Sandites Win East Central Oklahoma Classic, Deke Thompson Named MVP
/The Charles Page High School boys’ basketball team won the East Central Oklahoma Classic last weekend in Ada for its first regular season tournament title since 2019. The Sandites have now won seven games in a row for their longest streak since 2020.
On Thursday the Sandites rolled to an 87-47 win against Hugo (5-9) for their third consecutive victory by 40 points or more with a season-best performance from three-point range, shooting 11-of-24.
Deke Thompson III scored a team-high 25 points with 8 rebounds, followed by Kooper Kelly with a season-high 16, and Kason Evans with 11 points and 9 boards.
On Friday the Sandites had to gut out a 50-46 win against 4A No. 10 McLain (11-3), dealing the Titans their first in-state loss of the season.
Thompson once again led the team, this time with 17 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists. Blake Johnson scored 14 and Evans added 10.
In Saturday’s finals the Sandites won 51-35 against host 4A No. 7 Ada (9-2), snapping the Cougars’ six-game win streak.
Thompson scored 16 points with 12 rebounds for his second double-double and ninth team-high of the season. Evans scored 15 points and Kelly added 10.
Thompson was named the MVP of the tournament and is averaging 20.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.1 steals, and 2.1 blocks on the season.
Johnson and Evans were also named to the All-Tournament team. Johnson is averaging 7.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists, while Evans is averaging 10.7 points and 5.9 rebounds.
The Sandites had their Tuesday night district games U.S. Grant canceled on Tuesday due to weather and are scheduled to return to action Friday at Bartlesville (1-7, 1-4), weather permitting.
