One More Test For No. 1 Ranked Flyers Before Holiday Break
The Sandhills Community College basketball team entertains Shooting 4 Greatness Academy on Wednesday with a chance to go into the new year undefeated for the first time in the 12-year history of the program.
Coach Mike Apple is not taking the prep school squad from Raleigh lightly. The Flyers closed with a 25-2 run to gain a 97-74 victory on November 8 after leading by just two points with 6:30 remaining in the game.
"I'm really excited about Wednesday's game," Apple said on Monday, looking ahead to the 7 p.m. tip-off at The Hangar. "They've got some good players and I'm very concerned about playing them. We have to have two good practices in preparation."
The No. 1 ranked Flyers (NJCAA Division III poll) improved to 12-0 with a 116-83 victory over Dabney S. Lancaster in Clifton Forge, VA on Saturday. Tyrell Allmond with 21 points and five steals, and Corry Addison with 19 points and six steals, were leaders at both ends of the court.
Elijah Idlett added 15 points and five steals as Coach Mike Apple's squad tied a season-high with 23 in the latter category. The Roadrunners dropped to 4-8 with their second loss of the season to the Flyers.
"Corry had a great first half for us," the coach said. "He was a show. I think he was 9-for-9 from the field. He did a great job of being in passing lanes. He got a lot of steals for easy baskets and hit a three when we needed it as well.
"When the second half started Tyrell took right up from where Corry left off. He just had a flurry of baskets and really helped get us a very comfortable margin. Elijah came off the bench and kept that going. Those three really stepped up."
Sayaun Dent with 15 points and Savion Staton with 13 were other double-figure scorers for the Flyers. Dent was 9-for-9 from the charity stripe and is now 74-for-81 for the season (91.4 per cent). Idlett was 7-for-8 and Allmond was 5-for-6, helping the team go 28-for-36 overall (77.8 per cent).
A newcomer to Region 10, Dabney S. Lancaster is in its first year with a basketball program and will not be eligible to play in the conference tournament until next season.
The Flyers are ranked No. 1 for the fourth week in a row in Monday's poll. The first semester ends on Tuesday with the final day of exams. There is still work to be done on the basketball court on Wednesday.
"This time of year is filled with excitement," Apple said. "The guys are glad to be through with exams and they're excited about spending some time at home. And I think they're thrilled with what has been happening with Sandhills basketball."
Sandhills – Staton 4 3-4 13, Allmond 8 5-6 21, Dent 3 9-9 15, Addison 9 0-0 19, Davis 2 0-0 4, Idlett 4 7-8 15, Ratliffe 1 0-0 2, Yow 0 0-0 0, Bryan 2 0-1 4, Bailey 0 0-0 0, Miller 3 0-0 6, Thomas 1 3-4 5, Richardson 3 0-0 7, Medins 2 1-4 5 Totals 42 28-36 116. Dabney S. Lancaster – Dabney 7 4-6 18, Leffler 2 2-2 7, Helmintoller 4 5-8 13, D. Lewis 2 0-2 4, Gibson 2 0-0 4, Roldan 2 0-0 4, Rawlings 2 3-3 7, Darcus 0 0-0 0, Key 5 0-1 12, J. Lewis 3 0-0 6, Baker 2 4-5 8, Roman 0 0-0 0, Baggot 0 0-0 0 Totals 31 18-27 83. Three-point goals: SCC 4 (Staton 2, Addison, Richardson); DL 3 (Key 2, Leffler).
by Charlie Bergmann
photo by Donna Ford