Flyer Cagers Fall to Trojans in Scrimmage at the Hangar

The Sandhills Community College basketball team made its home debut in a scrimmage on Wednesday and dropped an 84-79 decision to Fayetteville Tech.

In a back and forth affair, the Flyers drew even at 76-76 with 1:24 remaining in the game on pair of free throws by Joey McMullin before the Trojan's outscored them 8-3 the rest of the way.

Jordan Coleman scored 17 points to lead the home team. Teammate Camron Zachary put together an all-around effort that produced 13 points, six rebounds and five assists.

The Flyers played without Bryan Quiller the team's leading scorer and second leading rebounder last season. The 6-foot-5 forward broke a bone in his right hand last Saturday at The Battle of the South Jamboree in Cummings, GA. He is scheduled to undergo surgery later this week and is expected to be sidelined for up to eight weeks.

Coach Mike Apple's squad dropped all three of its scrimmages against Division I opponents in Georgia. Against a Trojan squad they defeated three times last season while competing in Division II, the Flyers trailed by as many as eight points before taking their first lead at 28-27 on basket by freshman Isaiah Nelson with six minutes remaining in the half.

Later, a steal and a basket by Coleman, completed a 17-2 run that gave the Flyers a 37-29 lead before an 11-0 Trojan burst helped close the gap to 44-42 at the intermission.

Cold from the field at the start of the second half, the Flyers fell behind 61-54 before consecutive threes by Sam Stoltz and Darryl McCaster triggered a 13-0 run that put them in front 67-61. The lead changed hands three times before McMullin's tying free throws and the strong finish by the Trojans.

"There was a lot of progress from when we played in Georgia," Apple said. "I thought there was a lot more chemistry offensively and we moved the ball better. We didn't make a lot of them obviously, but we got good shots. 

"Defensively we still have a lot to work on. And we have to rebound the ball better. When we do that we'll have a chance to win some ball games."

Coleman, a 5-10 guard, who red-shirted last season, was 8-for-11 from the field, all on drives to the basket. Other double-figure scorers included McCaster with 11 points and Nasir Johnson with 10.

"I hate to lose, but I was encouraged by some of my young guys," the coach said. "I thought Jordon Coleman came off the bench and played really well."

The Flyers were out-rebounded 41-33, surrendering 11 second chance points. With Quiller out, the coach will be looking for 6-9 sophomore Zac Sledge to pick up some of the slack.

"Zac Sledge is coming along nicely," Apple said. "He's got to keep developing and become a force on the backboards."

In a change to the schedule, Blue Lights College in Apex is replacing Hines Prep as the Flyers opponent for the 6 p.m. scrimmage at the Hangar next Wednesday.  
C. Bergmann