Two Special Seasons of Flyers' Basketball Celebrated

Dr. John Dempsey described the 2019-20 and 2020-21 Sandhills Community College basketball teams as "the most remarkable I've been around in my life."

The president of the college, players, coaches, family members and other supporters of the basketball program recently assembled at Forest Creek Golf Club in Pinehurst to celebrate the accomplishments of the two teams.

Due to Covid 19, the college was previously unable to celebrate the 2019-20 team's record of 34-2 in the process of winning the NJCAA Division III national championship in Rochester, MN last March. The Flyers hold the distinction of being the only men's college basketball team to win a title that season because of the cancellation of the other national tournaments.

This year's squad moved up to Division II due to pandemic considerations, compiled a record of 21-6, and was ranked No. 7 in the Division II national poll before finishing in sixth place at the national tournament held last month in Danville, IL.

Dempsey praised the players on both teams for accounting for themselves well on and off of the court, and in the classroom, and for their hard work and strong finishes in games.

"The common thread is Mike Apple," he said.

Apple will take a record of 253-71 and two national championships in 10 years at Sandhills, into next season when the team will return to Division III.

Introductions and Highlights of the 2019-20 National Championship Season

Corry Addison, Zion Bailey, Collin Medins, Derreco Miller and Nathan Yow were first-year members of the team, and Nasir Johnson, Keegan Brayboy and Will Boyd sat out the season as red-shirts.

Savion Staton, who was a red-shirt freshman on the Flyer squad that finished fifth at the 2018-19 national tournament in Rochester, holds the distinction of being a member of three Flyer teams that qualified for the national tournament.

Tyrell Allmond, Winston Bryan, Evan Davis, Sayaun Dent, Elijah Idlett, Niem Ratliffe, Cameron Richardson and Cameron Williams were the second-year members of the national championship squad that played the semi-final and title games on the same day on March 12, 2020.

In the process of compiling a record of 34-2, and leading the nation in points per game, the Flyers were 5-0 against Division II teams with an average win margin of 18 points. They were 13-0 against Division III teams culminating in the tournament wins over No. 8 ranked and defending champion, Herkimer CC, No. 4 Rochester CC on its home court and No. 2 Mohawk Valley CC.

Dent and Apple received National Player of the Year and National Coach of the Year honors, respectively in 2020 from both the NJCAA and NABC. Dent was also the MVP of the national tournament and the Region 10 Player of the Year. Miller and Staton were all-tournament selections.

Apple described the 2019-20 season as a "bang-up year" for academic achievement for all of the Sandhills athletic programs, including basketball.

"I think one of the reasons why that team was so successful was the character of the kids," the coach said. "They just didn't care about basketball, they cared about what they were supposed to do as student/athletes.

"They got the job done in the classroom and that certainly showed with all the academic awards. Cameron Williams was our first basketball NJCAA Academic All-American."

Williams, Allmond, Bailey, Bryan, Medins, Miller, Staton and Yow all made the All-Region 10 Academic Team.

Highlights of the 2020-2021 Season

When the NJCAA announced there would be no Division III national championship held this season, the Flyer players accepted the challenge of moving up to Division II and competing against colleges providing scholarships that include tuition and books to their athletes.

Apple talked about some of the highlights, including a road win against a Brunswick CC team that was the Region 10 Division I champion and a national tournament qualifier.

Others included, two wins over a Louisburg College team Sandhills had not previously beaten in the Flyer era of basketball, three wins each over Fayetteville Tech and Catawba Valley CC, and a victory in the national tournament over an Ancilla College team that was undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the nation going into the national championships.

"Folks, because of the pandemic, these guys practiced 111 times, had 32 shoot-a-rounds, five scrimmages and 27 games," Apple told the audience. "They were absolute warriors in how they worked and performed under pressure so many times this year."

Team Introductions, Honors and Awards

Sophomores Addison, Miller, Staton and Yow were members of two teams that produced a combined record of 55-8. Boyd was the fifth member of the team to graduate from Sandhills this spring.

