Late Flyer Rally Falls Short in Loss at Richard Bland

The Sandhills Community College basketball team was defeated 82-76 by Richard Bland CC in South Prince George, VA on Saturday afternoon.

The Flyers built as much as a 12-point lead in the first half, before the Statesmen turned the game around. The home team took a 38-37 lead into the intermission and then took advantage of a rash of Flyer turnovers early in the second half to build as much as 15-point margin.

Coach Mike Apple's squad fought back to reduce the deficit to five points before the time expired. The team's 22 turnovers were one short of a season-high.

"We gave ourselves the opportunity to be right there," the Flyers' coach said of the late comeback bid. "We played a good team on their home court.

"I liked the way we started, but I think we shot ourselves in the foot with the turnovers. We play another good team on Tuesday."

The Flyers dropped to 5-3 while the Division I Statesmen, led by former Pinecrest High School Coach Andrew Lacey, improved to 4-1.

The Flyers are back in action on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at The Hangar against Spartanburg Methodist, another Division I team. The Pioneers are off to a 6-1 start.

The leading scorers for the Flyers were Nasir Johnson with 14 points and Joey McMullin with 13.

Zac Sledge posted a double-double that included 12 points and 11 rebounds. Chris Hunter added 10 points. Jordan Coleman led the team with six assists.

The Flyers wasted a season-best 59.6 shooting percentage on shots from the field (31-for-52).

Former Flyers at Other Places – Winston Bryan poured in 25 and 17 points in games this week for a Dean College, MA team that is off to a 4-1 start. Donnie Haith scored a season-high 17 points, including four treys, in Pfeiffer's victory over Johnson and Wales on Friday. Evan Davis also posted a season-high with 15 points, to go with five boards, for Montreat College, in a loss to Columbia International on Saturday.

Sandhills- Coleman 1 0-0 2, McCaster 3 0-0 6, Stoltz 3 0-0 8, McMullin 5 2-2 13, Sledge 6 0-0 12, Johnson 5 2-3 14, Hunter 4 2-4 10, Brayboy 4 0-0 9, Nelson 0 2-2 2, Assante 0 0-0 0 Totals 31 8-11 76. Richard Bland – Monterio 12 4-6 29, Saunders, Jr. 6 2-4 14, West 1 3-5 5, Coleman 2 5-8 9, Lacey 2 0-0 4, Davenport 0 0-0 0, Johnson 7 3-6 17, Whitten 1 0-0 2, Bryan 1 0-2 2, Wood 0 0-0 0 Totals 32 17-31 82. Three-point goals: SCC 6 (Stoltz 2, Johnson 2, Brayboy, McMullin), RBC 1 (Monterio).

C. Bergmann