The Sandhills Flyers (22-5 overall, 6-1 Region X) remained on course to finish in no worse than a tie for first place in the Region X conference by defeating Wytheville Community College 99-90 Sunday afternoon.

In the game played at The O’Neal School’s Tate Gym, the Flyers increased a 47-35 halftime lead to as many 18 points in the second half before the Wildcats cut the margin to 80—75 with a 17-4 run. Two threes by Hilary McLaurin, the second off a steal by Dre Huntley, got the Flyers going again. McLaurin drove the base line for two more, making it 88-79 with just over four minutes remaining in the game.

A big contributor at both ends down the stretch, Huntley made another steal and fed Phillip Moultrie for a basket before scoring on a floater to put the game out of reach for the Virginians.

Joe Houpe erupted for 11 of his team-high 18 points in the first four minutes of the second half. Also in double figures for the Flyers were McLaurin, 17, Moultrie 16 and Markell Lotharp, 12. Clay Thorne grabbed 13 rebounds and scored seven points. Treon Claiborne led the Wildcats (9-10, 1-5) with 18.

The Flyers complete the regular season with a 7 p.m. game at Central Carolina in Sanford on Thursday.