Flyer Basketball Team Celebrates Another Season of Accomplishments
The Sandhills Community College basketball team celebrated a season of challenges and accomplishment at a dinner held recently at the Dempsey Student Center.
"It was an interesting season to say the least." Head Coach Mike Apple told an audience of players, coaches, administrators and supporters of Sandhills athletics.
The Flyers overcame the loss of three players who suffered broken hands, another to a torn meniscus, other assorted injuries and several to academics, but still managed to win Region 10 regular season and conference tournament titles, the Mid-Atlantic District title and a gain a fourth consecutive trip to the NJCAA national tournament.
The Flyers won 13 consecutive games during a stretch that began in early January. The No. 2 scoring team in Division III (93.8 points per game) finished the season with a record of 26-9, including an 11-0 mark against Region 10 competition.
The season came to an end with losses to Joliet CC and College of Philadelphia at the national tournament in Rockford, IL. The Flyers were ranked No. 10 in the final NJCAA Division III national poll of the season.
The team also distinguished itself academically, compiling a combined GPA of 2.96 for the fall semester.
"Anytime you go through all the ups and downs in a season like we did, it's hard," Apple said afterward. "The fact that these guys won 13 games in a row, going through all that stuff and were able to focus on winning ball games is a tribute to our players.
"I think that's why they are a tough group. We battled inexperience all year and when we got to the national tournament that was hard to overcome."
Introducing the Flyer Support Team
Apple began the evening by recognizing the support provided to the athletes and coaches by their families. He recognized some of the donors to the program and thanked President Dr. John Dempsey, Vice President Ron Layne and Associate Athletic Directors Ryan Riggan and Alicia Riggan for their efforts.
Among the others receiving thanks included Academic Coordinator Marsha Apke, game clock operator Roger Parramore, bus drivers Ricky Hill and Obie Blue, photographer Donna Ford and website article writer Charlie Bergmann.
Sandhills students recognized for their contributions included L'Asia Jackson, scoring, Nick Bass, game announcer, Zach Ciboth, streaming, Kara Jordan, concessions and Mackenzie Swett, gate.
Flyer Players, Coaches Persevere to Hang Three More Banners at The Hangar
Apple introduced his coaching staff that includes three members of the 2012 national championship team in Tramaine Pride, Daquain Towns and Markell Lotharp in addition to Philip Olbon.
Then he introduced red-shirt freshmen Jamal Williams, Nathan Willis, Jaquan Thurman and Jesse Taylor who participated in practices throughout the season.
Among the freshmen who saw action, forward Joey McMullin averaged 14.4 points per game and was named to the NJCAA Division III All-American Third Team. He was also the Region 10 Player of the Year and shared Region 10 Freshman of the Year honors with teammate Bryan Quiller.
Although in his second season with the Flyers, Quiller was technically a freshman due to Covid protocols. After leading the team in scoring last season, a broken right hand suffered in a preseason game in October kept him out of action until January.
He played in 21 games and averaged a team-leading 16.8 points per game. The 6-foot-5 forward scored 22 points and grabbed 26 rebounds in the Region 10 title game against Central Carolina CC and was named the National Division III Player of the Week.
The freshman guards included Chris Hunter, Alon Hanani, Kendall Wooldridge, Sam Stoltz, LeNijel Robinson and K.J. Perry. The forwards were Isaiah Nelson and Justice Asante.
Guards Darryl McCaster and Jordan Coleman, and forwards Zac Sledge and Camron Zachary were the sophomore members of the team.
McCaster, a transfer from St. Andrews, scored 24 points in the Region 10 championship game and averaged 11.3 per game for the season. An All-Region 10 honorable-mention selection, he started the most games for the Flyers (29).
Team awards voted on by the coaches announced at the dinner included: Best Defensive Player – McCaster and Best Offensive Player – Quiller. In a vote by the coaches and players McMullin was named, Best Teammate.
Apple, whose teams have compiled a record of 279- 80 in his 11 years at Sandhills was named the Region 10 Coach of the Year.
Season Produces Highlights on and Off the Court
Along with the 13-game winning streak, a highlight of the season for Apple included a 75-67 home win in December over a Caldwell Tech team that went on to win 25 games and qualify for the Division I national tournament. Another was the 77-72 victory on Prince George's home court in Maryland for the Mid-Atlantic District title.
And another highlight was the overall academic performance by the players for the fall semester that landed Hanani on the President's List (4.0 GPA) and Zachary, McMullin and Thurman on the Dean's List (3.5 or better).
In addition, McCaster, Perry, Robinson, Willis and Wooldridge received Region 10 academic recognition (3.0 or better).
"Our academic coordinator, Marsha Apke, deserves a lot of credit for her work with our athletes," Apple said after the academic honors were announced in January.
Wait Til Next Year
With a strong core of experienced players expected to return and some commitments already received from new recruits, the prospects are promising for next season.
"They came back from Illinois a down group," Apple said of his players. "These guys go to class on time and they're really good basketball players. I'm proud of them. Just wait until next year."
C. Bergmann