Sanderson — Home
Following Wednesday's victory over Lee County in the Chatlee Shootout championship game, members of the Sanderson boys basketball team gather with the first-place plaque.
Spartans rise
above the rest
in Chatlee Shootout
Just before the conclusion of the Sanderson boys basketball team's 52-47 victory over Lee County in the Chatlee Shootout's championship game Wednesday night — and before the plaque presentation as well as customary team photo — Spartan head coach Mike Shaw shared his own small celebration with his team.
One by one, walking down the sideline, the head coach slapped the hand of each player — most of them starters as the Spartan back-ups ran the contest's final minute off the clock.
It was a small, simple gesture acknowledging the group's accomplishment.
Later Shaw admitted in the grand scheme of the Spartans' season, the championship might not carry a lot of weight, but regardless, it's worth celebrating.
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With Tuesday's win over East Chapel Hill, senior DJ Turner and the Sanderson boys basketball team advanced to the championship game of the Chatlee Shootout at Lee County High School. The finals are slated to tip off at 8 p.m. today (Wednesday, Dec. 30).
Spartans get revenge on Wildcats
Sanderson looks to swat Yellow Jackets in Chatlee Shootout championship game Wednesday
A year removed from falling to East Chapel Hill in the Chatlee Shootout championship game, the Sanderson boys basketball team got its revenge Tuesday night, knocking off the Wildcats 66-56 in this winter's tournament semifinals.
With the victory, the Spartans again advance to the finals, this time facing Lee County — and tournament host — today (Wednesday) at 8 p.m.
"It's nice to get a little payback," said Sanderson head coach Mike Shaw of Tuesday's win. "But we're not done yet. We came here to win three games, and we still have one more to go."
While the Spartans got revenge, it didn't come easy as the two squads played neck-and-neck through three quarters, with Sanderson holding a narrow 41-39 advantage heading into the final period.
According to Sanderson head coach Marcus Davis, sophomore guard Dashawna Smith (10) is stepping up
as a leader for the Lady Spartans.
Lady Spartans'
second-half surge unravels Catamounts
After watching the Sanderson girls basketball team sleepwalk through a sluggish second quarter at Panther Creek Monday — the Lady Spartans netted only one bucket and made just two of eight free-throw attempts in the period — sophomore Dashawna Smith essentially took control of the locker room.
"Some of our girls didn't know what we were running, so Dashawna took the pen and went to the white board and showed them," recalled head coach Marcus Davis. "I was pretty quiet during the break. And I loved it. We had people finally stepping up to become vocal leaders, not just on the floor but in the locker room."
Smith's instructions — as well as the Sanderson's full-court press — ignited a 13-0 run to start the second half, capped by Courtney Trumps' three-pointer with 2:35 remaining in the third.
And the roll erased Panther Creek's one-point halftime advantage as the Lady Spartans cruised to a 42-31 victory.
Millbrook's Errick Davis (left) slips a pass in between Sanderson's Kevin Black and Montez Hedgepath (30) during the Wildcats' 52-48 win over the Spartans Monday, Dec. 21.
Wildcats stave off Spartans' late push
A win never comes easy on a rival's court, and the Millbrook boys basketball team experienced that first hand in Monday's 52-48 victory over Sanderson.
Although the Spartans never led — and faced a nine-point deficit with 2:18 remaining — Millbrook still needed to hold off a late Sanderson rally to pull out a narrow victory in the crosstown clash.
In fact, without the clutch free-throw shooting of sophomore Shi-Chee Moore and senior B.J. Orr — who each hit a pair foul shots in the final 16 seconds — the Wildcats might have fallen in a contest they seemingly controlled for 46 minutes.
Afterward Millbrook senior Jarrick Brown, who scored a team-high 13 points, said the Wildcats momentarily got away from what they do best — play defense — during the Spartans' surge.
Millbrook's Alex Tomlinson (right) pushes the ball upcourt as Sanderson's Derricka Lewis gives chase Monday night. The Lady Wildcats knocked off the Lady Spartans 51-42.
Williams, Lady Cats
clip Spartans
Thanks to Samiyah Williams' 15-point, 12-rebound performance — as well as a 16-7 third-quarter run — the Millbrook girls basketball team knocked off Sanderson 51-42 Monday, Dec. 21.
