AHOSKIE – Leonard Burnell had two blocks in the first minute and a half of the game and the visiting squad did not score until over five minutes had run off the clock.

By that time Roanoke Bible College was down 13 points and things got exponentially worse for the RBC Flames for the remainder of the contest.

By the time Roanoke-Chowan Community College got to the midway point of the first half the score was 27-6 in favor of the home team as they claimed a 97-55 victory.

Burnell scored 13 of his team-high 23 points in the first half as RCCC had four players in double figures to lead the rout in the Force’s last game at home until late February.

Even with forward Barry Wilson going for 41 points against Coach Johnnie Rascoe’s team, RBC just didn’t have enough horses in the stable to slow down the perpetual fast break that was RCCC’s offense Thursday night.

Solid point guard play from Richard Davis and the attacking offense of guard Ocie Askew, who finished with 18 points, made it almost impossible for RBC to develop any offensive continuity for the first half, as the Flames were down at the break 49-18.

Still, Coach Rascoe was pleased, but not enthusiastic.

He said, &uot;It’s a game we should’ve won, and I’m glad we did, but I don’t know how we allowed one player to get over 41 against us. We obviously still have some things to work out on the defensive end&uot;.

The second half began much like the first with Burnell rejecting interior shots by the opposition. Forward Jamarl Boyce, who was given the green light by Rascoe to look for his shot, scored 12 of his 16 points in the second period, including two baskets from behind the arc. With 11 minutes remaining RCCC led by a score of 73-31.

Reserve guard Durrell Jones, benefiting from the extra minutes that is usually the result of a blowout, had a season high eight points just missing getting a double digit point total.

Adrian Sawyer, who had a vicious dunk with just over a minute remaining, finished with 12 points as he joined Askew, Burnell, and Boyce in the double digit category. The final count wound up being 97-58 as RCCC just missed the century mark at home.

The Force’s record now stands at 3-2 for the season as they prepare for five straight road games beginning with a contest at Southside Community College in Virginia this Saturday.

Concerning the upcoming road schedule Rascoe had this to say, &uot;We are about to see what we are really made of. More than anything I want us to be able to play poised and handle ourselves in a hostile environment.&uot;

RCCC (97): Leonard Burnell – 23, Ocie Askew – 18, Jamarl Boyce – 16, Adrian Sawyer – 12, D. Jones – 8, W. Gatling – 6, R. Davis – 4, C. Cook – 2

RBC (55): Barry Wilson – 41, Curt Ashley – 14, Spencer Hasket – 3