Phenom Hoops was checking out the talent in the central part of the state, as Cary welcomed in Sanderson for an early-season showdown. Sanderson came out strong early on to earn an early lead, going up by eight points but Cary was able to make get going late to cut into that lead, with Sanderson leading 22-15. Second quarter though, both teams struggled offensively, with Sanderson outscoring Cary 11-9 and holding a 33-24 halftime lead.
Second half, Sanderson had the outside shot falling and was able to get out in transition as well, with Nathan Fife helping lead the charge. Zach Chavis continued to showcase his outside shooting in the third quarter, having 16 points after three quarters. But Sanderson never let up and maintained their double-digit lead and eventually secured the 63-52 victory on the road.
Final: Sanderson 63 – Cary 52
Sanderson: 22-11-17-13: 63
Cary: 15-9-15-13: 52
Standouts:
Sanderson:
2025 Nathan Fife: Fife is an intriguing young guard for Sanderson. The 6’1 point guard came out early and showed his ability to knock down shots from a variety of levels, but also played with a great pace, under control, and read the floor really well. He was able to create off the dribble and find his teammates as well along the perimeter. High IQ and a nice feel for the sophomore point guard.
2023 Jay Peterson: Peterson is a 6’6 power forward that has an extremely strong frame and used that to his advantage, carving out space in the interior, finishing strong around the basket, and really being a force on the boards. Showed good flashes of his ability down in the post on several occasions.
Cary:
2023 Zack Chavis: The 6’5 prospect led the way for Cary, doing a great job in finding his spots and being a big threat from the outside. Through three quarters, he was confident from the perimeter, hitting four 3-pointers and staying active.
2023 Brishawn Haywood: Haywood played with a ton of energy on the floor, and though shots didn’t always fall, he stayed confident and aggressive on the court. He started to get going in the second quarter, getting downhill, being active, showing good quickness, and showing he can make plays in a variety of ways.