Flyers Fall to the Storm in NJCAA/ESPN+ Game of the Week
Before a capacity crowd at The Hangar, and a national audience watching on ESPN +, the Sandhills Community College basketball team burst out to an 18-4 lead against undefeated Davidson-Davie CC on New Year's Day.
The No. 1 ranked in NJCAA Division II Storm drew even for the first time early in the second half and went on to defeat the Flyers 84-76. Coach Mike Apple's No. 3 ranked in Division III squad dropped to 12-3 on the season while the Storm improved to 12-0.
Sophomore Jaquan Thurman, a 6-foot-4 forward, led the Flyers with 15 points and a game-high 17 rebounds. Chase Mebane led the visitors with 17 points and 10 boards.
With Tuesday's originally scheduled home game against Hines Prep moved to January 30, the Flyers' next game is on Tuesday at 6 p.m. against Division I Brunswick CC (8-7) in Bolivia, NC.
"We were ready to play," Apple said of the early 18-2 run that began with a jumper by forward Bryan Quiller, following an opening basket by the visitors. "In the first half we were as sharp defensively as we've been the whole season.
"They made some adjustments and caught up with us. We had 16 turnovers at halftime and I think that's the reason they got back in the ballgame. They are the No. 1 team in the nation for a reason."
Twice during the opening barrage, Quiller scored on putbacks. Another forward, Zac Sledge got into the act, assisting on two baskets in a row by Thurman, and then converting a pair of free throws before a jumper by Jordan Coleman made it 18-4.
A pair of steals turned into dunks, fueled a 9-0 run that drew the visitors to within a point at 29-28 with six minutes remaining in the half. Later, knotted up at 37-37, the Flyers took a 39-37 lead into the intermission when Thurman assisted on a basket by LeNijel Robinson.
The Storm took their first lead since the opening basket of the game at 44-43 with just under 18 minutes remaining on a three by Mebane. The lead changed hands four times before a three by Jarvis Tillman put the visitors in front for good at 52-49. They expanded the margin to 12 points before the Flyers closed the gap down the stretch.
Trailing 80-71 at the two-minute mark, Thurman suffered a cramp in a battle for a ball underneath his own basket and had to leave the game. Moments later, a basket by Coleman, and the split of a pair at the line by Robinson made it 82-76 before the Storm's Jahlen King completed the scoring with a pair of free throws.
"I don't think we came out with the same intensity in the second half as the first half," freshman guard Jamori McDougald said. "In the last four minutes I just think we made a few mental mistakes. We played a great team, but I feel like we are only going to get better from today."
Thurman would trade his fifth double-double of the season and career-high in rebounds for the win. He also talked about mental breakdowns that made the difference in the end.
"I wish I could have gotten through the last minute," the product of Hickory High School said, regarding the injury. "We'll get back to it tomorrow at practice and we'll get better."
Said Apple, "I really thought Jaquan put it all out there."
With the beginning of the pursuit of a Region 10 title still three weeks away, all of the Flyers' goals remain in front of them. Among those in attendance at the game were Corry Addison, Evan Davis and Nathan Yow from the 2020 national championship team.
The large crowd that included a sizable contingent of Storm followers and the presence of the ESPN Game of the Week cameras and crew members, and a post game press conference, made the experience a unique one for Sandhills athletics.
"Right before the game, coach told us that this game is going to be something we are always going to remember," said Coleman who was 5-for-7 from the field and scored 10 points. "Even though we took the loss our effort was there."
C. Bergmann