The other members recognized were Brayboy, Johnson, Dharyus Thomas, Camron Zachary, Jonah Murr, Jeremiah Murphy, Bryan Quiller, Zac Sledge and Jordan Coleman, who sat out as a red-shirt.

Miller was a third team Division II All-American selection and an All-Region 10 first-team pick. For the second year in a row, Staton made the all-tournament team and the All-Region 10 first team. Quiller was an All-Region 10 second team selection.

Apple also announced team awards: Offensive Player of the Year – Miller; Best Defensive Player – Staton; Best Teammate – Addison and Yow.

The early returns on the team's academic accomplishments are promising with Zachary and Murr expected to be recognized as the basketball program's second and third NJCAA Academic All-Americans. Zachary, Murr Addison and Yow will receive All-Region 10 Academic honors.

Players, Coach Share Experiences

"It was definitely a blessing to be a part of both teams," Yow said at the end of the evening. "They were different teams, but very special in their own ways.

"Playing on both teams it was really good to see all the guys I played with. In our second year we knew we had to pick up the role of leadership and show the younger guys what the older guys showed us in our freshman year."

The success of the national championship team contributed to players like Dent, Idlett, Davis and Bryan, gaining opportunities to continue their college basketball careers at four-year colleges.

Idlett and Davis played at Montreat College last season. Idlett averaged 14.3 points per game and was named to the Appalachian Athletic Conference All-Conference Second Team.

Davis is looking forward to being a part of a successful team at Montreat this coming season.

"It felt good just seeing everybody, the new guys and the old guys together," he said at the end of the evening. "It was a great time for us to celebrate these two years with everything that's been going on."

Also joining in the celebration was Josh Smith who was in his second season as an assistant coach when the Flyers won the 2019-20 national title. As a player he led the Flyers' 2015-16 team in scoring before moving on to play at Fayetteville State for two years.

A head coach for the post graduate team at International Sports Academy near Cleveland, OH this past season, he is now living in Charlotte. He is working on a master's degree and plans to resume his coaching career.

"It feels like home," he said about the reunion. "I feel like I played my part."

Large Support Group Helps Achieve Success in two Challenging Years for the College and the Country

In addition to his own family, Apple thanked the family members of the players in attendance and a long list of others, including financial contributors to the basketball program, Dempsey, Trustee George Little, Vice President Ron Layne, and associate Athletic Directors Ryan and Alicia Riggan.

Apple's coaching staff for the two seasons included Smith, Tramaine Pride, Scott Bender, Daquain Towns and Philip Olbon. Stephanie Turner was the trainer and Marsha Apke provided academic support.

Others recognized for their contributions were Charlotte Tomeski and family members Ashley and Stephen; Scorekeepers – Ineice Jones, Rachel Miller and Makayla Swinnie; Score/stat crew – Danny Gironda, Josh Newton, Roger Parramore and Tamaurius Hailey; Game Day Administrator – Rick Kruska; Bus drivers – Ricky Hill and Obie Blue; Media – Donna Ford and Charlie Bergmann; Streaming - Noah Lyons; Financial Liason – Cynthia Thomas.

"With the 2019-20 season ending the way it did, even though it was great, winning a national championship, we never got that moment with the players, their parents and other people to celebrate the achievement," Apple said a day later. "Last night was a long time coming, but we got to do that.

"I think the fact that we did it with this year's team made it even better because of the fact that our guys this year had heard stories that gave them more insights into how it was. I've heard comments from guys coming back that we can't lose but two games next year so we can at least tie their record. That was great to hear."

Associate Athletic Director Ryan Riggan announced that the 2019-20 team has been inducted into the George Whitfield Hall of Fame located in Goldsboro. Whitfield won over 1,000 games as a college, high school and American Legion baseball coach. The Flyers national championship team joins former UNC star Phil Ford as one of many non-baseball inductees.

C. Bergmann