High-Energy Flyers Topple Previously Unbeaten Cobras
On Saturday morning members of the Sandhills Community College basketball team showed their softer sides, marching in the Christmas Parade in Southern Pines.
That afternoon at The Hangar, they defended ferociously and defeated previously unbeaten Caldwell Tech 75-67.
Isaiah Nelson made a clutch pair of free throws with 30 seconds remaining in the game and led the Flyers with 14 points. Keegan Brayboy was credited with a double-double that included 10 points and 12 boards. He also dished out a game-high six assists. Zac Sledge dropped in 11 points to go with six rebounds and two assists.
Coach Mike Apple's 11th ranked in Division III squad improved to 7-4 while the No. 25 in Division I Cobras dropped to 7-1.
"I thought our players had a good mindset from the get-go," Apple said. "They really did a good job defensively through all the stages. We got a little lackadaisical at the start of the second half with our closeouts, but the communication was good."
Before the largest home crowd of the season, Nelson drained a pair of threes as the Flyers scored the first 12 points of the game. The closest the Cobras could get after that was within four points, briefly, in each half.
"We just really need to come out with a lot of energy," Nelson, a product of Cox Mill High School said. "Our fans got into it and we fed off them."
Late in the first half, a basket in transition by Joey McMullin gave the Flyers their largest lead at 41-25.
The Cobras scored the first five points after the intermission, but a three-point play by Sledge helped settle things down for the home team.
Midway through the second, a basket by Chris Hunter made it 61-48 before the visitors began chipping away at the lead.
With just over five minutes remaining in the game, a three by the Cobra's R.J. Black, followed by 1-for-2 at the foul line by teammate Isaiah Pruett, made it 68-64. The Flyer response was a basket by Nelson off of a steal and 1-for-2 at the charity stripe by Brayboy.
Both teams wasted opportunities down the stretch before the Flyers completed the scoring on a pair of free throws by Nelson, and a dunk in transition by Darryl McCaster as the clock wound down, setting off a celebration by the players and fans.
"We worked hard the whole game," McCaster said. "I really feel this is just a start for us. I feel we can win every game if we come out with that same energy that we did today."
The team from Hickory had defeated the Flyers seven times in a row going back to 2015. Against a taller team that had out-rebounded all but one of its previous opponents this season, the Flyers finished with a 51-38 edge on the boards.
"I can't say enough about our guys," Apple said. "They worked in the Christmas Parade this morning and then came out here and played a really good team and beat them. I'll sleep well tonight and I hope they do too."
One of the fans enjoying the game with his family was Markell Lotharp, an All-American member of the 2012 team that won the first of the program's two national championships. He was especially impressed with how the Flyer players responded when Caldwell made its late run.
"I saw a lot of guys that were determined and showed the will to win," he said. "It's a young team and I think beating a Division I team shows them how they can play every night. This was just one game, but this one game can mean a lot for the rest of the season."
The Flyers were without leading scorer Nasir Johnson because of an illness. Next on the schedule is a game against the Pfeiffer University junior varsity at 7 p.m. on Monday in Misenheimer. Lenoir CC visits The Hangar for a 7 p.m. contest on Wednesday.
National Champion Men's Golf Team Honored at Halftime
At halftime, President Dr. John Dempsey presided as Coach Gus Ulrich and members of the Flyers' men's golf team were presented with the rings they earned for winning the program's second national title last June in Chautauqua, NY.
"We had a good season and then to cap it off with a national title made it even better," said Andreas Huber, who was the runner-up for medalist honors. "We got it done and hopefully we can do it again and go back-to-back." 
"It's a great momento," Ulrich said of the rings, "and it gives the guys a lot of incentive to get another one. We had a great fall season and so far everybody is coming back for the spring. We should be pretty strong."
Caldwell – Solomon 1 0-0 2, Black 6 1-1 14, Kirby 0 1-4 1, Pruett 4 3-4 12, Mauldin 0 1-3 1, Baker 3 1-2 7, Dupree 4 0-0 10, Stinson 0 0-0 0, Chas. Bryson 2 1-3 7, Brown 0 0-0 0, Nacikas 0 0-0 0, Randolph 3 6-6 13, Edgecombe 0 0-0 0, Hodges 0 0-0 0, Asumani 0 0-0 0, Chance Bryson, Kolodziej 0 0-0 0 Totals 23 14-23 67. Sandhills – Brayboy 3 3-4 10, McCaster 3 1-2 7, Stoltz 0 2-2 2, Sledge 4 3-3 11, Nelson 5 2-2 14, Wooldridge 2 0-0 5, Perry 1 0-0 2, Hunter 2 0-3 4, Hanani 0 2-2 2, Coleman 3 1-2 7, McMullin 3 0-0 6, Asante 2 1-2 5 Totals 28 15-22 75.
C. Bergmann