CPHS Basketball: Armstead scores 23 in 62-47 win over Ponca City

The Charles Page High School girls’ basketball team hosted Ponca City Tuesday evening in their season debut. The Sandites paid back last year’s season-opening loss with a mostly-dominant 62-47 victory in a crowded Ed Dubie Field House. Sophomore East-Central move-in Journey Armstead paved the way with 23 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 3 assists, and a block, and Joshua Berry picked up his first win as Head Coach. 

The Sandites came out aggressive on defense, with Jade Shrum snagging a pair of steals before either team made it on the board. They struggled with accuracy, however, missing their first four field goal attempts, all from three-point range. Karis Branstetter was first in the net with a long three, followed by a layup from Carlie Badley. 

Reagan Padilla was fouled on a three and made two free throws to get the home team on the board. Padilla hit a three soon after, and Darrian Jordan laid up to make it 11-7. Branstetter and Ryley Beard both sank threes and Badley had another layup, but they never pushed their lead past six points. The Sandites ended the quarter on a five-point run to make it 13-12, with baskets from Hailey Jackson and Madison Burris. 

Armstead kicked off the second period with a three-pointer for the first Sandite lead, and the team traded punches from there till it was 19-19. Armstead added two more for the ultimate lead, and Jackson stole on back-to-back possessions, taking one coast to coast for the 23-19 locker room advantage. 

The home team kicked off the second half with three layups on two steals. Armstead was first in the book, then Padilla and Jordan both took turnovers to the house. Jordan’s points gave the Sandites their first double-digit advantage. Baylee Fincher and Branstetter tried to whittle away the deficit, but Jordan and Armstead stayed hot, pushing the lead back to 34-23. They held that spread through the quarter and entered the fourth 40-29. 

The Sandites got into foul trouble early in the fourth, drawing their tenth of the half with six minutes left to play. Ponca scored six on free throws and Baylee Fincher laid up on a steal to cut it to 45-37. Armstead launched a pair of long passes to Jackson for two easy layups, then hit four free throws to make it 54-40. She continued to draw fouls throughout the game and put up five more points. The girls had their biggest lead at 62-45 before Branstetter hit two freebies to end the night. 

Armstead led all scorers with 23, but had help from five of her teammates. Jackson finished with 12 points and Padilla had 11, and thirteen players saw action. Branstetter led the visitors with 12 points, followed by Badley and Beard with 10 apiece. 

Sand Springs will take two weeks off before hosting Union (1-0, 1-0) Tuesday, December 10th at 6:30 p.m. in a start to conference action. Ponca will compete at the Bixby Tournament, beginning December 5th.

CPHS 62 POHI 47
1Q: POHI 13-12.
2Q: CPHS 11-6.
3Q: CPHS 17-10.
4Q: CPHS 22-18.

Free Throws: CPHS 19-of-22, POHI 17-of-20.
Field Goals: CPHS 20-of-44, POHI 13-of-39.
Offensive Rebounds: POHI 9, CPHS 7.
Defensive Rebounds: CPHS 16, POHI 11.
Total Rebounds: CPHS 23, POHI 20.
Steals: CPHS 13, POHI 6.
Blocks: CPHS 2, POHI 0.
Fouls: CPHS 21, POHI 20.

(Sand Springs stats)
Scoring: Armstead 23, Jackson 12, Padilla 11, Jordan 9, Regalado 4, Burris 3.
Offensive Rebounds: Jordan 3, Armstead 2, Shrum 1, Jackson 1.
Defensive Rebounds: Padilla 5, Armstead 3, Jackson 3, Shrum 2, Jordan 2, Burris 1, Cheney 1.
Total Rebounds: Armstead 5, Padilla 5, Jordan 5, Jackson 4, Shrum 3, Burris 1, Cheney 1.
Steals: Burris 3, Armstead 2, Padilla 2, Shrum 2, Jordan 2, Jackson 2.
Assists: Armstead 3, Burris 2, Shrum 1, Regalado 1.
Blocks: Armstead 1, Burris 1.
Fouls: Burris 5, Padilla 4, Jordan 4, Jackson 4, Armstead 3, Harris 1.

(Ponca City partial stats)
Scoring: Branstetter 12, Badley 10, Beard 10, B. Fincher 8, A. Fincher 7.
Fouls: B. Fincher 5, Branstetter 4, Badley 3, Beard 3, A. Fincher 3, Lyons 2.