Sandites Split With Union: Girls Win 37-33 Behind Wilson's 16 Points
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Although the two meetings between Sand Springs and Union were very similar this year, the end results couldn’t have been more different as the No. 6 ranked Lady Sandites (15-5, 9-2) paid back a January upset with a 37-33 victory over No. 14 Union (12-8, 7-5) Tuesday night at the Ed Dubie Field House.
A dog fight from the very beginning, neither team ever led by more than six points in the defensive battle that was the Sandites’ lowest scoring victory in at least a decade.
“It was great defense on both ends,” said head coach Josh Berry. “We both missed some shots, but that’s what happens. This was a big-time game…both groups gave it all they had and fortunately we came out on top this time.”
Union previously upset the Sandites 49-47 just two weeks ago, but despite that loss, the Sandites still have hopes of a district title if they can knock off No. 4 Edmond Memorial (15-3, 10-1) Thursday on the road.
“They know it’s there, they know what we’ve got to do, they know what kind of challenge it’s going to be to beat somebody like that three times,” said Berry.
Sand Springs previously bested the Bulldogs 41-33 in the season-opener and 58-54 at the Carl Albert tournament in late January.
“It doesn’t matter how many times you play them, you’ve got to play that way every single time,” said Berry. “It’s a new game. We’ll go up there and give it all we’ve got and that’s all we can do.”
In Tuesday’s game the Sandites jumped out to a 4-0 lead on baskets from Aaliyah Simone and Tianna Butler, but Union soon make it 5-4 on a three-pointer from Bella McSwain.
Butler briefly regained the lead for the home team, but Aaliyah Smith scored back-to-back buckets and the visitors stayed out front till the 4:09 mark of the second quarter when Hope Bump tied it at 18-18.
Tianna Butler gave her team another lead with 2:21 in the half but a putback from Smith tied it again and a trio of free throws put the visitors out front till a buzzer-beater three from Tayja Butler made it a 23-23 tie at halftime.
Simone, who scored 43 points over the two previous games, was in foul trouble for most of the game after drawing three in the first half and a fourth early in the third, limiting her scoring to the one bucket that opened the game.
Tianna Butler and Sakauri Wilson put the Sandites up 27-23 before Union went on a 9-0 run late in the third. Tiaona Morris broke that streak and got the Sandites back within a point to open the fourth.
The Sandites ramped up their defense from there, only surrendering a single free throw in the final stanza while Wilson scored six points in a row to close the game.
Wilson ended the night with 16 points, 8 steals, and 6 assists in her 11th time this season leading the team.
“I love her. She’s a special kid and a special talent,” said Berry. “She’s done it on both ends for us, she’s finished games. I’m just excited for her.”
The Lady Sandites will tip off at 6:30 p.m. in Edmond and will also play Friday on the road at U.S. Grant (4-15, 0-12).
The No. 13 ranked boys (13-7, 5-6) suffered a 67-43 loss in their game against No. 2 Union (19-2, 11-1), falling in an early hole that they could never quite claw their way out of.
Although the Sandites never once led, they hung close enough to keep hope alive till late in the game.
After trailing 33-15 at halftime, they went on a 9-2 run to cut it as close as 35-24. After a three-pointer from Deke Thompson, Kason Evans came away with a steal and it felt like momentum was firmly with the Sandites.
Unfortunately, the takeaway was nullified after a technical foul on the Sandites and a pair of Union free throws broke up the momentum.
Sand Springs won the third quarter 17-15 but Union went on a 14-1 run over the middle part of the fourth to put the comeback firmly out of reach.
Thompson led all scorers with 21 points and 5 rebounds in his 12th 20-point game of the season. The junior Jenks transfer is averaging 19.75 points per game this season.
CPHS 37 Union 33 (Girls)
1Q: Union 14-13.
2Q: CPHS 10-9.
3Q: Union 9-6.
4Q: CPHS 8-1.
Free Throws: CPHS 4-of-9, Union 7-of-10.
Field Goals: CPHS 15-of-48, Union 12-of-34.
Offensive Rebounds: CPHS 5, Union 4.
Defensive Rebounds: CPHS 13, Union 21.
Total Rebounds: CPHS 18, Union 25.
Steals: CPHS 9, Union 3.
Blocks: CPHS 2, Union 1.
Fouls: CPHS 13, Union 15.
Sand Springs Stats
Points: Wilson 16, Ti. Butler 8, Bump 4, Morris 4, Ta. Butler 3, Simone 2.
Offensive Rebounds: Morris 3, Bump 1, Simone 1.
Defensive Rebounds: Morris 5, Ti. Butler 3, Simone 2, Bump 1, Wilson 1, Gilton 1.
Total Rebounds: Morris 8, Ti. Butler 3, Simone 3, Bump 2, Wilson 1, Gilton 1.
Steals: Wilson 8, Morris 1.
Assists: Wilson 6, Morris 1.
Blocks: Ti. Butler 2.
Fouls: Simone 4, Bump 2, Wilson 2, Gilton 2, Morris 1, Ti. Butler 1, Ta. Butler 1.
Union Stats
Points: A. Smith 10, E. Smith 7, Bettis 6, McSwain 3, Edwards 3, W. Smith 2, Woodard 2.
Fouls: McSwain 4, Woodard 3, Bettis 2, W. Smith 2, E. Smith 2, A. Smith 1, Edwards 1.
Union 67 CPHS 43 (Boys)
1Q: Union 16-9.
2Q: Union 17-6.
3Q: CPHS 17-15.
4Q: Union 19-11.
Free Throws: Union 7-of-13, CPHS 9-of-18.
Field Goals: Union 26-of-51, CPHS 15-of-48.
Offensive Rebounds: Union 10, CPHS 9.
Defensive Rebounds: Union 22, CPHS 13.
Total Rebounds: Union 32, CPHS 22.
Steals: Union 4, CPHS 7.
Blocks: Union 1, CPHS 5.
Fouls: Union 21, CPHS 16.
Sand Springs Stats
Points: Thompson 21, Evans 8, Allen 6, Kelly 5, Roper 2, Johnson 1.
Offensive Rebounds: Evans 3, Thompson 2, Allen 2, Johnson 2.
Defensive Rebounds: Roper 3, Thompson 3, Allen 2, Johnson 2, Evans 2, Fueshko 1.
Total Rebounds: Thompson 5, Evans 5, Allen 4, Johnson 4, Roper 3, Fueshko 1.
Steals: Young 2, Roper 1, Johnson 1, Evans 1, Shope 1, K. Smith 1.
Assists: Kelly 1, Evans 1.
Blocks: Johnson 4, Evans 1.
Fouls: Roper 3, Allen 3, Thompson 2, Johnson 2, Evans 2, Young 2, Kelly 1, Shope 1.
Union Stats
Points: Madrid 15, Fuller 13, Gilyard 13, Gunn 11, Chappelle 6, Chaney-Jones 5, Flemons 2, Ugbah 2.
Fouls: Dorsey 4, Flemons 4, Gunn 3, Madrid 3, Malham 2, Chaney-Jones 2, Gilyard 1, Chappelle 1, Bond 1.
