Contributions From All Around in Flyer Win over the Jags

Damauri Sexton and Chase Morrisette-Barnett took advantage of an undersized and inexperienced Johnston CC squad early and the Sandhills Community College basketball team coasted to a 109-69 victory on Tuesday evening at the Hangar.

The sophomores operated smoothly in the Flyers' Region X opener, combining for 18 of their teams' first 38 points on the way to a 55-37 halftime lead. More than half of the Flyers' 47 rebounds in the game were at the offensive end as they finished with a 30 to three advantage in second chance points.

Coach Mike Apple's squad improved to 7-2 overall with their fifth win in a row while the Jaguars dropped to 1-6. They are idle until November 28 when they travel to Martinsville, VA to face Patrick Henry CC.

On a night the Flyers tied a season-high with 24 assists they also forced 31 turnovers. 

"There was a lot of one-on-one going on before and now we're starting to share the ball more," Sexton noted afterward. "If we play as a team and pick up on defense we'll be hard to stop. I feel like we're starting to jell."

Freshman Tyrell Allmond turned a Sexton steal into a three-point play as the Flyers scored the final eight points of the first half. Later a three by Donnie Haith capped a 9-2 run to begin the second.

Toward the halfway mark, three baskets in transition by Tavarus Peterson, and a three by Winston Bryan, expanded the margin to 30 points at 86-56.

Freshmen Holt Walker led the winners with 15 points followed by Morrisette-Barnett with 14, Tavarus Peterson and Evan Davis with 12 each and Sexton with 11.

Coming off a game at West Georgia Tech on Saturday when sophomore point guard Casey Clarkson suffered a broken hand that may keep him out of action until the first of next year, Apple was encouraged to see some strong contributions by freshmen.

The 6-foot-7 Davis was 4-for-5 from the field, and 4-for-5 on free throws, with four rebounds and a steal in 15 minutes of play as the non-starters outscored the starters 62-47. Devian Smith scored six points and was tied for the team-high in assists (4) and steals (3).

Another freshman, Delton Davis, was 3-for-5 from the field and scored six points. An all-around effort by Allmond produced three points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals.

A product of Garner High School, Evan Davis felt good about his contributions.

"I just had to get into the offense and tried to concentrate on defense today," he said. "Practices are becoming more competitive and everyone is going after each other. We know what we have to do."

With Clarkson out, and sophomore Zion Copeland still idle because of a knee injury, the extended playing time for players like Smith, who logged a team-high 21 minutes at guard, was important.  

"I think those guys saw enough action where you could see what they are about and it was good for their confidence," Apple said.

 Johnston CC – Mitchell 3 3-3 9, Ward 2 2-2 8, Persell 2 1-2 5, Tucker 3 1-2 8, Hines 6 2-2 14, Thorb 1 0-0 2, Anderson 1 0-0 2, Simmons 1 0-0 2, Alston 1 0-0 2, Potts 4 0-1 8, Orr 1 3-4 5, Woodard 1 0-0 2, Erickson 1 0-0 2 Totals 27 12-16 69. Sandhills – Morrisette-Barnett 7 0-0 14, Sexton 3 5-6 11, Haith 3 0-0 8, Dent 2 2-3 6, Ahoume 3 2-2 8, Ratliff 0 0-0 0, Grissett 0 0-0 0, Peterson 6 0-1 12, Bryan 2 2-4 7, Smith 2 0-0 5, Allmond 1 1-1 3, D. Davis 3 0-0 6, Williams 1 0-0 2, Walker 6 2-3 15, E. Davis 4 4-5 12 Totals 43 18-25 109. Three-point goals: JCC 3 (Tucker 3); SCC 5 Haith 2, Bryan, Smith, Walker).

by Charlie Bergmann

photo by Donna Ford