Flyers Improve to 15-3 - Host Martin Luther King Jr. Day High School-College Double-Header
Leading by 12 points with about eight minutes remaining in the first half, Kendall Wooldridge sank a pair of free throws to start a 14-2 run on the way to a 61-36 lead at the intermission. The other double-digit scorers for the Flyers were LeNijel Robinson 19 points, Wooldridge 14, Jamal Williams 12, Bryan Quiller and Jaquan Thurman 11 each and Zac Sledge 10.
The No. 2 ranked in NJCAA Division III Flyers improved to 15-3. Guard Risko Brooks poured in a game-high 25 points for the Gladiators from West Columbia, SC.
Coach Mike Apple's squad returns to action as part of a Martin Luther King Jr. Day high school-college double-header on Monday. The Pinecrest High School boys (8-6) meet Apex Friendship (10-6) followed by the Flyers vs Hosanna Bible College at 5 p.m.
Including the New Years Day game against Davidson-Davie CC, this will mark the second time this month the Flyers have played on a holiday.
"It's always fun to play on holidays because we're not only playing a game, but it's also a celebration," Apple said.
Trailing 16-15 in the early going, Chris Hunter drove for a basket that put the Flyers in front for good. The 6-foot-9 Sledge followed a dunk in transition with the flush of an offensive board moments later as the home team took advantage of its size advantage to pull away. The final four Flyers points of the half came on a tip-in, and then a dunk by 6-6 Ayden Gittens, making it 61-36 at the intermission.
"I was pleased with the second 10 minutes of the first half," Apple said. "I thought we saw a good example of Sandhills playing good offense and good defense. The second half was an example of Sandhills playing good offense, but we didn't play much on the defensive end."
Coming off the bench for only the third time as he did most of last season when he earned third team All-American honors, McMullin accounted for all 12 of his team's points during a three-minute stretch that ended with the Flyers leading 83-56. Wooldridge twice, Sledge and Thurman were credited with assists during the spree.
"I try my best to do what helps the team win," the 6-3 forward who leads the team in scoring at 14.1 points per game said. "Sometimes it's scoring, sometimes it's rebounding and sometimes passing. In games like this you play hard and work on things. I just want to win. I'm hoping to win a national championship."
The 71 points produced by non-starters included a season-high 12 by red-shirt freshman Jamal Williams who sat out last season, recovering from knee surgery. The 6-7 forward was 4-for-5 from the field, sank all four free throws, and was credited with three boards and two blocked shots.
"Coming back to playing it's always good to have games like these where I can get a feel for the game again and remind myself of the level I'm capable of playing at." the product of Mount Pleasant High School said. "It's difficult at times, but in the back of my head there's that voice that says, 'be ready to play and do what I know I can do'.
"We moved the ball well and we scored 122 points in a 40 minute game and that is not easy to do. All in all, I definitely think this team is something special, especially on offense."
With sophomore Sam Stoltz sidelined by an ankle injury, and freshman Chad Kinch leaving the game in the first half because of an injured ankle, developing more depth during this three game stretch against non-NJCAA opponents becomes more important.
"We have to stay healthy," Apple said. "Nothing against our opponents, but this is the time of year when you can develop a bench and develop guys if they'll take advantage of it. It can be a period of growth for a lot of players."
C. Bergmann