CPHS Basketball: Kersgieter scores 29, Johnson 25 in 71-54 victory over Union

The Class 6A No. 1 ranked Charles Page High School girls' basketball team improved to 7-0 overall and 3-0 in conference with a 71-54 victory over Union (2-3, 1-1) that was anything but easy. The aggressive Redskins forced Head Coach Dustin Morrow to leave in his starters for most of the game, allowing University of Kansas-commit Holly Kersgieter to score a career-high 29 points, closely followed by Destiny Johnson with 25. 

The Sandites utterly dominated in the first quarter, taking a 21-4 lead with three-straight scores from Jacie Taber steals, including back-to-back layups from Taber herself. Kimi Presnell had a pair of steals as well, and the girls appeared ready to put this game behind them as quickly as possible.

Union had other plans, however, and battled back with eleven-straight points, including seven-straight to start the second quarter before Isabella Regalado got the Sandites back in action. It was back and forth from there as Sand Springs repeatedly tried for quick transition layups that were blocked, stolen back, or simply slipped loose. By halftime the Redskins had cut the gap to 29-22.

The third quarter started in the same back-and-forth manner in which the second quarter ended, but midway through the Sandites went on a five-point run that seemed to snap them back to their normal selves. Kersgieter, who scored seven in the first half, exploded for fourteen in the third quarter and the girls were back out front of a 53-35 lead.

The visitors continued to play aggressively throughout the game, but they were outgunned by the powerful Sandite offense that pushed its lead as far as 65-41 before Coach Morrow benched his starters. Union outscored the Sandite second string 6-0, entirely from the free throw line, to finish the night.

Sand Springs will return to action Tuesday with a home conference game against No. 13 Owasso (1-1, 1-1). Union will host No. 19 Sapulpa (3-2, 1-1) on Tuesday.

CPHS 71 Union 54

1Q CPHS 21-8
2Q Union 14-8
3Q CPHS 24-13
4Q Union 19-18

Free Throws: Union 15-of-16, CPHS 12-of-17.
Field Goals: CPHS 28-of-47, Union 18-of-40.
Offensive Rebounds: CPHS 6, Union 4.
Defensive Rebounds: CPHS 14, Union 7.
Total Rebounds: CPHS 20, Union 11.
Steals: CPHS 14, Union 8.
Blocks: CPHS 1, Union 1.
Fouls: Union 10, CPHS 13.

(Sand Springs Stats)
Scoring: Kersgieter 29, Johnson 25, Regalado 9, Taber 6, Presnell 2.
Offensive Rebounds: Johnson 3, Regalado 2, Kersgieter 1.
Defensive Rebounds: Kersgieter 4, Presnell 3, Taber 3, Regalado 2, Johnson 1, Burris 1.
Total Rebounds: Kersgieter 5, Johnson 4, Regalado 4, Presnell 3, Taber 3, Burris 1.
Steals: Taber 5, Regalado 3, Johnson 3, Kersgieter 2, Presnell 1.
Assists: Taber 2, Presnell 1, Johnson 1.
Blocks: Taber 1.
Fouls: Johnson 3, Bunch 3, Kersgieter 2, Taber 2, Presnell 1, Burris 1, Shrum 1.