GIRLS BASKETBALL
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.
VIDEO: Lady Spartans
on Christmas vacation
On the strength of a third-quarter rally, the Sanderson girls basketball team knocked off Panther Creek 42-31 Monday, Dec. 28. Click on our video to see highlights of the Lady Spartans.
GALLERY: SHS/PCHS
Check out what our photographer captured at the Sanderson/Panther Creek girls basketball game Dec. 28.
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.
VIDEO: Wildcats rally past Sanderson in second half
Tied at halftime, the Millbrook girls basketball team surged in the second half and defeated Sanderson 51-42 Monday, Dec. 21. Check out our video of the action.
GALLERY: MHS vs. SHS
Check out our photographs from the Millbrook/Sanderson girls basketball game Monday, Dec. 21. (We have only a few pictures from the boys game because our flash battery died — sorry.) Click on the photograph above to view our gallery.
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.
GALLERY: Spartan photos
Here are a few images of the Sanderson and Cary girls basketball teams' Dec. 14 contest. Click on the picture above to see
our photos.
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.
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."