CPHS Basketball: Holly Kersgieter receives Division I offers from TU and UMKC

Charles Page High School junior Holly Kersgieter received two more NCAA Division I offers this weekend. The 5'10 guard from the Class of 2019 was offered the University of Tulsa and the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Kersgieter was part of an undefeated eighth-grade team that claimed the Frontier Valley Conference Championship before arriving on the varsity squad as a starting freshman. 

In the 2015-2016 season Kersgieter was the number four scorer for a Lady Sandite squad that went 17-9. She scored 166 points for a 6.38 average.

This past season was one of the best in school history as the girls went 24-2 for a Bishop Kelley Tournament Championship and FVC Conference Championship before falling in the State Tournament Semi-Finals.

Kersgieter scored 271 points for an average of 10.42 per game. She was second on the team in scoring, second in 3-point percentage, third in total rebounds, second in assists, first in steals, and second in blocks. She led her team in scoring for nine games and posted a career-best 19 points against Jenks.

She was named the FVC Defensive Player of the Year and made the FVC All-Conference Second Team and Bishop Kelley All-Tournament Team.

The Tulsa Hurricane went 10-21 in the 2016-2017 season and finished ninth the American Athletic Conference standings. They are led by seventh-year Head Coach Matilda Mossman. Mossman holds a career record of 232-197 as a Division I Head Coach, and went 191-53 as a High School Head Coach in Norman.

The UMKC Kangaroos went 10-19 in the 2016-2017 season and finished sixth in the Western Athletic Conference. Jacie Hoyt was named the Head Coach last month after spending three years as an assistant at Kansas State. In her six years of assistant coaching, Hoyt has a career record of 94-97. This is her first Head Coaching position.

Last week Kersgieter received an offer from Oklahoma State University. The Cowgirls went 17-15 this past season and finished seventh in the Big 12 Conference. OSU is coached by Jim Littell, in his seventh year at the helm. He holds an all time Head Coaching record of 737-171.

CPHS Basketball: Holly Kersgieter receives offer from Oklahoma State University

Charles Page High School junior Holly Kersgieter recently received her first college athletics offer from a NCAA Division I school. The 5'10 guard from the Class of 2019 was offered by Oklahoma State University.

Kersgieter was part of an undefeated eighth-grade team that claimed the Frontier Valley Conference Championship before arriving on the varsity squad as a starting freshman. 

In the 2015-2016 season Kersgieter was the number four scorer for a Lady Sandite squad that went 17-9. She scored 166 points for a 6.38 average.

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This past season was one of the best in school history as the girls went 24-2 for a Bishop Kelley Tournament Championship and FVC Conference Championship before falling in the State Tournament Semi-Finals.

Kersgieter scored 271 points for an average of 10.42 per game. She was second on the team in scoring, second in 3-point percentage, third in total rebounds, second in assists, first in steals, and second in blocks. She led her team in scoring for nine games and posted a career-best 19 points against Jenks.

She was named the FVC Defensive Player of the Year and made the FVC All-Conference Second Team and Bishop Kelley All-Tournament Team.

The Oklahoma State Cowgirls went 17-15 this past season and finished seventh in the Big 12 Conference. 

CPHS Senior Sydney Pennington named to All-State Basketball team

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Charles Page High School has produced a smattering of All Star and All State honors this school year. A dozen Sandites have received All-Star recognition by their sport's official governing body, and five were named to the All-State teams. 

Oklahoma State University-signed senior Sydney Pennington has made her way into the history books as one of the most talented athletes in school history, having been named to All-State teams in two separate sports.

Pennington was named to the Oklahoma Girls Basketball Coaches Association (OGBCA) Large East All State team and the OCA Large East All State Team. She was also named to the Oklahoma Fast Pitch Coaches Association Large East All State team.

Pennington averaged 10.77 points per game this season, but could easily have had far more had she not had to share the ball with such an all-around talented team. She averaged 15.66 as a freshman, 17.16 as a sophomore, and 12.61 as a junior. She scored a career-high 32 as a sophomore, and holds 1386 career points. And basketball isn't even her best sport. 

