Flyers Move to 4-0 with Strong Defensive Performance Against CVCC
The Sandhills Community College basketball team improved to 3-0 in Region 10, and 4-0 overall, with a 92-81 victory over Catawba Valley CC (2-1, 3-1) in Hickory on Saturday afternoon.
After limiting the home team to 28 points in the first half, the Flyers led by as many as 21 in the second before holding off a late rally by the 17th ranked in NJCAA Division II Red Hawks. Derreco Miller led five Flyers in double-figures with 18 points. The 6-foot-5 forward was also credited with seven rebounds, four steals and three blocked shots.
Next for Coach Mike Apple's squad is a 7 p.m. contest at Fayetteville Tech (0-0) on Wednesday. Lenoir CC will provide the opposition for the next home game at 3 p.m. on Saturday
Tied at 19-19 at the eight-minute mark of the first half, a 7-0 run that included a pair of free throws by Dharyus Thomas, a three by Miller and jumper by Nathan Yow, got the Flyers going. Ahead 39-28 at the intermission, they outscored the home team 15-5 in the first four minutes of the second half to take a commanding 54-33 lead.
In an overall sloppily played second half by both teams, the Red Hawks cut the margin to 10 points on a basket by Tony Hauser with just under four minutes remaining in the game. Moments later, a three by John Bean made it 80-73.
But the Flyers responded with a 10-2 burst that included threes by Staton and Thomas, a jumper by Keegan Brayboy and a pair of free throws by Miller for a 90-76 lead.
Brayboy and Bryan Quiller with 15 points, Thomas with 13 and Staton with 12, were the other scoring leaders for the winners. Staton was also credited with seven steals. Quiller was the leader in rebounds with eight.
Fayetteville Tech is scheduled to open its season at home today (Sunday) against Bryant and Stratton CC.
Flyers Extra – Through the first three games, the Flyers' Corry Addison leads Division II in assists per game (7.7). He was credited with four against CVCC. Also on Saturday, Elijah Idlett, a member of last season's national championship squad, scored 21 points, to help Montreat College (10-8) defeat Bluefield College 96-91. The 6-3 guard is averaging 14.8 points per game for the Cavaliers. A day earlier, former Flyer Donnie Haith scored 13 points in 16 minutes off the bench to help Pfeiffer University win its season opener 99-78 over Greensboro College.
Sandhills CC – Staton 5 1-6 12, Addison 2 2-2 6, Brayboy 4 6-6 15, Miller 6 5-7 18, Quiller 7 1-2 15, Yow 2 1-2 5, Thomas 4 4-6 13, Zachary 2 0-0 5, Murr 1 0-0 3, Boyd 0 0-0 0, Sledge 0 0-0 0 Totals 33 20-31 92. Catawba Valley CC – Prioleau 4 1-4 9, Hauser 4 2-4 11, Walden 1 2-4 4, Evans 3 2-2 10, Hamrick 0 0-0 0, E. Thomas 11 0-3 22, Bryson 1 1-4 4, Molden 4 1-4 11, Daniels 2 0-0 5, Bean 1 0-0 3, Isbell 0 0-2 0, Martin 0 1-2 1, Rogers 0 1-2 1 Totals 31 11-31 81. Three-point goals: (SCC) 6 (Staton, Brayboy, Miller, Thomas, Zachary, Murr); CVCC 8 Evans 2, Molden 2, Bryson, Hauser, Daniels, Bean).
C. Bergmann