LCC can't break slump in loss to Sandhills CC
LCC’s Darius Dunn drives through the lane in Wednesday’s game against Sandhills CC. Photo by William “Bud” Hardy / Neuse News
Lenoir Community College hoped to snap a midseason slump, but Wednesday’s game continued the trend.
The Lancers fell to Sandhills CC 89-73 to continue a skid, which has reached seven games. LCC (6-9) defeated the Flyers 104-99 on Nov. 7 with a furious rally, but a second one couldn’t come into fruition after Sandhills (12-6) took over late.
“We have to be focused the whole 40 minutes,” Lancers coach Chris Brown said. “We might’ve had 20 or 25 good defensive possessions in the second half, and we have to turn that into 40 or 45. The guys were able to fight (offensively) to get back into the game, which was a positive to take.”
LCC started well, with a basket from Daiquon Roberts putting the Lancers ahead 17-11 midway through the first half. Sandhills CC would roar back, closing the half on a 13-0 run to take a 38-23 advantage at the break. A pair of Tyler Wilson 3-pointers keyed the Lancers’ own 13-0 spurt to start the second half, but the Flyers used a Chase Morrissette-Barnett perimeter basket to go up 49-41. LCC continued to fight and another Wilson 3-pointer tied the score at 51 with 13:03 remaining.
From there, Sandhills CC took over, using a 13-3 run to take over. LCC would get within 72-66 with 4:29 left on a Roberts basket, but 10 unanswered from the Flyers ended the threat.
In the women’s game, the Lancers (1-9) fell to Louisburg (12-2) 81-53.
After Caleah Smith’s trio of 3-pointers paced the Hurricanes in the first quarter, Ameera McClain took over in the second, scoring 12 of her game-high 25 points as Louisburg took a 40-23 halftime advantage.
The Lancers were led by Tammara Smith, who scored 17 points.
SANDHILLS CC 89, LENOIR COMMUNITY COLLEGE 73
SCC 38 51 — 89
LCC 23 50 — 73
SANDHILLS CC — Damauri Sexton 18, Chase Morrissette-Barnett 17, Holt Walker 13, Donnie Haith 11, Clarkson 9, Allmond 6, Smith 5, Bryan 4, Dent 4, Grissett 2
LENOIR COMMUNITY COLLEGE — Daiquon Roberts 15, Jason Robinson 14, Eric Agee 11, Wilson 9, Williams 8, Dunn 4, Burnett 4, Sutton 4, Adams 3, Brannock 1
Three-pointers: SCC — Morrissette-Barnett 2, Clarkson, Haith, Smith, Allmond, Walker. LCC — Wilson 3, Robinson 2, Agee, Williams
LOUISBURG 81, LENOIR COMMUNITY COLLEGE 53
L 16 24 12 29 — 81
LCC 10 13 17 13 — 53
LOUISBURG — Ameera McClain 25, Dasia Gilliard 15, Monique Jones 13, Caleah Smith 12, Davidson 6, Avent 5, N. Davidson 4
LENOIR COMMUNITY COLLEGE — Tammara Smith 17, Chrystal Jerome 10, Sarah Suggs 10, George 8, Stroud 6, Simmons 2
Three-pointers: LCC — Suggs 3, Jerome, Smith