Flyers Outduel Black Bears in Region 10 Mid-Atlantic District Semis

In the first semifinal game of the Region 10 Mid-Atlantic District Championship, the Sandhills Community College Flyers faced off against the Pennsylvania Highlands Black Bears for a spot in Sunday's championship. After a slow start, the Flyers found their rhythm and rolled to a commanding 103-74 victory.

"The biggest thing was rebounding the ball, and I thought we did a pretty good job with that," Flyers head coach Mike Apple said. "On offense, we needed to be smart, take good shots, and move the ball. I thought we improved in those areas as the game progressed."

With the win, the Flyers will have a quick turnaround, facing Owens Community College at 1 p.m. tomorrow for the championship.

"I think you celebrate for about 25 more minutes, and then you start analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of Owens," Apple said. "We're fortunate, we're happy, and now we just have to go get another one tomorrow."

Game Recap

The Black Bears took an early 5-2 lead, but the Flyers responded, tying the game twice at 5-5 and 7-7. Sandhills then took its first lead of the game at 9-7 and never looked back. Coming out of a media timeout, the Flyers went right back to work on offense.

"Coach always talks about how we come out flat, so this was one of those games where we came together as a team and told each other that we were going to start with better energy—and we executed," Damien Robinson said. "We stayed true to the offense. If everyone is working together, we make sure everybody gets involved. It's about being unselfish and staying on the same page."

A huge momentum shift came with a 12-0 Flyers run that extended their lead to 19-7. The Black Bears struggled offensively as the first half progressed. Sandhills capitalized, outscoring Pennsylvania Highlands 16-4 to push the lead to 31-17 with under 10 minutes remaining in the half. The Flyers continued to pour it on, heading into halftime with a 50-33 advantage.

The second half began with both teams trading baskets, but Sandhills maintained control. With 11:36 remaining, the Flyers extended their lead to 70-51. A 10-2 run gave them even more breathing room, increasing their advantage to 80-57. From there, Sandhills never let up, closing out the game in dominant fashion.

"I think the biggest key was our bench players stepping up," Apple said. "Nylikk Troutman came in and did a great job. Kendall (Smith) has given us a lift like that all year. Amarie Liburd and Xavion White both brought great energy off the bench, and I thought they made a big impact."

Player Highlights

Robinson led the Flyers with a standout performance, finishing with 25 points, 19 rebounds, and four assists. Zach Noel followed with 22 points, 10 rebounds, and one assist. Isiah Upchurch contributed 18 points, one rebound, and one assist, while Mylon Campbell added 10 points, four rebounds, and four assists. The Flyers' bench was a major factor, combining for 34 points.

With momentum on their side, Sandhills now turns its focus to the Region 10 Championship, where they will battle Owens for the title.

Z. Ciboth