Lady Sandites win Highway 97 rivalry 61-36 over No. 19 Sapulpa; Johnson scores 20

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

CPHS 61 Sapulpa 36

1Q Sand Springs 18-5
2Q Sand Springs 14-5
3Q Sand Springs 19-3
4Q Sapulpa 23-10

Fouls: Sand Springs 16, Sapulpa, 11.
Free Throws: Sand Springs 4-of-9, Sapulpa 8-of-21.

Scoring: (Sand Springs) Johnson 20, Mutiri 14, McGee 9, Pennington 8, Taber 6, Kersgieter 4. (Sapulpa) Bethel 10, Dement 9, Brooks 9, Osborn 4, Belveal 2, Hall 2.

(Sand Springs only)
Offensive Rebounds: Johnson 3, Mutiri 3, Pennington 2, Kersgieter 2, McGee 1, Regalado 1, Taber 1.
Defensive Rebounds: Mutiri 11, Pennington 6, Kersgieter 4, McGee 3, Regalado 3, Boaz 1.
Steals: Pennington 4, Kersgieter 1, Regalado 1.
Assists: Johnson 3, McGee 3, Kersgieter 2, Pennington 1, Taber 1.
Blocks: Johnson 2, Mutiri 2.
Fouls: Regalado 5, Kersgieter 3, Mutiri 2, Taber 2, Grant 2, Pennington 1, Boaz 1.

The No. 3 ranked Charles Page High School girls' basketball team (10-0) continued their undefeated start to the season with a blowout win over Highway 97 rival No. 19 Sapulpa (5-6) Tuesday evening at the Ed Dubie Field House.

The Lady Sandites jumped on Sapulpa hard and fast, and at times it looked like the Sapulpans were trying to get past a brick wall. Sand Springs has one of the top-rated defenses in the state and it showed as they absolutely smothered their rivals.  

The home team led 12-0 before letting their foes on the board with a two-point basket by Michaela Bethel. Senior Oklahoma State Softball-commit Sydney Pennington snagged four steals in the first period and junior Ohio State Volleyball-commit Gloria Mutiri led with seven points to finish the quarter 18-5.

Despite their lead, the Sandites only slightly let off the gas in the second quarter and once again smothered their rivals defensively for a 32-10 halftime advantage.  

Mutiri kicked off the third quarter with a defensive rebound that she returned for two points to complete her first double-double of the season. Another basket by Mutiri and sophomore Holly Kersgieter added two more before Taylor Dement put up points for Sapulpa. Destiny Johnson and Kierra McGee both hit back-to-back field goals, Dement tacked on a free throw, and Mutiri and Jacie Taber closed out the quarter 51-13. 

Sand Springs finally let off the throttle in the fourth quarter and ran the bench on their foes. Sapulpa won the fourth quarter 23-10 but it wasn't enough to challenge the undefeated Sandites who ultimately prevailed 61-36.  

Johnson led the Sandites for the second time this season and scored a career-high 20 points. Mutiri scored 14 to bump her season average into double digits. Bethel was the only Lady Chieftain to break double digits with 10 points. 

Both teams struggled from three-point range with the Sandites shooting 3-of-15 while Sapulpa didn't make a single shot. The Chieftains also had a rough time at the charity stripe, making only 8 of 21 free throws. 

Head Coach Dustin Morrow is in his fifth year leading the program and before this year he had never defeated Muskogee, Broken Arrow, or Sapulpa. After Tuesday's game he had effectively toppled all three powerhouse programs by double digits. 

The Lady Sandites will look to continue their undefeated streak this Thursday when they travel to the Interstate Classic in Coffeyville, Kansas. Sapulpa will have a week to recover before hosting unranked Bixby (4-9) next Tuesday. The next conference game on the horizon for the Sandites is next Tuesday when they host No. 13 Union (8-4).