poll - Rout Mount Zion Prep

Back in the No. 1 spot in this week's NJCAA Division III poll, the Sandhills Community College basketball team rolled to a 129-76 victory over Mount Zion Prep at The Hangar on Thursday.

The Flyers maintained a furious pace against the undermanned squad from Durham. Elijah Idlett and Derreco Miller combined to score 15 points on the way to an early 20-10 lead. Idlett finished with 19 points and nine rebounds, and Miller fashioned a double-double that included 16 points and a dozen boards.

In all, seven Flyers scored in double figures, including Region 10 Player of the Week Sayaun Dent 16, Savion Staton 14, Tyrell Allmond 13, Evan Davis 12 and Corry Addison 10. The leaders in assists were Dent and Nathan Yow with six each.

Coach Mike Apple's squad takes a record of 21-2 into Saturday's 3 p.m. contest against Combine Academy of Lincolnton.

"We have the capability to play really well defensively when we want to and at times we want to," the coach said. "The sharing of the ball has been outstanding. A big part of the fun of coaching these guys is watching them share the ball, everybody getting touches and playing to their strengths."

Coupled with a dozen turnovers by the Warriors, Idlett, Miller and Allmond all reached double figures as the home team took a 66-36 lead into the intermission. Early in the second half, a basket by Winston Bryan stretched the margin to 40 points at 83-43.

The Flyers reached the century mark with just over 10 minutes remaining in the game on a putback by Evan Davis that made it 100-58. At about the four minute mark, Miller somehow managed to win a scramble for his own missed free throw and finished it with a spectacular windmill dunk.

"He's a great athlete," Dent said. "We watch him do that everyday in practice, but it was special to see."

Currently second in the nation in assists per game (26.2), the Flyers added 32 and have recorded 30 or more in four of the last five games.

"The best part is when we share the ball," Dent said. "That shows that nobody is worried about points and we're just playing."

Idlett is second on the team in scoring (15.2 ppg) behind Dent (18.1) and is also second in rebounds (5.7), assists (3.6) and steals (2.3).

"It's really just a lot of fun playing here," the product of Cary High School said. "We all want to win and we all want to get to Minnesota (national tournament). We've built a lot of chemistry and I love all these guys.

"We're right there, but we've got a practice tomorrow and games on Saturday and on Monday. We're going to keep working hard."

Flyers Extra – The Flyers received four of the six first place votes in the national poll. The other two went to No. 3 St. Cloud (MN), the only remaining undefeated team in Division III at 18-0. Also Thursday, former Flyer Mason Harrell scored 13 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked two shots to help Winston-Salem State win its fourth game in a row 83-63 over Johnson C. Smith. The senior leads the Rams with 6.8 rebounds per game. At halftime, Freshman Carley Modlin of the Lady Flyer volleyball team was presented with the plaque she earned as an Honorable Mention All-American selection. The Pinecrest High School grad was among the leaders in NJCAA Division III in kills, hitting percentage and blocks solo.

Mt. Zion – Benson 2 1-2 7, Gool 2 4-4 10, White 11 5-5 28, Sims 5 5-6 17, Amunas 2 2-2 6, Smith 0 0-0 0, Boubia 4 0-2 8 Totals 26 17-21 76. Sandhills – Idlett 8 2-2 19, Dent 8 0-0 16, Bryan 3 0-0 6, Addison 5 0-0 10, Miller 8 0-4 16, Ratliffe 4 0-0 8, Staton 6 2-4 14, Allmond 4 4-6 13, Yow 1 0-0 3, Bailey 1 0-0 2, Richardson 2 1-2 6, Williams 1 1-1 3, Davis 6 0-0 12, Medins 0 1-2 1 Totals 57 11-21 129. Three-point goals: MtZ 7 (Benson 2, Gool 2, Sims 2,White); SCC 4 (Idlett, Allmond,Yow, Richardson).

by Charlie Bergmann

photo by Donna Ford