CPHS Basketball: Girls drop 32-30 thriller at No. 6 Union

The Class 6A No. 11 ranked Charles Page High School girls’ basketball team (12-6, 5-5) took on their third top-ten opponent in a row Friday night at the Union Multipurpose Athletic Center, and fell 32-30 to No. 6 Union (16-3, 9-1), despite winning the second half 15-8.

Kaylen Nelson scored the opening bucket for the Redskins, Journey Armstead retaliated, then the home team scored eight in a row before Sophia Regalado broke up the run. Hailey Jackson hit two from the charity stripe and Armstead added a second bucket, but Nelson bookended the quarter with a three for the 15-8 lead.

Neither team made any headway in the second quarter till Nelson ended the half with a traditional three to make it 24-15 for the Redskins’ biggest lead of the game.

The Sandites came storming back in the third. Makenzie Malham scored the opening bucket, but Sand Springs went on a 10-2 run to close the quarter 28-25. Madison Burris came up with a clutch three to cut the deficit to 32-30 late in the fourth, but those would be the final points of the game.

Union played a game of keep-away in the final two minutes and the Sandites had to foul three times just to reach the bonus. Finally, Burris sent Jayla Burgess to the line for a 1-and-1 with 14.5 seconds remaining. Burgess missed the shot, Armstead rebounded, and the Sandites took a timeout with 8.4 to play. Union defense prevailed and Takayla Pitts tied up Jackson to drain the clock.

Nelson led all scorers with 18 points and was the only player on either team in double digits. Armstead was held to a season-low nine-point effort to lead the Sandites, followed by Jackson with eight.

Sand Springs will return to action Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. with a conference home game against Owasso (4-14, 2-7), who they beat 62-45 in December. Union will get a rematch with No. 7 Sapulpa (15-3, 8-1) Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. The Chieftains gave Union their only conference loss of the season 58-45 in December.

Union 32 CPHS 30
1Q: Union 15-8.
2Q: Union 9-7.
3Q: CPHS 10-4.
4Q: CPHS 5-4.

Free Throws: Union 5-of-6, CPHS 6-of-7.
Field Goals: Union 13-of-50, CPHS 11-of-46.
Offensive Rebounds: Union 12, CPHS 9.
Defensive Rebounds: Union 17, CPHS 18.
Total Rebounds: Union 29, CPHS 27.
Steals: Union 7, CPHS 8.
Blocks: Union 3, CPHS 3.
Fouls: Union 9, CPHS 12.

(Sand Springs stats)
Scoring: Armstead 9, Jackson 8, Morris 5, Burris 3, Regalado 2, Jordan 2, Shrum 1.
Offensive Rebounds: Jackson 4, Morris 2, Armstead 1, Regalado 1, Cheney 1.
Defensive Rebounds: Armstead 7, Burris 4, Jackson 2, Jordan 2, Shrum 1, Morris 1, Regalado 1.
Total Rebounds: Armstead 8, Jackson 6, Burris 4, Morris 3, Jordan 2, Regalado 2, Shrum 1, Cheney 1.
Steals: Armstead 4, Jackson 1, Burris 1, Morris 1, Cheney 1.
Blocks: Armstead 1, Jackson 1, Burris 1.
Fouls: Jackson 3, Padilla 2, Morris 2, Regalado 2, Armstead 1, Burris 1, Jordan 1.

(Union partial stats)
Scoring: Nelson 18, Malham 4, Harris 4, Pitts 2, Burgess 2, Smith 2.
Fouls: Pitts 2, Nelson 2, Malham 2, Smith 2, Harris 1.