Flyers Play for National Championship Today

Markell Lothrap goes up for two in the first half of semifinal game. Photo by Donna Ford

By Charlie Bergmann

As of Saturday, March 17, 2012

For more information about the semifinal win and the upcoming national championship game, click here.

UPDATED: 10 A.M.

One night after winning a game on a buzzer-beater, the Sandhills Flyers survived a harrowing final 1.8 seconds and made it to Saturday’s NJCAA Division III national championship game.

Bronx CC inbounded the ball twice in the final seconds of overtime, the second time with 0.8 seconds on the clock. A shot from the side by Claude Blue was swatted by the Flyers’ Louis Craft after it glanced off the rim, wrapping up an 85-84 victory.

The Bronco coaches responded furiously, calling for goaltending, but the officials quickly deemed the game over and headed away pursued by the angry New Yorkers.

“The ball hit the rim and I slapped it so nobody could get to it,” said the 6-foot-10 Craft, who along with 6-6 Erick Ewing helped hold the Broncs to one-for-nine shooting in the overtime. ”I knew the game was over, I knew it was over.”

The Flyers blew an 18-point lead with 16 minutes remaining in the game played at Sullivan County CC in Loch Sheldrake, N.Y. The Broncos used eight second-half threes to make up the ground and send the game into an extra five minute period. Ewing led the Flyers with 17 points, 11 rebounds and six blocked shots.

Cedar Valley Community College (23-8) of Lancaster, Texas, an 83-76 overtime winner against SUNY-Delhi in Friday’s other semifinal, will be their 7 p.m. opponent.

The Flyers (29-6) are attempting to become the first team from North Carolina to win the NJCAA Division III national championship. Entering the title game the Flyers have won 10 straight and 14 of 15 games.

“We had a lot of things go our way last night,” Flyer coach Mike Apple said, referring to the game won over Brookdale CC (N.J.) on a floater by Daquain Towns as time expired.”Tonight things didn’t go our way, but luckily we persevered.”

A dark sign came early in two charging fouls called against Towns in the first four minutes of the game. Two minutes later Dre Huntley picked up his second. That seemed to unsettle the Flyers and they fell behind 20-13.

But Markell Lotharp and Towns led a rally that saw eight different Flyers score. They took a 25-23 lead on a putback by Towns. A three by T.J.Gill gave them a 46-35 lead at the intermission.

Four minutes into the second half, a three by Trevor Cole gave the Flyers their biggest lead at 57-39. Things went down hill fast from there.

“We got out of sorts and sometimes we start looking for my best shot instead of the team’s best shot,” Apple said.

A three by Ernest Quaye was the first of five over a period of four minutes as the Broncs cut the Flyer lead to 61-54. Lotharp and Huntley both had four fouls by now and Towns had three. The Flyers continued to hurt themselves with their decision-making on both ends and with 23 seconds remaining, the Broncs’ Ronnell Ross drove for the bucket that tied the game at 78-78.

Ewing and Craft both got their hands on Bronco shot attempts as time expired. It was knotted at 83-83 in overtime when Towns denied a Bronco fastbreak by blocking the shot. A moment later, with 2:11 left in the overtime, he wheeled into the lane and put his team in front 85-83.

With 33.5 seconds remaining, Christopher Davis missed an opportunity to tie the game when he went one-for-two at the foul line. Jolliffe missed the front end of a one-and-one and the Flyers turned the ball over leading up to the Broncos last chance to put the New York team in the championship game.

“Fortunately we got really good defensively in the last five minutes,” Apple said.”We know how to do it and we were forced to do it to win the ball game.”

Lotharp scored 15 points in just 17 minutes of action because of the foul trouble that has plagued him in both games. Towns and Jolliffe added 14 and 11, respectively. Craft led the Flyers with 12 rebounds. Thomas, who made five of the 11 Bronco threes, scored a game-high 25.

Cedar Valley, the Flyers championship game opponent, has plenty of size, and a skilled and speedy field general in 5-8 Jade Allen.

