Team Chemistry the Key to a Flyers Basketball Season to be Remembered
The Sandhills Community College basketball team and its supporters celebrated a season that was one of the most successful in the 15-year history of the program at a dinner held recently at the Dempsey Student Center.
The Flyers compiled a record of 30-4 that included an 18-game winning streak in the process of winning Region 10 regular season and tournament titles, a district championship and the No. 1 seed at the NJCAA Division III National Championships held last month in Herkimer, NY. It was the team's fifth trip in a row to the national tournament.
Head Coach Mike Apple's team finished as runner-ups, following a 90-82 loss to Brookdale CC in the championship game.
The Flyers were ranked No. 1 in the nation nine times during the season, including the last six weeks, leading into the national tournament. Including the loss in their final game, the Flyers were 12-1 against Division III teams, 7-1 against Division II and 2-2 versus Division I.
The only Division II loss came in a nationally televised game at The Hangar on New Years Day against a No. 1 ranked Davidson-Davie CC team that went on to earn the No. 1 seed in its tournament before finishing with a record of 35-1.
Apple, who was the head coach of the 2012 and 2020 national championship teams, began his remarks by describing the occasion as a celebration.
"You have to remember these guys were runner-ups," the coach said. "There were only two other teams in the history of Sandhills basketball that went farther so that right there is pretty special. These guys without a doubt played one of the toughest schedules in Flyer history."
Flyer Support Team Recognized
Apple recognized financial supporters, including Carolina Eye Associates, Chatlee Boat and Marine, the law firm of Crockett and Oldham, Mr. and Mrs. Larry McNeill, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Philip Olbon, Thomas Beddow, Mark Pracht, James Jackson, Pamala Guest, Bob Lovell, John and Jo Williams, David Weiss, Rosemary Barker, Charlie Bergmann and Wesley and Donna Ford.
He thanked his family and the family members of the players as well as recently retired President Dr. John Dempsey, Interim President Brenda Jackson, Chief Operating Officer Ron Layne and Associate Athletic Directors Ryan and Alicia Riggan.
Others recognized for their contributions included: Danny Gironda, Josh Newton, Roger Parramore and Tamaurius 'Temo' Hailey of the score/stat crew, Gameday Administrator Jeff Withers, bus drivers Ricky Hill and Obie Blue, trainer Chris Poulin, media Donna Ford and Charlie Bergmann, and financial aid liaison Cynthia Thomas.
Sandhills students providing support included: Max McBride and Zack Ciboth, scorekeeper, Britta Martin, announcers Nick Bass and Abria Grant, gatekeeper Mackenzie Swett and the concession stand workers.
Third-year assistant coaches Tramaine Pride and Daquain Towns, and Markell Lotharp in his second year, were all members of the Flyers 2012 national championship team. Philip Olbon, fifth year, and student coach Will Ellman, completed the staff.
Team Chemistry at a High Level
Statistics help explain the story behind the team's success. The Flyers were second in the nation with a scoring average of 100.9 points per game. They were also first in assists per game, first in field goal percentage, and fourth in rebounding.
"These guys played an old-school type of basketball," Apple said. "They excelled at inside-out ball with everyone touching it. It was beautiful to watch when they got rolling. I first got the idea we could be really special when we put up 122 points against a good Pitt team in November.
"The 2012 team had size and superior shot blocking. The guard play on our 2020 team was outstanding and we had great defensive guards and rim protectors.
"This team had a combination of things and they really played well together. We had four forwards, Jaquan Thurman, Bryan Quiller, Joey McMullin and Zac Sledge that collectively I don't think we've had any better. I think the team chemistry of this group was as good as we've ever had."
Player Introductions, Highlights and Awards
Apple introduced team members, beginning with freshmen redshirts Tre Williams, Mike Fee, Patrick Reaves, Kenston Skipper and Zach Riddle. Freshmen Chad Kinch, Ayden Gittens and Jamori McDougald were all members of Apple's 14-player rotation.
