Flyers, Harrell showing Consistency as Attention Turns Back to Conference
The Sandhills Flyers tuned up for upcoming Region X games against Johnston CC and Central Carolina CC by rolling to a 116-67 home victory over Washington Academy of Greenville, N.C. Wednesday evening.
Coach Mike Apple's squad left nothing to chance as it jumped out to a 20-2 lead after six minutes of action. Chase Morrissette-Barnett led the way with 21 points and the Flyers improved to 21-5 on the season. Casey Clarkson added 15, Luke Moore had 11 and Mason Harrell was credited with 10 points and 12 rebounds for his fifth double-double in the last six games.
The Flyers will take a conference record of 5-2 into Saturday's 3 p.m. contest at Johnston CC (5-22, 1-7).
The Flyers showed plenty of energy at both ends of the court in the opening burst that began with a three by Parrish Stevons. It ended with a basket in transition by Clarkson triggered from a blocked shot by Luke Moore.
"That's what good teams do," Apple said. "They take the other team out of the ball game from the get-go. I thought defensively our intensity was good throughout the course of the game which has been a big emphasis."
Morrissette-Barnett scored 10 points and had five assists, and Harrell and Moore each had three blocked shots, as the Flyers took a 59-27 lead into the half-time break. They went over the century mark with 7:02 remaining in the game on a lightning-fast sequence that began with a steal by Emmanuel Merriweather to Donnie Haith to Morrissette-Barnett for the basket that made it 101-51.
The Flyers made a season-best 60.3 per cent of their shots from the field. Morrissette-Barnett, Haith and Clarkson were each credited with six assists.
Harrell, who is averaging 13.1 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, has been averaging a double-double since the first of the year (15.1 and 10.2). His field goal percentage is a team-best 62.0.
"I feel good because I didn't start the season strong, but I'm finishing it strong," the 6-8 sophomore said afterward. "I really want to finish strong."
Apple says that the product of East Wake High School is a natural rebounder.
"Mason has great fundamentals and he always goes after the ball with both hands. As for his offense, he has worked extremely hard on his post moves and his jump shot. I think we are seeing the results of his hard work."
Region X standings: Davidson 7-1, Sandhills 5-2 Central Carolina 2-5, Johnston 1-7.
Washington Academy – Strange 0 0-0 0, Manson 3 0-0 7, Cox 2 1-2 6, Fankhouser 4 0-0 8, Freeman 5 6-6 17, Smith 3 2-4 8, Miller 0 0-2 0, Hilliard 0 0-0 0, Pinkey 1 0-0 2, Walker 2 4-4 10, Hannah 3 0-0 9 Totals 23 13-18 67. Sandhills – Stevons 3 0-0 7, Haith 2 2-4 6, Morrissette-Barnett 8 4-5 21, Harrell 4 2-4 10, Garrison 2 2-2 6, Merriweather 1 0-0 3, Clarkson 6 0-1 15, Sexton 3 2-5 9, McCrimmon 2 0-0 5, Peterson 2 2-2 6, Moore 4 1-3 11, Copeland 3 2-2 8, Childs 3 0-0 6, Murdock 1 0-0 3, Grissett 0 0-0 0 Totals 44 17-28 116. Three-point goals: WA 8 (Hannah 3, Walker 2, Manson, Cox, Freeman); SCC (Clarkson 3, Moore 2, Stevons, Merriweather, Sexton, McCrimmon, Morrissette-Barnett, Murdock).
by Charlie Bergmann
photo by Donna Ford