Leading 12-6 after the first four minutes of Sunday’s Region 10 championship game against Patrick and Henry, the Sandhills Community College basketball team was stunned by a 19-0 Patriot run.
The Flyers responded with a 10-0 burst of their own but trailed most of the rest of the way before rallying in the final four minutes of the game to gain an 84-78 victory at The Hangar.
With its 14th victory in the last 15 games, Coach Mike Apple’s squad (24-7) advances to play the Region 20 tournament champion, Prince George’s CC (21-7), next Saturday at 2 p.m. in Largo, MD, for the Mid-Atlantic District title. A victory there will advance the Flyers to the NJCAA Championship tournament for the sixth season in a row.
“The good thing about today is that we had all kinds of adversity in the first and second half and responded every time,” Apple said afterward. “I’m glad we did it and am looking forward to keeping our season going next Saturday at Prince George’s.”
The Flyers trailed 38-36 at the intermission and by seven points at 65-58 with just over seven minutes remaining in the game. Then a flurry of threes, two by Chad Kinch and one by Jamori McDougald, closed the gap to 68-67.
Moments later, a pair of free throws by Damien Robinson gave the home team its first lead since late in the first half at 70-68 with 4:34 remaining in the game. A three by Demyron Williams made it 73-68, and the Flyers held on from there.
“It wasn’t easy at all,” said McDougald, one of four members of the team that lost to Brookdale CC (NJ) in last season’s national championship game. “Last year, we kind of ran through the region. This year, we kind of started off slow, but we finished pretty strong.
“Before the game started, we all sat down together and told each other we’re going to stay together no matter what happens, win or lose.”
Playing with confidence throughout the tournament, Kinch launched a dozen shots from beyond the arc on Sunday and connected on half of them, finishing with a team-high 18 points.
“You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take,” the sophomore by way of Southern Durham High School said. “My first two went in, so I kept shooting.”
Robinson, a freshman, added 14 points and 13 rebounds. Sophomores Isaiah Nelson and Zach Riddle pitched in with 13 points each, and McDougald contributed 10 points to go with nine assists. Jaylen Faber led the team from Martinsville, VA, with 29 points. The Patriots finished the season with a record of 12-13.
Robinson, who was announced as Region 10 Freshman of the Year on Saturday, missed his first four free throws on Sunday and then drained four in a row in the final eight minutes of the game. The product of Overhills High School’s double-double was his 21st of the season.
“I’m not going to lie; I was nervous from the jump,” he said. “There were times we broke down, but adversity happens in all games. Staying together as a team is a big piece of us. When we came together, everything got good.”
In addition to Robinson, other Flyers earning All Region 10 honors include: First team — Robinson and McDougald, and second team — Riddle and Ayden Gittens. Apple was named Coach of the Year. Also seeing action and contributing in the victory were Mike Fee (six assists), Jashaun Torrence, Tre’ Williams and Jamal Williams. Another contributor during the season, Xavion White, did not see action during the game. Freshman Keimari Artis of Paul D. Camp CC was named Player of the Year.
The Flyers also met Prince George’s for the district title in Largo in 2022. They won 77-72, earning a spot in the national tournament held in Rockville, IL.
When Sunday’s game ended, the Flyers players crossed the court to thank the fans who have supported them so well throughout the season. Among those congratulating his former teammates was 2023 All-American Bryan Quiller.
“The support from our fan base this season has been incredible,” Apple said. “When we get folks into our games, they like it, are appreciative, and they come back. We’re seeing a lot of increase in our fan base; we appreciate it, and we’re going to try even harder next year.”
Region 10 Tournament quotables — One of those invited to climb the ladder afterward to clip off a snip of the net was Sandhills CC President Dr. Sandy Stewart. “It’s humbling,” he said, “because these guys played their hearts out. For people like me and all the people in the stands, it’s a good feeling to take part in that.”
Robinson, when asked how he felt about receiving the Freshman of the Year award, said, “The award wouldn’t be anything without my teammates. I give a big shout out to them. I love these boys.”
Kinch was asked how it felt to win the tournament in both of his seasons as a Flyer. “It feels great,” he said. “I never want to not have this feeling. I love this team.”
Assistant Coach Tramaine Pride and fellow assistants Daquain Towns and Markell Lotharp were all members of the first of Apple’s two national title squads in 2012. Winning tournaments for them never gets old. “There’s nothing like seeing the “aha” moments when they’re buying into what you’re teaching them,” Pride said.
Public address announcer Nick Bass was recognized before the game. The sophomore has been serving in that role at basketball games for three years. “Three years, three championships, you can’t beat that,” he said afterward.
~Written by Sandhills Sentinel contributor C. Bergmann. Photo by Donna Ford.
