Lady Sandites top Choctaw 48-38 in State Quarterfinals, Armstead surpasses 1500 career points

For the first time since 2017, the Sand Springs girls’ basketball team is headed to the State tournament semifinals after a 48-38 Thursday night win over 6A-West No. 2 Choctaw (22-3) at the Carl Albert High School Field House.

The Sandites trailed 8-7 after the first quarter, but early in the second period uncommitted senior star Journey Armstead hit a three-pointer to surpass 1,500 career points, and Layne Kirkendoll hit a putback for their first lead of the game.

The bucket was Armstead’s first of the game after going scoreless in the first quarter, but she was unstoppable after that.

“I kept on shooting but my shots weren’t falling,” said Armstead. “We were nervous at first but I had to get our rhythm going, step up, and when I got the opportunity to shoot I had to take it.”

“She’s special,” said Sandite head coach Josh Berry. “She doesn’t get the credit she deserves…the girl just keeps rolling.”

Mya Purifoy briefly lifted her team back on top, but Kirkendoll added another basket, Armstead hit two layups, and the Sandites never trailed again.

Ranked No. 2 on the East side of the state, the Sandites improved to 23-3 after taking a 24-17 advantage into halftime and winning the second half 24-21.

Sakauri Wilson took a steal coast to coast with 50 seconds left to make it 46-36. Kylee Hunt hit a pair of free throws for the Yellowjackets, then Armstead hit the final bucket of the evening to finish the game with 17 points.

Kirkendoll added 14 for the Sandites, and Hunt was the only Yellowjacket in double digits with 12.

Sand Springs will get a rematch with West No. 1 Edmond North (26-1) who previously defeated the Sandites 56-32 at the Jenks/Union Invitational in January. The Huskies routed Stillwater 72-37 in their quarterfinal game.

“It’s like David going against Goliath out there,” said Berry. “We lace them up just like they do. It’s the State tournament. It’s one game, one day; anything can happen. We’re going to go out there and play hard and we’re gonna see what’s going to happen.”

“The first game, you learn from it. And hopefully we do and we’ll see if we get better from it.”

The semifinal matchup will be played at noon at the Lloyd Noble Center on the campus of the University of Oklahoma.

CPHS 48 Choctaw 38
1Q: Choctaw 8-7.
2Q: CPHS 17-7.
3Q: Choctaw 11-10.
4Q: CPHS 14-10.

Free Throws: CPHS 5-of-11, Choctaw 12-of-17.
Field Goals: CPHS 20-of-39, Choctaw 12-of-38.
Offensive Rebounds: CPHS 3, Choctaw 6.
Defensive Rebounds: CPHS 13, Choctaw 12.
Total Rebounds: CPHS 16, Choctaw 18.
Steals: CPHS 6, Choctaw 2.
Blocks: CPHS 2, Choctaw 2.
Fouls: CPHS 15, Choctaw 13.

Scoring: (CPHS) Armstead 17, Kirkendoll 14, Jackson 7, T. Morris 3, Taylor 3. (Choctaw) Hunt 12, Adams 8, Jackson 7, Gasaway 5, Smith 4, Purifoy 2.