High Energy Flyers Tame the Cougars

Watching freshman Tavarus Peterson split defenders for baskets in transition, and on drives out of the half-court offense, conjures visions of a football running back racking up a ton of yards.

The 6-foot-2 wingman accounted for most of his team-high 16 points in that manner to help the Sandhills Community College basketball team defeat Central Carolina CC 114-77 at the Hangar Wednesday evening.

"He's as physical of a basketball player as we've had here lately," Flyers' coach Mike Apple said. "I love his intensity, especially offensively. The thing that has really helped get Tavarus on the court more is how he's picked up his defensive intensity."

Coupled with Saturday's 116-97 victory at Johnston CC, the Flyers, 23-5 overall, completed Region X play with a record of 7-2. The win was their fifth in a row and ninth in their last 10 games. The Cougars dropped to 10-17 and 2-7. Davidson County CC , 20-5, 8-1, won the regular season conference title. 

The Flyers will host Hines Prep at 7 p.m. on Thursday in the make-up of a game postponed because of weather conditions.

Apple juggled his starting lineup against the Cougars and the changes produced early dividends.  Forward Zion Copeland was making his first start of the season and point guard Casey Clarkson his first since November.  Copeland recorded two assists, a basket and a free throw, and Clarkson connected on a long two and a three, as the Flyers jumped out to a 16-9 lead. 

The visitors crept back to within four points before Luke Moore accounted for all 10 of his points in the game over a span of less than two minutes. His second three made it 32-20.

From there Malik McCrimmon, Donnie Haith, Juwaan Childs and Emmanuel Merriweather all connected from behind the arc as the Flyers went 9-for-12 from long range on the way to a 65-37 lead at the intermission. 

In the few years that Peterson played football he recalls being more into the tackling than ball-carrying part of the game. In addition to weight training with the team, he works out on his own. Last season, he scored 33 and 24 points against the Flyers as a member of the Mt. Zion squad.

He is averaging 9.2 points per game while making 50.3 per cent of his shots from the field and 78.3 from the charity stripe. Nine of his 11 points in the second half resulted from aggressive attacks of the rim.

"When I'm going downhill, I'm so physical, agile and strong that I can finish even with the contact and everything," he said.

The Flyers made 54.5 per cent of their shots from the field in the game. Fifteen players got into the scoring column and 74 points came from the bench. Shane Garrison and Parrish Stevons each scored 11 points, and Haith and Moore added 10 each. McCrimmon was the leader in assists with six. David Thompson scored 20 points to lead the visitors.

"We had a lot of energy tonight because we're getting closer to the tournament and coach is pushing us to give everything we've got," Peterson said.

Apple felt the defensive effort was an improvement over Saturday when Johnston County scored 51 points in the first half. Shane Garrison put together an all-round game that included 18 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals. Morrissette-Barnett also had a double-double with 11 points and 10 boards.

"We have to commit to playing defense," the coach said once again. "When we do we are a really good team."

On Donna Ford and Charlie Bergmann Night, the photographer and sports writer were honored at halftime and presented with plaques  in recognition of their years of support of SCC athletics.

Central Carolina – Thomas 2 0-0 4, Monroe 4 0-0 8, Brown 3 7-10 14, North 6 1-1 16, Thompson 7 5-6 20, George 4 0-0 8, Tolbert 2 0-0 5, Amerson 1 0-0 2 Totals 29 13-17 77. Sandhills – Stevons 4 2-4 11, Clarkson 2 0-0 5, Morrissette-Barnett 3 0-0 7, Copeland 2 2-4 6, Garrison 4 3-4 11, Harrell 2 4-4 8, Merriweather 3 0-0 8, Sexton 2 0-0 4, McCrimmon 2 0-0 4, McFadden 0 2-2 2, Haith 3 3-3 10, Peterson 7 2-4 16, Moore 3 2-2 10, Childs 3 0-0 7, Murdock 2 0-0 4, Grissett 0 0-0 0 Totals 42 20-27 114. Three-point goals: CCCC 6 (North 3, Brown, Tolbert, Thompson); SCC 10 (Merriweather 2, Moore 2, Stevons, Clarkson, McCrimmon, Haith, Morrissette-Barnett, Childs).

by Charlie Bergmann

photo by Donna Ford