Long Runs Ease Way for Flyers in Season Opener
The Sandhills Community College basketball team used an early 24-0 run to distance itself from New River CC on the way to a season-opening 114-32 victory at Heins Gymnasium Friday evening.
Sophomores Parrish Stevons and Shane Garrison led seven Flyers in double figures with 16 points apiece. Zion Copeland poured in a dozen, Donnie Haith had 11, and Luke Moore, Damauri Sexton, and Johnny McFadden chipped in with 10 apiece.
The game was a part of the two-day Chatlee Classic. Earlier Central Carolina CC defeated Oxford Emory of Oxford Ga. Saturday's schedule has the Flyers facing Oxford Emory at 1 p.m. followed by Central Carolina and New River at 3 p.m.
Stevons started things off by draining a three and then sank a pair of free throws for 5-0 lead. Garrison, a 6-foot-6 forward, was rewarded for flying up and down the court in transition, and scored 10 of the next 12 points, expanding the margin to 17-3.
A put-back by Copeland made it 31-3 before the Muskies from Dublin, Virginia scored to end a six-minute drought. Stevons and Garrison combined for 26 points in a half that ended with the Flyers on top 63-19.
Haith scored in transition off a McFadden steal to complete an 18-0 burst to begin the second half, making it 81-19. Later Jake Murdock sank a pair of free throws to put the home team over the century mark with just over four minutes remaining in the game.
The leading rebounders for the Flyers were Moore with nine, and Copeland and Xavier Grissett with eight each. The leaders in assists were Casey Clarkson with six and McFadden with five. Haith had a game-high four steals.
Stevons (6-for-10), and Garrison 8-for-10), combined to make 14 of their 20 shots from the field. Thirteen of the 15 Flyers that suited up scored and that many also saw 10 or more minutes of action.
New River – Quesenberry 0 0-0 0, Belcher 4 0-0 8, Wilson 1 0-1 2, Conner 3 0-0 6, Young 0 0-0 0, Omes 0 0-0 0. Salea 0 1-2 1, Benz 2 3-4 7, Vitaleno 0 0-0 0, Westmond 0 0-0 0, Smith 3 0-0 8 Totals 13 4-7 32; Sandhills – Stevons 6 3-4 16, Clarkson 0 2-2 2, Morrissette-Barnett 4 0-1 8, Garrison 8 0-2 16, Grissett 0 0-0 0, Merriweather 2 1-4 6, Sexton 4 1-2 10. McCrimmon 0 0-0 0, McFadden 5 0-2 10, Haith 5 1-2 11, Peterson 2 0-0 4, Moore 5 0-0 10, Copeland 5 2-2 12, Childs 1 0-0 2, Murdock 2 2-2 7 Totals 49 12-23 114; Three-point goals: New River 2 (Smith 2); SCC 4 (Stevons, Merriweather, Sexton, Murdock).
by Charlie Bergman
Photo by Donna Ford