Flyers Improve to 4-0 in Conference with Road Win in Oxford, GA
The Sandhills Community College basketball team improved to 4-0 in Region 10 conference play, and 14-6 overall, with a 93-78 victory over Emory Oxford in Oxford, Georgia on Saturday afternoon.
Twelve first-half points by Joey McMullin, and 15 after the intermission by Darryl McCaster, paced the Flyers in a game they never trailed, and led in by as many as 20 points.
On his 21st birthday, point guard Keegan Brayboy blocked six Eagles' shots, and dished out 11 assists. A remarkable all-around effort also included eight points, five rebounds and a pair of steals.
The two teams were originally scheduled to meet again on Sunday, but due to a forecast of icy road conditions the game has been rescheduled for Sunday, January 30 at 1 p.m.
Next for Coach Mike Apple's squad, subject to the weather, is a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day game on Monday at 5 p.m. against Hosanna Bible College at The Hangar.
Led by McMullin, the Flyers maintained a single-digit advantage throughout most of the first half before scoring the last six points to lead 41-29 at the break.
A three-point play by Sam Stolz sparked an early second half rally that culminated in a three by McMullin, giving the Flyers their largest lead at 59-39 with just under 14 minutes remaining in the game.
But the Eagles responded with 14 points in a row to close to 59-53 before a basket by Brayboy, and a three by Kendall Wooldridge, helped the Flyers regain control.
Moments later, the first of seven Flyers' points in a row by McCaster, followed by a put-back from Camron Zachary, helped rebuild the margin to a comfortable 15 points with six minutes remaining in the game.
Reached by phone later, Apple indicated he liked just about everything about the the way his team played, including the intensity they displayed throughout.
"Aside from the 14-0 run, I thought we did a good job," he said. "Keegan did a very good job of directing the offense and played a smart and savvy ballgame."
The leading scorers for the Flyers were McMullin and McCaster with 19 points each. Zac Sledge grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds.
The conference standings through Saturday's games are: Sandhills 4-0, Central Carolina 4-1, Oxford Emory 0-4 and Dabney L. Lancaster 0-3.
Plans for the MLK Showcase at The Hangar on Monday prior to the Flyers' game have been canceled due to the weather. The early afternoon high school doubleheader would have included boys' basketball games between Cox Mill and Hoke County, and Pinecrest and Apex Friendship.
Sandhills – Quiller 2 0-0 4, Brayboy 3 2-2 8, McCaster 8 2-4 19, Sledge 3 0-0 6, Stoltz 2 1-1 5, McMullin 8 0-0 19, Hunter 1 0-1 2, Coleman 1 0-0 2, Wooldridge 5 0-0 12, Robinson 4 0-0 10, Nelson 1 4-4 6, Zachary 1 0-0 2, Hanani 0 0-0 0 Totals 38 9-12 93. Oxford Emory – Osei 9 4-4 23, Hardin 3 1-2 9, Walker 3 5-6 13, Bergin 5 1-3 12, Snyder 4 1-3 10, Whitening 2 4-4 10, Laws 0 1-2 1 Totals 26 17-24 78. Three point goals: SCC 8 (McMullin 3, Wooldridge 2, Robinson 2, McCaster); Oxford 9 ( Hardin 2, Walker 2, Whitening 2, Bergin, Osei, Snyder).
C. Bergmann