Lady Wildcat head coach Chris East admitted his squad made a conceded attempt to get the senior forward involved, and she didn't disappoint.
"We made an effort to get it into the post area, and she responded with probably the best game she's had all year," he said. "She got a lot of rebounds — she's not afraid to rebound and she gets after it — I'm just glad it's coming together for her."
East explained the senior has been "frustrated" by her play of late, which included a 2-point effort in a overtime loss to Wakefield Dec. 15.
Sanderson 119-pounder Adam Tassitino won his weight class at Saturday's Wolverine Challenge.
Wakefield, Sanderson wrestlers hit mat at Wolverine Challenge
SHS' Tassitino takes first; WHS' McKinnon snags second
Last weekend's sixth annual Wolverine Challenge presented an array of noteworthy storylines — positive and, unfortunately, negative — for the Wakefield and Sanderson wrestling teams.
Some outcomes were predictable, others surprising and one early result was just downright heartbreaking.
On the predictable side, the Spartans' 119-pounder Adam Tassitino continued his early-season dominance, scoring four wins, including two pins, en route to winning his weight class.
Sanderson freshman (21) Derricka Lewis races to the basket on a fastbreak Monday against Cary.
First-half run powers Spartans over Imps
Watching his Sanderson girls basketball team come out lethargic in the first quarter of Monday's non-conference match-up with Cary, Marcus Davis did what any coach might do: he pulled his starters.
"We came out flat, and the intensity level was pretty low," he explained later. "I subbed out out all five starters, and let them do some thinking on the bench."
The ploy worked because once Derricka Lewis, Dawshawa Smith and Company re-entered the contest, the Lady Spartans found their rhythm, and thumped the Imps in the process.
Starting with a Donjernica Jones rebound and putback with three minutes remaining in the first, Sanderson scored 23 of the game's next 28 points, leading to a lopsided 45-22 victory.
Following his outsanding 2009 season, Millbrook junior Justus Hoffmann was named the Cap-7 Conference's Defensive Player of the Year.
Cap-7 announces
All-Conference
football honors
WF-R's Trea Jones receives
Player of the Year award
Two days after the Heisman trophy was awarded to the best running back on the best college team — Alabama's Mark Ingram — the Cap-7 Conference released it's awards Monday morning, including the league's Player of the Year honors.
And like the Heisman, the Cap-7 coaches also voted to award the best running back on the best team with the league's highest accolade.
After leading the Wake Forest-Rolesville football team to an undefeated regular-season, and its second straight 4-AA Eastern Regional appearance, Trea Jones was named the league's Player of the Year.
Wakefield's Xavier Saddler-Mee (right) races to the hoop following a steal in the second half of Thursday's win over Sanderson. In the background, teammate Dominique McDonald can be seen cheering Saddler-Mee on.
Saddler-Mee, Wolverines knock off Sanderson in opener
His coach's explanation at halftime made sense to junior Xavier Saddler-Mee during the Wakefield boys basketball team's 64-49 victory over Sanderson Thursday night.
Trailing the Spartans 29-27 at the break, Wolverine head coach Pat Kennedy implored his squad to fight harder, and expend more energy than they showed in a somewhat lethargic first half of their Cap-7 Conference opener.
"Coach told us that if we wanted to win, we have to pick it up and it starts with defense," Saddler-Mee recalled. "And I put it on myself to try and lock down their best player, play him tight and try to deny him the ball, and I was able to get a couple steals. It seemed like they just threw it to me."
In fact, in one 30-second period — stretching from the end of the third and into the fourth quarter — the guard singlehandedly dashed the Spartans' spirits.
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Sanderson's Derricka Lewis (left) scored 22 points in Thursday's match-up at Wakefield, but Kayla Harris (right) — and her 32 points — helped the Lady Wolverines to an 18-point victory.
Lady Wolverines fight off Spartan challenge
Wakefield senior Brittany Christian understood or came to understand three truths during Thursday night's 78-60 victory in the Cap-7 Conference girls basketball opener against Sanderson.
First, the Lady Spartans' shooters — especially Courtney Trumps, who scored 23 points — can definitely light it up. "We knew they had good guards," the Lady Wolverine recalled.
Secondly, Sanderson freshman Derricka Lewis is a star in the making — well, maybe already a star. "She was just killing it out there, taking it to the basket," she said. "She is going to be good. She already is good."
