ROCKY MOUNT -- Steve Smith joined the 700 club Saturday night. Earlier in the day, however, he was really saying some prayers.

The longtime Oak Hill Academy basketball coach notched his 700th career victory with a 72-53 win over William Fleming in the Member One/Time Technologies Classic at Franklin County High School, but earlier in the day Smith was just wondering whether he would complete the trip.

One of Oak Hill's two 15-passenger vans carrying five Warriors players and driven by assistant coach Bret Carey crashed on Interstate 81 near Dublin, Smith said. No one was seriously injured in the wreck although team manager Joe Stilwell sustained some contusions on his arm and head, knocking out one of the windows, Smith said.

The players from the wrecked van -- which Smith said was a total loss -- rode in the other van with the rest of the team to Rocky Mount. Smith had been driving ahead in his personal vehicle and was unsure for a moment what had happened.

"When I first heard it, I was very concerned," Smith said. "Finally I got ahold of Bret and he told me everybody was OK. He told me the van was not OK. We just looked back and noticed that he wasn't there. I pulled off about five minutes later and got a phone call."

Oak Hill appeared no worse for the wear in dispatching Fleming. The Warriors, playing for the first time since late December, ran out to a 44-21 halftime lead as point guard Brandon Jennings scored 24 of his game-high 38 points in the first two quarters.

The Arizona-bound Jennings put up his total on a variety of deep 3-pointers and layups as he was able to take long outlet passes after defensive rebounds by Oak Hill's front line led by 6-foot-9, 300-pound Tiny Gallon.

Jennings even had time to engage in some banter and posturing with spectators, flexing his muscles after a few made baskets.

"They were talking a little trash," Jennings said. "It's cool."

Jennings, rated the nation's No. 1 point guard by most recruiting services, scored Oak Hill's first seven points and had 36 by the end of the third quarter. Gallon finished with 13, while 6-foot-7 forward Glenn Bryant added 10.

"We had them until Brandon got hot," said Troy Daniels, who led Fleming with 10 points. "He's a great player. Without him, I think we could have got them. Without him, they're a normal high school team."

Fleming had Western Valley District games at George Washington and Franklin County earlier in the week, but Bratton said it was hard not to look ahead to a game against the nation's most famous high school program.

"The district was big, but this game was big too," Bratton said. "Everybody was worrying about this game more than the district. We wanted to play them. But we can't worry about this game. It was just an exhibition game."

Jennings had some praise for Fleming.

"They played hard," the California native said. "They didn't back down. Some teams will quit."

Oak Hill led 69-32 after three quarters but scored just three points in the fourth period. Smith called a timeout in the middle of a 21-2 Fleming run, most of which came after Jennings had left the game for good.

"Our fourth quarter was ugly," Smith said. "I don't take many timeouts in a 30- or 40-point game and this one didn't do any good. They hit some shots, and obviously I made some substitutions, but we've got some good players. We should have been playing better than that."

Mickey Hardy, whose Colonels were playing their fourth road game in eight nights, gave everyone on his bench considerable playing time too. Bryan Ashford -- a usual starter -- didn't play because of an ankle injury. Backup center Marcus Johnson had some strong moments with six first-half points.

"Marcus Johnson stepped up," Hardy said.

Ultimately, Fleming merely became victim No. 700 during Smith's tenure at Oak Hill. His career record at the Grayson County boarding school stands at 700-44.

Don't expect Smith to give up the job he's held since 1984-85 anytime soon.

"I'm 52. I still feel fairly healthy," he said. "Hopefully, I'll coach a little while longer. I don't know what else to do."

OAK HILL ACADEMY (15-3)

Price 0 1-2 1, Howard 0 0-0 0, Bryant 5 0-1 10, B.Jennings 14 6-6 38, Allen 3 0-2 7, Campbell 0 0-0 0, Gallon 6 1-4 13, Oliver 1 0-0 2, Mockford 0 0-1 0, D.Jennings 0 1-3 1. Totals 29 9-19 72.

WILLIAM FLEMING (10-3)

Daniels 3 2-2 10, Thomas 3 1-2 7, Hagins 2 1-6 5, Edwards 2 0-0 6, Bratton 2 0-0 6, Johnson 3 0-0 6, Manning 1 0-0 2, Anderson 2 0-0 5, Ziama 0 0-0 0, Curtis 0 0-0 0, Preston 2 0-0 4, Andrews 1 0-0 2. Totals 21 4-10 53.

Oak Hill Academy 20 24 25 3 -- 72

William Fleming 14 7 11 21 -- 53

3-point goals -- Oak Hill Academy 5 (B.Jennings 4, Allen), William Fleming 7 (Bratton 2, Daniels 2, Edwards 2, Anderson). Total fouls -- Oak Hill Academy 11, William Fleming 16, Fouled out -- none.