Flyers Face Tough Test From the Patriots at The Hangar on Wednesday

An already difficult early season schedule doesn't get any easier for the Sandhills Community College basketball team with home games coming up against Patrick Henry CC and Caldwell Tech this week.

The Flyers (5-4) meet a Patrick Henry squad (3-2) that is fourth in the nation in NJCAA Division II in three-point baskets made per game at 6 p.m. on Wednesday. In a loss to Southwest Virginia CC two weeks ago, the Patriots made 18 of 45 shots from beyond the arc.

Ranked No. 25 in Division I, Caldwell Tech (6-0) provides the opposition at 3 p.m. at The Hangar on Saturday.

The Flyers are ranked No. 11 in this week's Division III poll. Through Saturday, three of the team's first 11 games will have been against Division I opponents and four against Division II teams.

"When you schedule tough teams you're always skirting a fine line between preparing and losing some confidence because you're not winning ball games," Flyers' Coach Mike Apple said on Monday. "I think we're skirting that line right now and some of the guys aren't feeling as confident about some things as they should."

Unanticipated at the time the schedule was made was that two of the team's top returning players would be unavailable because of injuries.

Bryan Quiller, the leading scorer on last season's team that finished in sixth place at the Division II National Championship, is recovering from a broken bone in his right hand suffered at a scrimmage in October. He was recently cleared to resume non-basketball conditioning activities.

Another sophomore forward, Camron Zachary, injured his right knee in the opening game of the season. He is due for a follow-up MRI this week. Neither player is expected to see game action before January.

According to Apple, the team's other front court players have benefited from the additional playing time that has resulted.

"I think the biggest positive has been the growth of our inside players," the coach said. "I think Zac Sledge, Isaiah Nelson and Justice Asante have all improved. Joey McMullin has been a solid contributor all the way through.

"Our back court guys are getting experience and we're hoping they'll get better and more confident in what they are doing."

Through nine games, guard Nasir Johnson, 16.2 points per game, and McMullin, 14.6, are the team's leading scorers. Sledge is the leader in rebounds at 8.8 per game and Jordan Coleman is the assist leader at 4.1 per game.

"Honestly, we have to be competitive and play better," Apple said. "We have to string together halves and not just moments in halves. That's been a challenge for us."

C. Bergmann