CPHS Basketball: Lady Sandites win third-straight Bishop Kelley Tournament 65-42 over No. 8 Norman North

View fullsize

It was a battle of the undefeateds in the Bishop Kelley Tournament finals as Class 6A No. 3 ranked Sand Springs (6-0) and No. 8 Norman North (5-1) duked it out in a rematch of the prior year's finale. History repeated itself and the Lady Sandites won their third-straight Kelley Tournament trophy in dominant fashion.

University of Kansas-commit Holly Kersgieter led all scorers with 27 points, just one shy of the career-high she set just four days prior. Destiny Johnson, who also has multiple NCAA Division One offers, recorded fourteen points, twelve of which came in the first half. Isabella Regalado was third on the team with six points and ten rebounds. Johnson and Kersgieter both made the All-Tournament team and Kersgieter was named All-Tournament Most Valuable Player. 

Johnson kicked things off with a two-point basket for Sand Springs, Jacie Evans scored one for Norman, Johnson added another, then Evans gave her team their first lead with a three-point play off a Kimi Presnell foul. Johnson took the lead once again with a steal, then Emma Base and Holly Kersgieter each went two-for-two from the line.

Regalado made it a two-score game with the first goal of the night from three-point range, but the Timberwolves battled right back with a two-pointer from Jayda Whitley and a free throw from Lindsey Waters. Kersgieter added two more from the charity stripe, Base scored a field goal, then Jacie Taber hit a two and Kersgieter scored off a steal seconds before the buzzer for a 17-12 lead.

View fullsize

The Sandites got off to a good start in the second quarter, padding their lead with back-to-back shots from Kersgieter. Kayton Kite hit the first three-pointer for Norman, then the Sandites earned their first double-digit lead with back-to-back layups from Kersgieter and Johnson. Kersgieter made it 27-15 with an assist from Johnson, then Johnson scored on a throw-in from Bree Berge before the Timberwolves finally broke up the streak with a two-pointer from Whitley. Johnson scored two more, Jessika Evans hit two from the line, and Madison Burris made it 33-19 to end the half. Kersgieter led all scorers with fourteen.

Both teams started the second half sloppy with turnovers and missed layups before Kersgieter notched the first two points from the free throw line. Jessika Evans did the same for Norman, then both teams exchanged air balls. Regalado had the first goal of the half, Waters notched a free throw, then Presnell hit two more freebies before Berge hit her first goal of the night. Norman added three more free throws, Kersgieter made a three point play, Kite hit a deep ball, then Kersgieter hit one from the volleyball attack line at the buzzer to make it 47-28.

Regalado hit another three-pointer to start the fourth, Kersgieter added a free throw, Waters hit a three-pointer, Kersgieter notched two more, then Whitley hit a two and Waters scored a freebie. Kersgieter notched her 27th point of the night, Johnson scored her first basket of the second half, and Coach Dustin Morrow benched the starters with a 57-34 lead. The Sandite second and third stringers continued to defensively smother Norman North and McKenzie Harris scored two free throws for the only points of the final two minutes.

The Lady Sandites will return to action Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. when they host the Union Redskins (2-2 overall, 1-0 conference) in Frontier Valley Conference play. Sand Springs is 2-0 in conference. Norman North will host No. 9 Edmond Santa Fe (4-1) on Friday in Central Oklahoma Athletic Conference action.

CPHS 59 NNHS 34

1Q CPHS 17-12
2Q CPHS 16-7
3Q CPHS 14-9
4Q CPHS 12-6

Free Throws: CPHS 10-of-14, NNHS 13-of-21.
Field Goals: CPHS 22-of-39, NNHS 9-of-41.
Offensive Rebounds: CPHS 5, NNHS 4.
Defensive Rebounds: CPHS 26, NNHS 14.
Total Rebounds: CPHS 31, NNHS 18.
Steals: CPHS 5, NNHS 4.
Fouls: CPHS 16, NNHS 11.

(Sand Springs Stats)
Scoring: Kersgieter 27, Johnson 14, Regalado 6, Taber 4, Presnell 2, Burris 2, Berge 2, Harris 2.
Offensive Rebounds: Burris 2, Taber 1, Kersgieter 1, Presnell 1.
Defensive Rebounds: Regalado 10, Burris 4, Johnson 3, Presnell 2, Kersgieter 2, Taber 2.
Total Rebounds: Regalado 10, Burris 6, Taber 3, Kersgieter 3, Presnell 3, Johnson 3, Solis 2, Mong 1.
Steals: Kersgieter 2, Johnson 1, Presnell 1, Taber 1.
Assists: Johnson 2, Berge 2, Regalado 1, Taber 1.
Fouls: Johnson 4, Regalado 4, Presnell 3, Taber 2, Burris 2, Berge 1.

(Norman North Stats)
Scoring: Base 6, Waters 6, Whitley 6, Kite 6, Evans 5, Jacie Evans 5, Jessika Evans 5.
Fouls: Jacie Evans 4, Kite 2, Jessika Evans 2, Whitley 1, Waters 1, Deisering 1.