By TENAJH SWEETING

tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

AFTER a tough loss to the Leno Regulators last week Thursday, the Sand Dollar Imports High Flyers evened the series 1-1 in a 86-63 blowout win.

The High Flyers were locked in from the game’s opening tip as they jumped out to a seven-point lead early on and never looked back. At the end of the second quarter, the High Flyers wrapped up the first half with the score 42-28.

The Sand Dollar lead only got bigger in the second half as the team’s leading scorer Enrico Bethel splashed five three-pointers on the night while shooting a perfect 5/5 from the field.

Bethel talked about how it felt to come out and tie the series 1-1.

“It was a must win so I have mixed feelings, we have to win one more so I cannot really be emotional right now,” Bethel said.

Despite his reluctance to celebrate prematurely, Bethel added that in game three they have to win it all by playing together, and playing good defence.

He was not the only High Flyer that made great impacts in the game.

Dave Davis and Van Hutchinson both came out the night’s matchup with double doubles. Davis scored 16 points to go with 15 boards and Hutchinson poured in 15 points to pair with 16 rebounds in the game. The two combined for half (31) of the team’s 62-rebound total.

The High Flyers dominated the Regulators in the paint 48 to 32. They also had 17 points off turnovers compared to the 11 from the other team. The team also got out and ran as they were able to notch 14 quick points on the fast break. Meanwhile, the Regulators only had eight in the night’s matchup.

During the game, the High Flyers were up by as much as 25 points in efforts to fight another night in the NPBA playoffs.

Donnie Culmer, head coach of the Sand Dollar Imports High Flyers, talked about what helped his team to come out with a win.

“We have been here before, we are battle tested and the first game our shots didn’t drop and we didn’t execute but the guys are more focused now,” Culmer said.

Although Culmer did not reveal the specific game plan of his team, he said his team executed their game plan perfectly on the night and will look to come out and do the same thing today.

The Leno Regulators will look to make things difficult for their opponents as the two face off 8:30pm tonight at the A.F. Adderley Gymnasium in a win-or-go-home game.