For the first time in school history, the Sanderson boys basketball will play in the N.C. High School Athletic Association semifinals.

Sanderson has appeared in the fourth round before, but never won the game. That changed on Friday.

Led by a 42-point performance from senior Nathan Fife, (3) Sanderson went on the road and beat (2) Garner in a sold out gym, 78-75.

The two teams went back and forth much of the game. Sanderson led by just one point after the first quarter and by one point at halftime, 32-31.

Sanderson extended its lead to double-digits in the fourth quarter, but Garner was able to claw back within a single possession. The Spartans never lost that lead though. Free throws — and three-point baskets — down the stretch helped seal the win.

The Spartans connected on three long-range shots and went 15-of-22 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter.

For the game, Sanderson was 23-of-31 from the free throw line. The Spartans also combined for 11 three-point baskets.

Fife’s 42 points led all scorers. He had 22 points in the first half and totalled seven three-pointers in the game.

Another Sanderson senior, Gordie Balas, recorded 16 points in the game — 14 of which came in the second half. Fife and Balas were the only Sanderson players in double-figures, but Kendrick Pulley added nine points for the Spartans.

Cam Reyes led Garner in scoring with 26 points. Darius Whitner scored 15 points, Cairo Hines scored 11 points, and Kingston Beale posted 10 points for the Trojans.

Sanderson advances to the NCHSAA 4A state semifinals on Wednesday where it will meet (1) New Hanover in the eastern regional championship game. New Hanover defeated (5) Green Level 71-51 in the fourth round. The Wildcats eliminated Sanderson from the state playoffs last season.

Wednesday’s semifinal game will be played at Lawrence Joel Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum on the camps of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem. The time will be announced this weekend.

The winner of the semifinal game will play the western regional champion in the 4A state championship on Saturday in Winston-Salem. The western championship is between (13) Chambers and (3) North Mecklenburg.