And finally, the best way to answer a run — like the 10-2 spurt by the Lady Spartans in the second quarter — is to go on one of your own.
After initially being sidelined with a leg cramp, Sanderson's Marshall Bass rebounded to record a first-round pin in Wednesday's Cap-7 Conference opener against Wakefield.
Spartan wrestlers
roll past Wakefield
Sanderson notches five pins in opener
Entering his first varsity match of the season Wednesday night against Wakefield, Sanderson 112-pound wrestler Marshall Bass was taken down before he could even hit the mat.
Moments after checking in for his match — which was the first bout of the Cap-7 Conference opener — Bass grabbed a seat on the nearby bleachers, hobbled by serious leg cramps.
A minute later, with the assistance of a Spartan trainer, Bass worked out the kinks in his lower leg, took the floor and scored a pin in 1:32.
The first-round victory set the tone for Sanderson, which scored a 45-18 win over Wakefield, including pins in four of the first six matches.
Click here for highlights from Sanderson's 84-66 win over Panther Creek Monday night.
Spartans pummel Panther Creek
Carter drops in 30 points against Catamounts; James adds 20
It's hard to think of a better way for the Sanderson boys basketball team to head into this week's Cap-7 Conference opener with Wakefield than Monday's 84-66 romp of Panther Creek.
Led by a the lengthy duo of Chris Carter and Matt James, who combined to scored 50 points — 30 and 20, respectively — the Spartans looked very much like a conference contender.
They were especially dominant in the second half, abusing the Catamounts for 24 points in the third quarter and another 24 in the fourth. Carter cashed in 21 points in the final half, converting several easy buckets in transition.
The Spartans' set the pace, getting up and down the court a break-neck speed, and seemingly grew stronger as the game went on.
For his work on the pitch this fall, Sanderson senior Glenn Scott was named to the Cap-7 Conference All-Conference team.
Cap-7 releases
All-Conference soccer selections
The Cap-7 Conference, arguably North Carolina's most competitive soccer league this fall, recently released its All-Conference selections.
Broughton — which won the conference's regular-season and tournament titles — led the league with seven All-Conference honorees, while Leesville Road and Sanderson tied for the second-most selections with six apiece.
Without further ado, the Cap-7 Conference All-Conference team ...
NorthRaleighSports.com recently spoke with Sanderson senior Chris Carter about this year's Spartan boys basketball team, playing for Coach Mike Shaw and which games he's looking forward to this season. Click here to see what he had to say.
Sanderson freshman (21) Derricka Lewis swoops in for two of her 13 points against Southeast Raleigh Thursday.
Lady Spartan comeback runs
out of 'steam'
The Sanderson girls basketball team's 44-41 loss to Southeast Raleigh Thursday night can be easily divided into three sections thanks to one unfortunately bump to the face.
With the Spartans and Bulldogs deadlocked at 18 points apiece with 3:05 left in the second quarter, Sanderson freshman Derricka Lewis crashed into a Bulldog ball-handler, with her nose taking on the brunt of the collision.
With the ninth-grader — who scored eight of the team's first 18 points — sent to the bench to get looked at by the Sanderson medical staff, Southeast surged ahead, scoring 11 of the next 15 points over the next quarter.
"When Derricka left, it took a little bit of steam out of us," admitted Sanderson head coach Marcus Davis. "The team was concerned for her welfare. And we didn't know whether she was going to come back."
Sanderson guard Kevin Black (front) scored six points in Tuesday's win over Athens Drive.
Spartans sprint out early, hold on for win
Sanderson boys basketball coach Mike Shaw found the best way to sum his Spartans’ fast start in Tuesday’s 58-47 victory over Athens Drive with a baseball term.
Shaw called the Jaguars use of a zone defense instead of a man-to-man look a “curveball.” But the off-speed pitch didn’t catch the Spartans off-balance.
Sophomore Franklin Wolfe dropped in a lay-in, followed by a three-pointer, helping Sanderson to a 5-0 lead out of the gates. Athens Drive battled back, tying the game at 6-6, but the Spartans retaliated with a 8-2 run, and closed out the quarter leading 14-8.
“They surprised us a little bit because we didn’t expect them to come out in a zone,” Shaw said. “But we made a lot of good adjustments. To be honest, we haven’t even practiced against zone too much. We have been mostly practicing against our own man defense. But we reacted great anyway.”
