Flyers Solve Thomas Nelson Press on Way to Fifth Win in a Row
The Sandhills Community College basketball team takes a five-game winning streak into 2022, following a convincing 90-71 victory over previously unbeaten Thomas Nelson CC at The Hangar on Saturday afternoon.
The lead changed hands eight times, and the game was tied on four occasions in the first half before the No. 10 ranked in NJCAA Division III Flyers pulled away and maintained a double-digit advantage the rest of the way.
Coach Mike Apple's squad improved to 10-4 while the visitors from Hampton, VA dropped to 7-1.
Sophomore Camron Zachary led the winners with 17 points. Freshman Joey McMullin contributed 16 to go with a team-high eight rebounds. Sophomores Nasir Johnson and Darryl McCaster chipped in with 13 and 12 points respectively.
Sophomore point guard Keegan Brayboy scored six points and handed out nine assists.
"It was a good building win for us in the last game of 2021," McMullin said afterward. "They did some stuff defensively that we hadn't seen and it messed us up at the beginning of the game. Then we made some adjustments at halftime.
"We went on a couple runs and got a big lead. It's a big win, a huge win for us."
Coach Mike Apple's squad will resume practicing on Tuesday, December 28 in preparation for a game at Davidson-Davie CC on New Year's Day.
McCaster took the opening tip from teammate Zac Sledge and drove to the hoop for the game's first basket. Seconds later, the Gators' Javion Majette canned a three, setting the tone for a fiercely fought first half.
The Flyers trailed for the last time at 26-25 when Johnson turned a steal into a dunk in transition by Sam Stoltz, igniting a 15-4 run that added up to a 40-30 lead at halftime.
The traps that went along with the full-court pressure applied by the Gators was a main topic of the halftime discussion in the Flyer locker room. Brayboy, who moved from a wing position to point-guard five games ago, was one of the keys to the solution.
"We knew they were a tough team and we would have to play hard," he said. "It was probably the first team all year that really came in and told us we're going to guard full-court.
"We practice it everyday. I'm not saying we were used to it, but we were ready for it. We were breaking the traps and getting easy layups. I also think we got a lot of hustle points."
McCaster took a charge on the opening possession of the second half. Moments later, a three-point play in transition by Johnson initiated a succession of trap-breaking, game-breaking plays for the home team.
Midway through the half, McCaster was fouled in the act and sank both free throws, making it 59-41. The Gators never got closer than 15, as the teams pretty much traded points the rest of the way.
Thomas Nelson, a member of a conference that is not affiliated with the NJCAA, had beaten a Division I Richard Bland team that defeated the Flyers last month, twice. They were the second team this month to be knocked from the unbeaten ranks by the Flyers who handed Division I Caldwell Tech its first loss, 75-67 on December 4.
"I think we're really maturing," said Brayboy, who has averaged over seven assists per game since the position change. "We have a lot of freshmen and we're kind of learning how we want to play and how to win."
Apple is also encouraged by the development of the eight freshmen who have contributed during the team's recent surge.
"I feel like we're getting better and part of it is all these freshmen, becoming college basketball players, learning what it takes and the commitment it takes to be successful at this level," he said. "It's still a work in progress."
The Flyers' coach admired the discipline and defensive tenacity of the Gators and the way his team responded to it.
"I love the way they get after you defensively," he said. "Hats off to my guys. We stayed with our game plan. We tried to force the tempo as much as we could and I think that wore them down a little bit.
"We did a good job of breaking their pressure for the most part and won the ball game."
Thomas Nelson – Cunningham 4 2-4 10, J. Brown 4 0-0 9, Harris 2 0-0 6, Mines 1 1-2 3, Jav. Majette 5 2-6 13, Merritt 1 2-2 4, Steger 3 2-2 8, Jaq. Majette 5 0-0 10, Hawkins 0 4-8 4, Artis 0 0-0 0, H. Brown 0 0-0 0, Ricks 0 0-0 0, Tonesell 2 0-0 4 Totals 27 13-24 71. SCC – Brayboy 2 1-3 6, McCaster 5 2-2 12, Sam Stolz 2 0-0 4, Sledge 3 3-3 9, Nelson 1 3-4 5, Wooldridge 2 0-0 4, Johnson 6 1-1 13, Perry 1 0-0 2, Hunter 0 0-1 0, Hanani 0 2-4 2, Coleman 0 0-2 0, McMullin 7 1-1 17, Zachary 7 3-3 17, Asante 0 0-0 0 Totals 36 16-24 90. Three-point goals: TM 4 (J. Harris 2, J. Brown, Jav. Majette); SCC 2 (McMullin, Brayboy).
C. Bergmann
