Flyers Fall to Trojans in Preseason Basketball at The Hangar

The Sandhills Community College basketball team was defeated 91-85 by Fayetteville Tech in a Tuesday evening preseason scrimmage at The Hangar.

In the Flyers' first home appearance of the season, long runs by the visitors in each half proved to be too much to overcome for Coach Mike Apple's squad.

Sophomore Isaiah Nelson scored a team-high 18 points for the Flyers, making six of his 11 shots from the field, including three treys. Also in double figures for the home team were freshman Damien Robinson with 14, to go with a team-high eight rebounds, and sophomore Jamori McDougald and freshman Randy Freeman with 10 points each.

Preseason play continues on Saturday at the Brunswick CC JUCO/Prep Jamboree in Bolivia, NC. The Flyers are scheduled to face Catawba Valley CC, and the Brunswick CC No. 1 and No. 2 teams during the day-long event.

Before a good crowd, consecutive baskets by Titus Cunningham sparked an 8-0 Flyers run that was completed with a pass from McDougald to Ayden Gittens for a dunk in transition and a 29-22 lead. But moments later, the visitors responded with a 13-2 burst on the way to a 47-38 advantage at the intermission.

Early in the second half, a three-point play by Freeman, consecutive baskets by Robinson and a trey by Nelson helped shave the deficit to 57-56, but the Trojans then outscored the Flyers 14-1 to take a commanding 71-57 lead with just under eight minutes remaining in the game.

The Trojans turned 19 turnovers by the Flyers into 22 points.

"We got off to a good start, but inconsistency killed us,' Apple said. "The turnovers came in bunches and when they come in bunches you're going to give the other team runs. We allowed Fayetteville Tech a great big run in the first half and then the second half run kind of doomed us.

"We have to be better handling the ball. I thought we were better today than we were 10 days ago in Louisburg."

Nelson had a solid freshman season two years ago as a forward before sitting out last season as a red-shirt. The 6-foot-4 product of Cox Mill High School seems to be adapting well now to playing on the wing.

"Isaiah shot the ball well," Apple said. "I'm pleased with what he's doing and think he's just going to get better."

Nelson's high game as a freshman was 22 points against Guilford Tech. He said that he is feeling comfortable in his new position and optimistic about the team's prospects this season.

"We have to do a better job of not turning the ball over and we have to rebound better," he said. "I think we're going to be pretty good this year."

C. Bergmann