No. 3 Lady Sandites win homecoming game 42-32 over No. 14 Bartlesville, Johnson scores 16

/ Ed Dubie Field House/

By: Virgil Noah, Staff Writer

The No. 3 ranked Charles Page High School girls (18-1 overall, 11-1 conference) survived a late push to defeat No. 14 Bartlesville (12-8, 8-3) 42-32. 

CPHS 42 BHS 32

1Q: Sand Springs 17-9
2Q: Sand Springs 9-3
3Q: Bartlesville 10-3
4Q: Sand Springs 11-10

Scoring: (CPHS) Johnson 16, Mutiri 12, Kersgeiter 7, Pennington 3, Taber 2, McGee 2 (BHS) Williams 13, Richter 8, Culver 5, Allen 3, Shoemaker 3.

(CPHS Only)
Offensive Rebounds: Mutiri 3, Pennington 1, Kersgieter 1, Johnson 1.
Defensive Rebounds: Mutiri 5, Pennington 5, Regalado 4, Johnson 4, Kersgieter 3, McGee 2, Taber 1.
Assists: Johnson 2, Pennington 2, Kersgieter 1, Mutiri 1.
Steals: Johnson 4, Kersgieter 2, Mutiri 1.
Blocks: Pennington 2.
Fouls: McGee 2, Pennington 1, Kersgieter 1, Johnson 1, Taber 1.

The first quarter started out as a back-and-forth affair, as Destiny Johnson scored the Lady Sandites' first 6 points. Johnson knocked down a pair of free throws and turned a pair of steals into layups, while the Lady Bruins' Lauren Richter scored a pair of buckets on two quick post moves. The score was tied 9-9 when the Lady Sandites went on a 19-3 scoring run to end the half. Johnson, Kierra McGee, Holly Kersgieter, and Gloria Mutiri each scored to close the first quarter on an 8-0 run, and continued putting the pressure on the visitors.

The Lady Bruins offense mustered just three points the entire second quarter, while Johnson and the Lady Sandites continued to capitalize by scoring points off turnovers. Jacie Taber scored just before halftime and at the midway point Sand Springs led 28-12. 

The third quarter saw the Lady Sandite offense go through a drought of its own as they were held to a mere three points while Jena' Williams took over the scoring for Bartlesville. Williams scored 6 points in the quarter and drew her squad within nine points of the lead heading into the final stanza.  

A three-pointer by Williams in the fourth quarter closed the gap to just five points, but Kersgeiter and Johnson were able to seal the game at the line when Bartlesville was forced to foul to stay in the game. 

Johnson led all scorers with 16 points, five rebounds and four steals. Mutiri also scored in double figures with 12 points and hauled in 8 rebounds. The Lady Sandites shot nearly 52% from inside the arc, but failed to make a three-pointer on their seven attempts. The victory snapped Bartlesville's four game win-streak and was the second loss of the year to Sand Springs, who won the season opener 51-34. 

Sand Springs benefited earlier this week from a 56-51 upset of No. 6 Owasso (14-6, 9-2) by the Lady Bruins, thus returning the Sandites to the forefront of conference standings. The Lady Sandites will return to action next Tuesday for senior night against unranked Muskogee (8-11, 3-8). Bartlesville will hold their senior night game next Tuesday against unranked Bixby (7-14, 2-10).