CPHS Basketball: Sandites win fifth-straight, Minney scores 23

Josh Minney set career records in multiple categories Thursday night at the Tulsa Memorial Veteran’s Arena, leading the Class 6A No. 8 ranked Charles Page High School basketball team to their first 5-0 start since 2015. Sand Springs topped the Wichita Defenders (4-2) home school team 76-65 in the first round of the Memorial Invitational.

The Sandites trailed 17-16 after the first quarter, but nine players saw court time, and a return to the starters gave them a nine-point run to start the second quarter. Davon Richardson kicked things off, Minney scored twice, and Cale Savage hit the first Sand Springs three of the night en rout to a 25-17 advantage that they never gave up.

Joshua Martin and Jonah Wolters broke up the streak, but Cole Durkee, Minney, and Savage started a new one for their first double-digit lead at 33-22. They couldn’t tie it up, but the Defenders did manage to dig themselves out of the hole briefly with an eight-point run before sending Jaden Hurd to the line for two. James Rackley made his way onto the scoreboard, but Marlo Fox and Richardson ended the half 38-33.

Sand Springs opened the second half with a statement, scoring on a long pass from Savage and a Richardson dunk. Kip Ammons scored from outside the arc, then Minney hit a layup and Fox went on a seven-point run for their biggest lead thus far. It was back-and-forth from there till 53-41, then Wichita rattled off six in a row.

The Sandites started the fourth quarter up 60-50 after a free throw from Minney and a layup by Durkee, but Wichita continued to hold tough, forcing multiple turnovers. Hurd made a three-point play with an assist from Cason Savage, then Minney dunked on his own steal for another thirteen-point lead. Their biggest advantage was 76-61 but Amons scored four to end the game.

Minney nearly doubled his previous scoring record with 23 points, nine rebounds, and a career-best eight steals. Also in double digits for the Sandites were Durkee with thirteen, Richardson with fourteen, and Fox with ten.

Sand Springs will return to action Friday at 8:00 p.m. against S.W. Christian Academy (5-3). Class 5A No. 1 ranked Memorial needed overtime to get past the Lions in their Thursday game.

CPHS 76 WD 65
1Q WD 17-16
2Q CPHS 22-16
3Q CPHS 19-17
4Q CPHS 19-15
Free Throws: CPHS 14-of-26, WD 6-of-14.
Field Goals: CPHS 29-of-51, WD 22-of-57.
Offensive Rebounds: CPHS 9, WD 7.
Defensive Rebounds: CPHS 26, WD 12.
Total Rebounds: CPHS 39, WD 19.
Steals: CPHS 11, WD 6.
Blocks: WD 3, CPHS 1.
Fouls: CPHS 11, WD 18.

(Sand Springs Stats)
Scoring: Minney 23, Richardson 14, Durkee 13, Fox 10, Hurd 7, Cale Savage 5, Cason Savage 3, Hughes 1.
Offensive Rebounds: Minney 3, Cale Savage 2, Richardson 1, Hurd 1, Hawkins 1, Anderson 1.
Defensive Rebounds: Minney 6, Richardson 6, Fox 3, Durkee 3, Hurd 2, Cale Savage 2, Quier 2, Hawkins 1, Hughes 1.
Total Rebounds: Minney 9, Richardson 7, Cale Savage 4, Fox 3, Durkee 3, Hurd 3, Quier 2, Hawkins 2, Hughes 1, Anderson 1.
Steals: Minney 8, Richardson 1, Cale Savage 1, Quier 1.
Assists: Richardson 5, Cale Savage 1, Minney 1, Durkee 1, Quier 1, Cason Savage 1.
Blocks: Quier 1.
Fouls: Hawkins 3, Richardson 2, Minney 2, Hurd 1, Quier 1, Hughes 1, Cason Savage 1.