Flyers Dominate Down Low in Victory Over the Cougars

The No. 1 ranked Sandhills Community College basketball team punished Central Carolina CC in the paint and in transition, and improved to 10-0 with a 113-89 Region 10 victory on Thursday in Sanford.

The lead changed hands a half dozen times in the first half before the Flyers distanced themselves from the Cougars with a 12-0 run. Coach Mike Apple's squad took a 54-43 lead into the intermission and led by as many as 28 points in the second half.

The long range shooting of the Cougars, now 5-6, was as advertised as they made 13 three-point baskets.

Next on the schedule is a 3 p.m. Military Appreciation Day contest on Saturday against Community Christian College of Lancaster, SC. The Flyers defeated the Black Knights 104-74 on the road in their season opener.

Last February, the Cougars made nine threes in the first half of their eight-point home victory over the Flyers. They are led by returnees Jackson Reid, a third team All-American last season and Rodney Alston. The pair average a combined 44 points and seven three-point baskets per game. Reid has scored more than 30 points three times this season.

"They are an explosive team," Apple said. "Reid and Alston score approximately half of their points so if we could limit one or both of them to a little less than their averages it would limit how many points they were going to score."

The Flyers' Tyrell Allmond and Elijah Idlett took turns denying Reid three-point opportunities, but Alston made three and the pair combined to score 24 first-half points. Leading 31-29 with 7:40 remaining in the half, Evan Davis began the 12-0 Flyer burst with a putback. A steal and a quick three by Niem Ratliffe provided more energy.

Six different players scored in the run that also included a putback by Charles Thomas and ended with a basket by Idlett that gave the Flyers a 43-29 advantage.

"I tried to offensive rebound and just clean up the glass, and defensive rebound and push the ball, because we were way faster than them," Davis said.

The second half began with a second-chance basket by Sayaun Dent, a basket inside by Davis, from Dent, and a baby hook by Davis. The Flyers were unstoppable inside now as forwards Derreco Miller and Collin Medins came on to get into the act.

The margin reached 20 points for the first time when Idlett inbounded the ball for a basket by Medins that made it 75-55 with just over 13 minutes remaining in the game.

Sayaun Dent led the Flyers with 22 points and a career-high 17 rebounds. Other double-figure scorers for the winners were Corry Addison, Davis and Miller with 13 points apiece, and Idlett with 12.

The Flyer's 26 offensive rebounds included six by Dent and five by Davis. Winston Bryan handed out a team-high five assists and Miller and Addison were each credited with three blocked shots. The Flyers committed a season-low 12 turnovers.

Alston led the Cougars with 24 points. Reid finished with a dozen, but did not make a three and was limited to one point in the second half.

Freshman guard Nathan Yow was asked if he felt any extra pressure playing his first college game in his home town before a near capacity crowd.

"No, I was just trying to do what we do and get the win," the Grace Christian grad said. "I played pickup here alot during the summer and was familiar with it. There were a lot of friends and family here."

In the locker room afterward, one of Apple's first topics of discussion with his players was "complacency". The Flyers have three games remaining in 2019.

"It's definitely something we need to focus on in practice," Yow said. "We can't get complacent. We have to keep working hard in practice, finish out this stretch, and then keep the same energy and keep playing good basketball after Christmas."

Sandhills – Staton 0 0-0 0, Allmond 4 1-3 9, Dent 9 3-3 22, Addison 4 5-5 13, Davis 6 1-3 13, Idlett 3 5-6 12, Ratliffe 1 1-2 4, Yow 1 0-0 2, Bryan 2 0-0 6, Bailey 1 3-4 5, Miller 6 1-1 13, Thomas 2 0-2 4, Williams 1 0-0 2, Richardson 0 2-3 2, Medins 3 0-0 6 Totals 43 22-32 113. Central Carolina – Alston 9 2-3 24, Reid 5 2-4 12, Butler 4 2-2 13, Shields 2 6-6 11, Thiam 1 3-4 5, Harris 0 1-2 1, Morgan 3 0-0 8, Bell 4 0-2 10, White 0 0-0 0, Richardson 2 0-0 5 Totals 30 16-23 89. Three-point goals: SCC 5 (Bryan 2, Dent, Idlett, Ratliffe); CCCC 13 (Alston 4, Butler 3, Morgan 2, Bell 2, Shields, Richardson).

by Charlie Bergmann

photo by Donna Ford