CPHS Basketball: Sandites fall 59-52 to Norman in State Quarterfinals

Class 6A No. 6 ranked Charles Page High School girls’ basketball team (21-5) ended their season Thursday afternoon at Memorial Veterans Arena, falling 59-52 to No. 12 Norman High School (21-7).

The Sandites won the first quarter handily, but Norman won the next three and held the lead for the duration of the fourth to advance to the State Semifinals.

6’2” Norman sophomore Kendra Gillispie led all scorers with 29 points and was unstoppable in the paint. Kamiyah Lyons also scored double digits with twelve points for the Tigers.

University of Tulsa-signed senior Destiny Johnson led the Sandites with 24 points, followed by Kansas-signee Holly Kersgieter with a double-double, recording 22 points and eleven rebounds.

Gillispie gave the Tigers a pair of two-point leads early in the game, but Johnson immediately responded to both and Madison Burris put her team out front at 6-4 to kick off an eight-point run. Gillispie broke up the streak, but Kersgieter quickly responded, scoring through a foul for three.

Kelbie Washington netted the first Norman three-pointer late in the first period. The Sandite maintained a 17-10 advantage at the buzzer, but the Tigers came roaring back with a twelve-point run for the 21-17 lead. Lyons made a three-point play followed by traditional threes from Lyons and Christina Shadid and a layup by Gillispie.

Kersgieter and Gillispie traded baskets till 25-23, Padilla hit a free throw, then Kersgieter added her first three-pointer for a 27-25 advantage. Gillispie and Johnson exchanged layups, then Washington scored on a steal to make it 29-29 at the half.

Gillispie led all scorers at the half with seventeen points, but Kersgieter and Johnson were nipping at her heels with thirteen points apiece.

Norman began to pull away in the third period. The teams traded baskets and the lead for the first half of the stanza, but the Tigers went on a five-point run to end the period 42-36.

Kersgieter scored three to start the fourth but Gillispie scored a pair of twos to increase their lead. Regalado came out at the 5:20 mark after her fourth foul. Taber sank a three, Gillispie scored three with a foul, then Kersgieter drove the lane for two to make it 49-44.

The Sandites entered the final three minutes with eight fouls to the Tigers’ three, and free throws would prove costly. Kersgieter and Johnson scored six in a row to cut it to 49-48 before Gillispie broke it up.

Norman went on a four-point run, Kersgieter scored two, then Norman rattled off four more to secure the win.

The game brought an end to the high school careers of Johnson, Taber, Kersgieter, Ashlee Bunch, Regalado, and Daniela Solis. Johnson, Kersgieter, and Regalado will continue to play ball at the collegiate level, with Regalado attending Northeastern State University. Taber will also take her talents to the NCAA, but as a pitcher for the Missouri State softball team. The Senior Class of 2019 made it to the State Tournament three-straight years with three Regional titles and three Area titles.

Norman will play the winner of No. 2 Shawnee (25-1) vs. No. 14 Edmond Santa Fe (18-8) Friday at 9:00 a.m. at the ORU Mabee Center.

NHS 59 CPHS 52
1Q: CPHS 17-10.
2Q: NHS 19-12.
3Q: NHS 13-7.
4Q: NHS 17-16.
Free Throws: NHS 12-of-18, CPHS 13-of-17.
Field Goals: NHS 21-of-56, CPHS 18-of-47.
Offensive Rebounds: NHS 8, CPHS 10.
Defensive Rebounds: NHS 17, CPHS 21.
Total Rebounds: NHS 25, CPHS 31.
Steals: NHS 8, CPHS 4.
Blocks: NHS 1, CPHS 3.
Fouls: NHS 11, CPHS 20.

(Sand Springs Stats)
Scoring: Johnson 24, Kersgieter 22, Taber 3, Burris 2, Padilla 1.
Offensive Rebounds: Regalado 4, Johnson 2, Kersgieter 2, Burris 2.
Defensive Rebounds: Kersgieter 9, Padilla 4, Regalado 3, Taber 2, Johnson 1, Burris 1, Jordan 1.
Total Rebounds: Kersgieter 11, Regalado 7, Padilla 4, Johnson 3, Burris 3, Taber 2, Jordan 1.
Assists: Kersgieter 1, Burris 1, Padilla 1, Taber 1.
Steals: Kersgieter 2, Regalado 1, Burris 1.
Blocks: Kersgieter 2, Johnson 1.
Fouls: Johnson 4, Kersgieter 4, Regalado 4, Burris 4, Padilla 2, Taber 2.

(Norman Scoring): Gillispie 29, Lyons 12, Washington 7, Shadid 3, Parks 3, Mattingly 3, Perry 2.