“I see a really athletic team with a style similar to what we’re used to,” Apple said. “I think it’s going to be a barnburner, I really do.”

Sandhills 46 32 7 — 85

Bronx 35 43 6 — 84

Sandhills: Collins 3 0-0 7, Towns 6 2-4 14, Cole 1 0-0 3, Craft 1 1-1 3, Lotharp 5 4-4 15, Gill 1 0-0 3 Jolliffe 5 0-2 11, Huntley 1 0-0 2, Washington 2 0-0 4, Jones 2 0-2 4, Pride 1 0-0 2, Ewing 7 3-4 17. Totals 35 10-17 85.

Bronx: Thomas 7 6-7 25, Quaye 6 0-1 16, Davis 3 5-8 11, Blue 9 2-5 21, Ross 4 2-2 11, Rodd 0 0-0 0, Ryner 0 0-0 0. Totals 29 15-23 84.

Three-point goals: (S) 5 (Collins, Cole, Lotharp, Gill, Jolliffe); (B) 11 (Thomas 5, Quaye 4, Blue, Ross),

More like this story

RD28327 1 year, 2 months ago

Sandhills CC 78 Bronx, NY CC 76 1:03, 2nd Half

RD28327 1 year, 2 months ago

Sandhills CC 78 Bronx, NY CC 78 0:15.5, 2nd Half

RD28327 1 year, 2 months ago

Sandhills CC 78 Bronx, NY CC 78, End of Regulation. Going OVERTIME! GO FLYERS!!!

RD28327 1 year, 2 months ago

Sandhills CC 85 Bronx, NY CC 83, 1:05, OT

RD28327 1 year, 2 months ago

Sandhills CC 85 Bronx, NY CC 84, 0:18.1, OT

RD28327 1 year, 2 months ago

Sandhills CC 85 Bronx, NY CC 84, 0:01.6, OT, Bronx has the ball.

RD28327 1 year, 2 months ago

Sandhills CC 85 Bronx, NY CC 84 FINAL. Flyers take on Cedar Valley, Texas CC (23-8) tomorrow evening @ 7P for the NJCAA Division III Men's Basketball National Championship!!! GO FLYERS!!!

Adman 1 year, 2 months ago

I was looking over all of Sandhills' scores from throughout the season and thought it was interesting to note that coming into the national tournament Sandhills had not played in any games this season that were decided by three points or less, or in any overtime contests.

You would think that would be a disadvantage for a team facing that situation for the first time all season, especially for only a fourth-year program making their first ever appearance on such a big stage, but how did the Flyers handle it? They go and win their first two games by a combined total of 2 points and needed an extra frame to do so to reach the championship... Talk about clutch!

RD28327 1 year, 2 months ago

The last 1.6 seconds of OT was bizzare. Time should have expired after the throw in when someone touched the ball. But, the ball went out of bounds and the clock still read 1.6 seconds. Then, the refs gave Bronx another shot by taking off 0.8 seconds on the clock (though time should have expired). Last but not least, there was the question of goaltending on that last shot. Sometimes, bettewr to be lucky than to be good. Any thoughts?

Mythreekids 1 year, 2 months ago

Wow.Good Basketball.

dewings 1 year, 2 months ago

Great game flyers!!!! WHEN WE FLY WE FLY TOGETHER!!!!!!

wadodson 1 year, 2 months ago

You can the link to the live stream on the home page of SCC - www.Sandhills.edu Then click on the first ad panel.

MCNative 1 year, 2 months ago

I am not a big basketball guy but, I watched the last ten minutes of this game and it was Awesome. I will be in front of my computer tonight to watch the Championship. I have to say, even the men who are announcing the games are very impressed with the guys from the Sandhills.

Good job

RD28327 1 year, 2 months ago

It would be nice if folks can get together to greet the team when it arrives back on campus. And hopefully, there will be a victory celebration!!! Wonder where folks will be watching the game tonight. Watching the game on the "big screen" on campus Thursday night was a lot of fun!

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