All three were named to the All-Region 10 Freshmen Team. McDougald averaged 10.6 points per game and his team-leading 68 threes were the 15th most in Division III. His 4.6 assists per game led the team and he was also second on the team in steals. He was credited with 14 points, 10 assists and four steals in the national championship final, earning the 6-foot guard from Overhills High School a spot on the all-tournament team.
Isaiah Nelson redshirted as a sophomore. The other sophomores were Thurman, McMullin, Chris Hunter, Alon Hanani, Kendall Wooldridge, Sam Stoltz, Jamal Williams and LeNijel Robinson. The third-year players were Quiller, Sledge and Jordan Coleman.
Quiller, Robinson and McMullin were All-Region 10 first team selections. Quiller and Robinson became the first two Flyers to receive All-American honors in the same season. Hanani was a 2022 First Team Academic All-American and posted another 4.0 GPA last fall.
Quiller was the Region 10 Player of the Year and a first team All-American. The 6-foot-5 forward led the Flyers with a scoring average of 14.5 points per game. His field goal percentage of 64.9 was the third best in Division III. He is one five Division III players, and one of 24 from all divisions, invited to play in the NJCAA Men's Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Game to be held at The Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on May 20.
A three-year player at Sandhills because of Covid, Quiller participated in three national tournaments. His 1,240 career points are a team record.
According to the product of Cary High School, keeping motivated was a key to his success. Asked about what he will take from the experience he said, " Receiving these awards and accolades tonight just makes me feel I'm a part of Sandhills."
In addition to the Region 10 honor, Robinson, a 6-1 guard, was named to the all-tournament team at the national championship and was a third team All-American selection. He averaged 11.4 points per game and his 6.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game were both second best on the team. He also led the team in blocked shots and was third in steals.
The two years at Sandhills were a confidence builder for the product of Concord High School who is also a Dean's List student.
"The thing that's going to stick with me for real is discipline and all the life lessons I've learned," he said, "but discipline is definitely the No. 1 thing I learned."
A third-team All-American as a freshman, McMullin averaged 14.0 points per game, connecting on 58.2 per cent of his field goal attempts, including a team-high 47.3 per cent on three-point attempts, and 89.4 percent of his free throws.
Thurman, a 6-4 forward, averaged 10.6 points and a team-high 7.6 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage of 62.8 per cent was the 10th highest in Division III. In the game against then-undefeated Davidson-Davie, he scored 15 points and grabbed 18 rebounds. Later in January, he scored a season-high 28 points against Johnston CC to go along with 10 boards.
Sledge, a 6-9 forward, and Coleman, a 5-10 guard, both played their best basketball down the stretch of their final season in a Flyers uniform. Sledge was a double-figures scorer in five of his last six games, including one of 19 points and two with 18. Coleman averaged 11.5 points in the three national tournament games.
"I'm always going to work hard," Coleman said when asked about his biggest takeaway. "Coach Apple instilled that in me and especially my dad did too."
During the final three months of the season, Wooldridge converted 34 of his 38 free throws and finished with a second best on the team percentage of 83.3. The team's percentage of 72.7 was the 10th best in Division III and the highest in the history of the Sandhills basketball program.
Hunter, a 6-foot guard contributed nine points, five assists and four steals in the district title victory over Butler County that earned the Flyers the automatic berth in the national tournament.
Team awards announced by Apple included – Most Improved Player of the Year– Sledge; Coaches Award – Robinson; Defensive Player of the Year – Thurman; Offensive Players of the Year – Quiller and McMullin; Best Teammate – Coleman.
The Hangar Comes of Age
Following the holiday break, growing crowds led by a new student section, and several visits by the McDeeds Creek Middle School cheerleaders, helped make The Hangar an even more exciting place to be.
In a game against Hines prep in January, Apple, who also serves as athletic director, recorded his 300th victory at Sandhills, finishing the season with a record of 309-84.
"This was an exciting team and a fun experience for our guys, my coaches and our fans," the coach said. "There will be a lot to be remembered about this team."
After the dinner, one of the first first speakers was Pride who described the players as a passionate group that had a good time, playing basketball together. He expressed the hope that as they go on into life they stay consistent and stay passionate.
C. Bergmann