In fact, the Spartans, led by Matt James’ 16 points, controlled the tempo the majority of the contest – aside from a sluggish third quarter.
Sanderson senior Kaitlyn Burnette (left) and Spartans' swimming coach McKenna Miller pose for a photograph last week. Just a week earlier Burnette committed to swim at Campbell University.
Sanderson's Burnette bound for Campbell
For Sanderson senior Kaitlyn Burnette the transition from summer-time swimmer to college signee with Campbell University has been gradual.
Six years ago, she was a novice swimmer, enjoying the competition in a summer league.
At her coach's convincing, Burnette built on her potential, joining year-round events.
A few years later, she was shining at the North Carolina Senior Championships and besting the competition in the Cap-7 Conference.
Sanderson senior Matt James scored 20 points in a Thursday's loss to Southeast Raleigh.
Spartans' 4th-quarter push too late in loss
to Bulldogs
Two days after a decisive 20-point victory over Cary on opening night, the Sanderson boys basketball team suffered a bout of overconfidence against Southeast Raleigh Thursday night, said Spartans head coach Mike Shaw.
The result was a 64-52 loss, though Sanderson did manage to push the Bulldogs late after a lackluster start.
Trailing by 16 points at the end of three quarters, the Spartans stretched out the game, sending Southeast to the foul line 26 times in the final quarter. The Bulldogs converted 21 times, but Sanderson still managed to draw closer and with D.J. Turner's jumper with 1:35 left, the squad was within six points, 55-49.
However, the Spartans wouldn't pull any closer, and Southeast sealed the win — fittingly at the line.
Matt James led Sanderson's late charge, scoring nine of his team-high 20 points in the final period.
FILE PHOTO
Sanderson head coach Todd Worley (right) talks with members of his boys soccer team during an early-season game. The Spartans advanced to the second round of the playoffs before falling to Green Hope 2-1 in overtime Saturday. It was the last game for 12 Sanderson seniors.
Spartans' season comes to an end
Green Hope notches playoff win in overtime
Monday, two days after the Sanderson soccer team's 2-1 overtime loss at Green Hope in the second round of the 4-A state playoffs, coach Todd Worley said the Spartans' defeat — and its effect — was still setting in.
The loss ended Sanderson's season at 17-6-3, but more importantly marked the final game for a dozen Spartan seniors. It's a group which experienced remarkable success during their four-year high school careers. In each of the past four seasons, Sanderson has advanced to the second round of the playoffs or beyond.
"Today was a pretty depressing day knowing I will never coach them again," Worley said by phone Monday night. "I was very lucky to be able to coach a group of players like this."
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Sanderson's Philip Hathaway (right) fought his way to 17th place at Saturday's 4-A NCHSAA boys cross country state meet at Tanglewood. Hathaway was one of four Spartans to place in the Top 20, helping the squad capture the 4-A state championship.
Strength
in numbersSpartans win 4-A state boys cross country title
As Sanderson's Patrick Crawford walked away from the finish line following Saturday's 4-A NCHSAA boys cross country state meet at Tanglewood— the seventh and final Spartan to finish — he looked to a friend and wanted to know the results.
Not his, but the team's.
"I don't care about how I did, how did the team do?" he said in the enervate voice you'd expect from someone who just ran all-out for five kilometers.
An hour later, at the championships' awards presentation. Crawford received an answer — the Spartans had no equal.
Spartans fall
in frigid finale
A week after an exhilarating 38-24 victory over Enloe, the Sanderson football team couldn't build on their recent success, falling 42-10 in its season finale against Broughton Friday night.
It was a bittersweet night for the Sanderson seniors — playing in their final high school game — as they were honored on the field at halftime, trailing 21-3.
But the score can be misleading as these Spartans fought in a manner befitting their warrior namesake.
It must have been the cold weather — temperatures were in the 40s Friday — as both squads struggled to hold onto ball.
Nearing the end
Six seniors share their thoughts on Friday night's finales
This is it. It all comes down to this.
Four years of up-and-downs, field-long gassers and film study have lead up to now.
Afternoons lifting weights, summer workouts and all the practices between games, too.
And Every moment Friday will be a memory replayed for years to come.
So there's little surprise the seniors of the Leesville Road, Millbrook and Sanderson football teams will be a tad emotional when they take the field Friday night — their last assured home game of their careers.
