Flyers Advance to District Tournament With OT Win Over Cougars
Trailing Central Carolina CC by as many as 13 points in the second half of Friday's championship game of the Region 10 tournament, a game-tying three by Darryl McCaster with 13 seconds remaining in regulation gave the Sandhills Community College basketball team a new life.
The Cougars missed a final shot for the upset win before the Flyers outscored the squad from Sanford 14-7 in the overtime period to gain a 110-103 victory at The Hangar.
"If you talk about boxing analogies, we were just getting pounded the whole match and we were on the last rope at the end," Flyers' Coach Mike Apple said afterwards. "I thought in the overtime period we were in good shape because our guys weren't tired. We just find a way."
McCaster finished with a game-high 24 points as the 10th ranked in Division III Flyers improved to 25-7. The Cougars finished with a record of 14-13 after their fourth loss of the season to the Flyers..
Bryan Quiller fashioned a double-double for the winners that included 22 points and 26 rebounds. Joey McMullin chipped in with 18 points and was recognized as the Region 10 Player of the Year afterwards.
Kendall Wooldridge was another large contributor to the Flyer cause, finishing with 15 points and seven assists. The Cougars' Montell Moore scored a game-high 27 points.
"Bryan Quiller, 26 rebounds, is absolutely unbelievable," Apple said. "Darryl McCaster just had the heart of a lion today and hit big bucket after big bucket."
The win earns the Flyers a trip to Maryland for a Mid-Atlantic District playoff game next weekend against Sunday's Region 20 tournament champion. A spot in the NJCAA Division III national championships goes to the winner.
The Flyers also had to dig deep in the semi-final game the evening before, trailing Dabney S. Lancaster in the second half by 11 points before prevailing 104-101.
Friday's large crowd included many Cougars' fans, watching as the two teams went into the intermission tied at 47-47.
Later, with the Flyers leading 62-59, three treys by Matthew Harbour were included in an 18-2 run that put the Cougars in front 77-64 at the 11-minute mark.
The two teams took turns exchanging runs down the stretch. The Flyers scored the next 10 points capped by Zac Sledge turning an offensive board into a three-point play, but with 3:30 remaining the Cougars were back in front 91-82.
McMullin was asked whether doubt was creeping into his head about his team's chances at that point.
"I never think that," he said. "I always think we have the talent and perseverance to come back. I always believe in my guys and it definitely showed today."
The third of four treys in the game by Wooldridge, and some heavy duty work in the paint by Quiller, initiated the rally that culminated in McCaster's shot that sent the teams into overtime tied at 96-96.
Wooldridge fed McCaster in transition for the first basket of the extra period. The game was tied for the last time before a drive for two by Chris Hunter put the Flyers in front for good.
Wooldridge added a final three for good measure.
"Coming into the game we didn't know what to expect," McCaster said, "but we knew we were going to have to play hard. It's been a long journey and we've come a long way. For us to be down like that and battle back really means a lot."
Anne Arundel, a team that defeated the Flyers at The Hangar on November 5, is among the teams competing on Saturday and Sunday in Maryland to advance to the district tournament.
"Obviously, whoever we play in Maryland, we're probably going to play on their home court so it's going to be real hard," Apple said. "I like our chances just because we've been a good team on the road this year.
"Hopefully we figured some things out tonight, some chemistry things, and what our best way of playing is."
To put Quiller's performance on the boards in perspective, Jeremias Easterling, 25 and 26 (2016), Kermeriaz Harrington, 20 (2013) and Phillip Moultrie 20, (2011) are the only Flyers to have grabbed more than 20 rebounds in a game.
"We just wanted it a little more than them," Quiller said. "We saw their best effort in the first half.
"Coach Apple has us running 24-7. After that it was just that we were in better condition. It really showed in overtime when they were missing shots and we just kept grabbing rebounds and getting putbacks."
McMullin and Quiller were named Co-Region 10 Freshmen of the Year. Quiller was eligible for the award as a result of the NJCAA Covid policy regarding 2020-2021 season freshmen.
Along with McMullin, Quiller and McCaster made the All-Region team and Apple was selected Region 10 Coach of the Year.
Central Carolina – Moore 10 4-6 27, Mason 3 0-1 6, McLaurin 6 3-4 16, Gardner 2 0-1 4, Thiam 7 0-2 14, Bell 0 0-0 0, Case 7 5-5 21, Harbour 4 0-0 12, Watson 1 0-0 3, Waldeck 0 0-0 0, Miles 0 0-0 0 Totals 40 12-19 103. Sandhills – Wooldridge 5 1-2 15, Hunter 3 4-6 10, McCaster 11 1-2 24, Sledge 3 2-3 8, Quiller 8 5-8 22, Perry 1 1-3 4, Hanani 1 0-0 3, Coleman 0 0-0 0, McMullin 8 2-3 18, Zachary 2 1-2 6 Totals 42 17-29 110. Three-point goals: CCCC 11 (Harbour 4, Moore 3, Case 2, McLaurin, Watson); SCC 9 (Wooldridge 4, McCaster, Quiller, Perry, Hanani, Zachary).
C. Bergmann
