Kyle Keener scores 19 in Sandites' 58-54 loss at Bixby

Kyle Keener led all scorers with 19 points Friday night in Bixby. (Photo: Morgan Miller).

BHS 58 CPHS 54

1Q Sand Springs 15-10
2Q Sand Springs 12-9
3Q Bixby 14-13
4Q Bixby 25-14

Scoring: (Sand Springs) Keener 19, Colt Savage 18, Cale Savage 6, Taber 6, Garbey 4, Golightly 1. (Bixby) Homan 18, Waggnor 14, Fiser 13, King 6, Hink 3, York 2, Moore 2.

(Sand Springs only)
Offensive Rebounds: Keener 7, Garbey 2, Cale Savage 1, Taber 1, Golightly 1, Price 1.
Defensive Rebounds: Colt Savage 7, Keener 4, Taber 4, Garbey 2, Cale Savage 1, Golightly 1, Price 1.
Steals: Wash 3, Keener 1.
Assists: Taber 5, Garbey 2, Keener 1, Cale Savage 1.
Blocks: Keener 2, Colt Savage 1.
Fouls: Keener 5, Taber 3, Wash 2, Price 2, Cale Savage 2, Garbey 2, Colt Savage 1, Golightly 1, Durkee 1.

By: Virgil Noah, Staff Writer

University of Central Oklahoma-signed senior Kyle Keener scored a team-high 19 points and collected 11 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season in Charles Page High School's attempt to spoil Bixby High School's Senior Night on Friday. The Sandites (11-12 overall, 5-9 conference) led for almost the entirety of the game but were unable to secure the victory and were defeated 58-54 after a late rally. 

The Spartans (11-12, 6-8) raced out to a 7-0 lead in the opening moments of the game getting layups from Sam Hink and Joey Homan, while Tre Waggnor knocked down a three-pointer. The Sandites then closed out the first quarter on a 15-3 scoring run. Keener knocked down a free throw, followed by baskets from Colt Savage and Jacob Garbey. Colt and younger brother Cale Savage both drained threes and Josh Taber got on the board with a layup to close out the opening stanza with the visitors up by five.

The second quarter saw more of the same as the Sandites outscored Bixby 12-9 in the quarter. Keener and Colt combined for all 12 of those points, and the Sandites headed into halftime leading 27-19.

Taber got the second half going with a layup and Waggnor answered with a conventional three-point play. Spartan Senior Forward Will Fiser got things going as well as Homan to score Bixby's last nine straight points in the quarter, while Colt did damage from the field and the charity stripe. Cale sank another triple and Keener scored in the post to send Sand Springs into the final eight minutes of play with a seven point advantage. 

Keener and Homan traded baskets to start the fourth followed by Fiser and Garbey. Homan then scored despite a foul and converted the and-one opportunity. A layup by Staton King trimmed the lead to just two points. Keener would score ten of his team-high 19 points in the fourth, the last of which gave the Sandites a 54-50 advantage. Bixby would hold Sand Springs off the scoreboard for the remainder of the game though, as Waggnor made back-to-back trifectas to seal the win for the Spartans. 

The Sandites will return to action next Friday at 6:30 p.m. when they play No. 9 Yukon (14-6) in the first round of the Norman North Regional playoff.