Red Scare breezes in TBT opener
Team loaded with former Flyers delights faithful followers.
Kevin Dillard, the most BEXLEY — veteran member of the Red Scare, led the team onto the court at the Capital Center on Friday for the first round of The Basketball Tournament. Stands full of the Flyer Faithful then began a “Let’s Go Flyers” chant.
The Dayton fans flood arenas throughout the winter, and they were an easy sell on basketball in July as they watched some of their favorite players from recent years wear the red and white again. The Red Scare, coached by former Flyer Damon Goodwin, didn’t disappoint.
The Red Scare led from start to finish in a 108-82 victory against The Region, a team made up of players from northwest Indiana and the Chicago area.
The Red Scare will play Mid-American Unity, a team of former MAC players, in the second round at noon today at The Capital Center. If the Red Scare advances, it will play in the Columbus Regional final at noon Sunday. Today’s game and the Sunday game will be televised on ESPN.
Devin Oliver, a senior during the 2013-14 season, led the Red Scare with 27 points. Everyone on the seven-man team scored.
Vee Sanford, another star senior on that Elite Eight team five years ago, scored 20. Kyle Davis scored 19. Dillard had 15. Marion Local graduate Ryan Bruns, the only non-UD Flyer on the team, scored 13. Darrell Davis scored eight points. Kendall Pollard had six.
Dayton led throughout the first half after building a 7-0 lead. Oliver started the scoring with a 3-pointer. Kyle Davis then scored four straight points.
Oliver scored 22 points in the first half, making 8 of 10 shots from the field and 6 of 7 3-pointers.
Dayton shot 62% as a team and led 62-41 at the break. It ended the half on an 8-0 run in the last 2:24. Bruns, an All-American center at Ohio Northern, started the run with a layup. Contact this reporter at 937244-7400 or email David. Jablonski@coxinc.com.