The Sandhills Community College men’s basketball team improved to 12-3 with a 101-94 victory over Catawba CC in Hickory on Thursday.

Raheem Jolliffe sparked the Flyers by scoring 15 of his team-high 25 points in the first half. Johnny Elliot contributed seven assists as the visitors took a 52-46 lead to the intermission. They led by as many as 13 points in the second half, but the home team eventually cut the margin to two.

The Flyers made 50 percent of their shots from the field in the game. Joining Jolliffe as double figure scorers were Phillip Moultrie, 18 points, Daquain Towns and Clay Thorne, 13, and Elliot, 12. Thorne was the leading rebounder with eight and Elliot finished with a team-high eight assists.

Through 15 games the Flyers have been beneficiaries of a balanced scoring attack. Four players are averaging double figures with two more not far behind, including Moultrie (12.9), Joe Houpe (12.0), Jolliffe (11.1), Thorne (10.9), Towns (9.2) and Elliot (8.7).

Coach Aaron Denton’s squad is idle until New Year’s Day when it entertains Brunswick CC in a 3 p.m. tip-off at The O’Neal School. The Dolphins were the Div. I, Region X champions last season and national tournament participants.

PC Jayvee Girls Roll

The Pinecrest jayvee girls defeated Overhills 50-20 in Spring Lake on Wednesday to improve to 7-2 for the season. Brianna Alston scored 12 points and Azarriah Fairley added eight for the winners.

At home on Tuesday, the Patriots beat Red Springs 54-23. Alston also poured in a dozen points in that game. Teammate Dessence Waddell chipped in with 10.

PC Jayvee Boys Win Two

The Pinecrest boys’ jayvee basketball team improved to 6-3 with wins over Red Springs on Tuesday and Overhills on Wednesday.

Justin Ray scored 20 points and Jerryl Liles had 19 in the 76-67 victory at Overhills. Montel King was also in double figures with 11. Chyshad McGriff added eight points and J’vyhoun Justice contributed seven to the Patriot cause.

Jordan Fields was the top scorer with 15 points in the Patriots’ 88-34 home win over Red Springs. Others in double figures were Justice with 13, Ray with 12 and Sam Brower with 10. Also contributing to the big scoring night were King with seven, and Jermaine Martin and Javon McNeill with five apiece.

The Patriots were scheduled to meet South View on Saturday in the Jaguar Jam Christmas tournament at Overhills.

Pat Freshmen Rebound

The Pinecrest freshmen boys rebounded from the their first loss of the season on Saturday to defeat visiting Scotland County 56-44 Monday evening.

The Patriots jumped out to a 10-2 lead and led 17-8 at the end of the first quarter. They extended the lead to 31-18 at the half, but the Scots closed the gap to five points twice during the fourth quarter. Good defense and free throw shooting sealed the win.

The Patriots (6-1 overall, 5-0 conference) were defeated 70-50 by Overhills on Saturday. They travel to South View on Thursday for their final game before the holiday break.