CPHS Basketball: Sandites punch ticket to State Tournament with 55-53 win over No. 8 Owasso

The Sand Springs Sandites are headed to the 6A State Tournament for the first time under Head Coach Eric Savage. (Photo: Morgan Miller).

The No. 10 ranked Charles Page High School boys' basketball team (19-7) is headed to the State Tournament for the first time in decades after a thrilling 55-53 win over the No. 8 Owasso Rams (21-6).

In the Area Consolation finals, fifth-year Head Coach Eric Savage returned to his former home, playing at Tulsa Memorial High School where he previously won two 5A State Championships with the Chargers. Now, he'll get to make his first trip to the OSSAA 6A State Tournament, and he'll bring his three sons with him. Senior University of Central Oklahoma-commit Colt Savage led all scorers with twenty points in the biggest win for Sand Springs in recent memory. 

The Sandites stole the Rams’ first possession and scored on a deep ball by sophomore standout Davon Richardson. Mason Downs put up two for Owasso, then Jake Thompson made a three-point play for the lead. Matt Price hit another three, but Thompson continued his streak to give the Rams the lead for the duration of the first period, scoring ten in that stanza alone.

A Richardson layup and a pair of free throws from Colt Savage got the Sandites back in striking distance in the second period. Seth Pomeroy made a pair of freebies, then Savage scored four. Josh Proctor and Cale Savage traded free throws to tie it at 22-22, then Cale made a buzzer-beater three with an assist from Colt.

Richardson scored first in the second half, but multiple turnovers gave Pomeroy back-to-back threes for the lead. Richardson took it back with a three-point play. Price and Hayden Peterson traded layups, then Richardson hit two more from the stripe. Peterson made another layup then Thompson tied it from the stripe before Colt Savage hit his first deep ball of the night. Pomeroy notched another pair of free throws, then Cale Savage scored a pair of threes for a 43-37 lead.

Colt Savage started the final stanza with two, Thompson and Price traded free throws, then Kendrick Williams iced a three for the first double-digit lead of the game. The Rams battled back quickly, however, going on a 9-1 run to make it 50-48 before Colt Savage made another pair of free throws.

Proctor stepped up with a three then Garrett Killion hit a pair of free throws for the Owasso advantage. Proctor had the chance to strengthen that lead with fifty seconds left but missed two free throws. Price snagged the rebound and hoofed it to Colt Savage who drew a foul and made a free shot to tie it. 

Richardson snagged a steal with 21 seconds left, then Proctor sent Colt Savage to the line with 13.5 remaining to sink a pair for the lead. The rest is history.

Richardson had his third double-double of the season and finished with fifteen points while Cale Savage scored eleven to put three Sandites in double figures. Thompson led Owasso with seventeen, followed by Pomeroy with thirteen and Proctor with eleven.

CPHS 55 Owasso 53

1Q Owasso 18-11
2Q CPHS 14-4
3Q CPHS 18-15
4Q Owasso 16-12

Free Throws: Owasso 22-of-26, CPHS 18-of-24.
Field Goals: CPHS 15-of-34, Owasso 14-of-44.
Offensive Rebounds: Owasso 8, CPHS 6.
Defensive Rebounds: CPHS 15, Owasso 12.
Total Rebounds: CPHS 21, Owasso 20.
Steals: Owasso 4, CPHS 3.
Blocks: Owasso 4, CPHS 1.
Fouls: CPHS 19, Owasso 16.

(Sand Springs Stats)
Scoring: Colt Savage 20, Richardson 15, Cale Savage 11, Price 6, Williams 3.
Offensive Rebounds: Colt Savage 3, Richardson 1, Durkee 1, Fisher 1.
Defensive Rebounds: Richardson 9, Colt Savage 2, Cale Savage 2, Price 2.
Total Rebounds: Richardson 10, Colt Savage 5, Cale Savage 2, Price 2, Durkee 1, Fisher 1.
Steals: Durkee 2, Richardson 1.
Assists: Colt Savage 1, Richardson 1.
Blocks: Richardson 1.
Fouls: Durkee 4, Colt Savage 3, Richardson 3, Cale Savage 3, Williams 3, Price 2, Fisher 1.

(Owasso Stats)
Scoring: Thompson 17, Pomeroy 13, Proctor 11, Peterson 6, Downs 2, Mason 2, Killion 2. 
Fouls: Peterson 5, Thompson 4, Pomeroy 2, Killion 2, Mason 2, Proctor 1.