#13 Sandites win fourth straight with 59-45 triumph over #20 Bixby
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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-In-Chief
Friday night's Homecoming victory over the Bixby Spartans read much like Tuesday night's win over Muskogee. It was their fourth straight win, and it was sophomore Brooks Haddock's fourth straight game as the top Sandite scorer. For the second week in a row, Haddock and junior Kyle Keener were the heartbeat of the team, with each scoring 16 in the first three periods before the Spartans went foul-crazy on Haddock and sent him to the line for a total of six free throws in the fourth.
The No.20-ranked Bixby Spartans (9-10) had a rough time finding any momentum from the very beginning, turning over their first five possessions before finally getting on the board with a free throw from leading Spartan scorer Will Fiser. The 6-0 Sandite start had expanded to a solid 13-7 lead by the end of the first, and the second quarter would be no kinder to the visitors.
No.13-ranked Sand Springs (14-5) held a 24-13 lead coming out of halftime. The Spartans battled far closer in the third period, tying Sand Springs with 16 points each. The visitors got within 7 of the home team towards the end of the period, but Haddock hit a two and senior Arvionte Nichols returned a steal for a layup right at the buzzer.
Bixby made yet another comeback-attempt, rallying to a 45-41 deficit with 4:45 left, but Keener and Colt Savage hit back-to-back baskets before Haddock went on a run at the charity stripe to make it 55-43. Mack Thompson scored a transition layup off a steal, then Tyler Smith came off the bench and dunked to seal the win.
The boys are now third in conference standings with four games left in the regular season. They will next travel to #12 Sapulpa (15-4) in a rematch of their week two game which Sand Springs won 69-60 at home.
In JV action, the Sandites went into overtime for the third time this season where Jacob Garbey hit the game wining shot for a 49-48 win. Garbey led the team with 15 points, followed by Josh Taber with 9. The boys are now 5-6 on the season. In the season opener the Sandites overcame Bixby 34-32, also in overtime.
