CPHS Basketball: Sapulpa wins Highway 97 Rivalry, Kersgieter scores 23

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On paper, the Sandites were the clear favorite. A better record, a better ranking, and a twelve-point win at a previous meeting. But things are never that easy in the Frontier Valley Conference. That Sapulpa and Sand Springs have a heated rivalry only added to the fact that this game would be proven on the court, not on paper.

While Class 6A No. 11 ranked Sand Springs (12-6, 8-2) had dropped a twelve-point loss to undefeated No. 2 Bartlesville a week prior, the No. 20 Chieftains (11-8, 6-4) took the Bruins into overtime earlier this week before falling by six. They rode that momentum into Friday night’s foray and rolled to a 58-52 Victory.

DeAsia Thomas drew first blood and the teams traded punches till Taylor Dement and Ray Osborn scored back-to-back for an 8-4 lead. The game went to free throws from there as the teams combined for ten fouls in the first quarter. Kiarra Brooks and Holly Kersgieter exchanged field goals to end the quarter with the visitors on top 12-11.

Dement scored three to start the second period, Isabella Regalado hit a long two, then Lindsay Hall scored a three and Dement added a layup for the 20-13 advantage. Destiny Johnson paved the way for a major comeback, scoring seven points near the end of the period with four from Kersgieter, including a buzzer-beater to tie it at 24-24.

Kimi Presnell gave the Sandites their first and only lead at the 5:03 mark of the third period but Dement scored four straight to put the visitors back out front. Jacie Taber capped off the quarter with a putback as the Sandites trailed 41-39.

Brooks hit a pair of free throws to kick off the fourth, Kersgieter sank a three, then Dement, Brooks, and Temira Poindexter scored six straight. Taber broke up the streak, but Dement scored back-to-back and Osborn hit a free throw for a double-digit lead.

Kersgieter and Bree Berge scored a pair of field goals, Brooks retaliated, then Kersgieter scored again to make it 56-50 with 1:08 to play. Dement scored a pair of free throws for Sapulpa, Berge scored a pair for the Sandites, and the Chieftains secured the upset.

Dement led all scorers with 25 points while Kersgieter paced the Sandites with 23 points and eleven rebounds. Johnson added twelve points and seven rebounds for Sand Springs while Brooks contributed ten for the Chieftains.

The Sandites will return to action Tuesday at Union (6-12, 3-6) while the Chieftains will host No. 9 Bixby (6-4). The Sandites previously trounced the Redskins 71-54 and the Chieftains topped Bixby 44-39. 

SHS 58 CPHS 52

1Q SHS 12-11
2Q CPHS 13-12
3Q SHS 17-15
4Q SHS 17-13

Free Throws: CPHS 11-of-20, SHS 12-of-22.
Field Goals: SHS 24-of-49, CPHS 20-of-48.
Offensive Rebounds: CPHS 8, SHS 7.
Defensive Rebounds: SHS 22, CPHS 21.
Total Rebounds: CPHS 29, SHS 29.
Steals: CPHS 8, SHS 6.
Blocks: SHS 1, CPHS 1.
Fouls: SHS 17, CPHS 18.

(Sand Springs Stats)
Scoring: Kersgieter 23, Johnson 12, Taber 8, Berge 4, Presnell 3, Regalado 2.
Offensive Rebounds: Kersgieter 4, Johnson 3, Taber 1.
Defensive Rebounds: Kersgieter 7, Johnson 4, Regalado 4, Burris 4, Taber 1, Presnell 1, Pidilla 1.
Total Rebounds: Kersgieter 11, Johnson 7, Regalado 4, Burris 4, Taber 2, Presnell 1, Pidilla 1.
Steals: Kersgieter 4, Regalado 2, Johnson 1, Taber 1.
Assists: Johnson 2, Regalado 1, Taber 1.
Blocks: Berge 1.
Fouls: Johnson 4, Regalado 4, Taber 4, Presnell 2, Burris 2, Kersgieter 1, Berge 1.

(Sapulpa Stats)
Scoring: Dement 25, Brooks 10, Osborn 8, Hall 6, Thomas 5, Poindexter 2, Delaney 2.
Fouls: Dement 4, Brooks 4, Thomas 3, Poindexter 2, Osborn 1, Thomas 1, Delaney 1, Hall 1.