Pennington is signed to play softball for OSU and has been to three State Championship tournaments with the Lady Sandites. They were defeated in the quarterfinals her freshman and seniors years but made it to the finals her junior year and lost by a single run. This past year she finished with an astounding .543 batting average with 45 runs, 57 hits, 38 RBI, and 10 home runs. She also pitched nearly 40 innings and finished with a 1.41 ERA and undefeated 6-0 record with two no-hitters and one shutout. 

To add to her impressive careers in basketball and softball, she was also the quarterback for the Senior Powderpuff Football team that won the school championship the past two years. One could easily compare her to Major League Baseball player Jerry Adair who made All-State in baseball, football, and basketball when he played for Sand Springs. 

Kyle Keener was named to the Oklahoma Coaches Association (OCA) Large East 6A All Star team, averaging 16.5 points per game this season. Keener is signed to play for the University of Central Oklahoma next season. Keener and junior Colt Savage were both named to the Coffeyville Interstate Classic All-Tournament team this year.

Savage was named to the Oklahoma Basketball Coaches Association (OBCA) Region Seven All Star team. Savage averaged 22.48 points per game this year and scored a career-high 34. He was the second-highest scoring player in the entire Frontier Valley Conference and is only a junior.

Kierra McGee was named as an alternate on the OGBCA Large East All State team. She averaged 8.69 points per game this season and was the All-Tournament MVP at the Coffeyville Interstate Classic.

Delvin Jordan, Kasey Bales, and Lincoln Adams were named to the OCA East All Star team. Jordan also made the OCA All State East team. Jordan recorded 69 tackles this season, 15 for a loss of 91 yards, and 8 sacks for a loss of 64 yards. He also forced three fumbles and recovered one for a 32-yard touchdown return. Bales had 68 receptions for 946 yards and 11 touchdowns this season and averaged 42 yards per punt. Offensive linemen don't really have any stats to track, but Adams was one of the most proficient in the state and was a major player in opening up the prolific Sandite run game. Jordan is signed with Pittsburg State University and Adams is signed with Oklahoma Baptist University.

Daton Fix and Jack Karstetter were both named to the OCA Large East All State Wrestling team. Fix is a four-time undefeated State Champion with a 168-0 career record and is signed with Oklahoma State University. Karstetter won his first State Championship this season, was Runner-Up last year, and finished with a 105-16 record.

Cheyenne Walden and Alexis Davis were both named to the Oklahoma Track Coaches Association Cross Country Senior All-Star team. Walden is a four-time State Champion and four-time Gatorade Runner of the Year. She finished her career with personal records of 5:21 on the one-mile, 11:19.5 on the two-mile, and 17:32 in 5K. Davis is a four-time State Qualifier and finished 21st this year. She has PRs of 6:11 in the one-mile, 12:54 in the two-mile, and 19:53 for a 5K. Walden is signed with Oklahoma State University and Davis is signed with Southwestern Oklahoma State University. 

Jessica Collins was named to the All-State Large East Softball team and finished her senior year with a .316 batting average with 39 runs, 36 hits, and 22 RBI. 

CPHS Senior Kierra McGee signs to play college ball for Redlands Community College

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Charles Page High School senior Kierra McGee has signed with Redlands Community College to continue her basketball career. The 5'8" guard was a key player on the Lady Sandites' State Tournament team, starting all 26 games this season.

Redlands is located in El Reno, Oklahoma and is a member of the National Junior College Athletics Association (NJCAA). The Lady Cougars went 17-12 this year, 23-8 last season, and haven't finished with a losing record since 2014. In 2013 they made the Division I National Tournament. Head Coach Jay Niehues has been with the program for three years.

McGee started her career at Union High School and transferred to Sand Springs for her senior season. She was fifth on the team in scoring and rebounding with 8.69 points and 3.23 boards per game. She was third in assists and fourth in steals. She led her team on four different occasions, including a career-high 17-point performance against Cascia Hall. She scored team-highs of 16 against Bixby, 12 against Field Kindley, and 14 against Nathan Hale. 

The Lady Sandites finished the season ranked third in the State with a 24-2 record. They won the Bishop Kelley Invitational, Coffeyville Interstate Classic, and Frontier Valley Conference, went undefeated in the Regional and Area playoffs, and defeated No. 13 Mustang 42-24 in the State Quarterfinals before falling 64-54 to State Runner-Up No. 4 Deer Creek in the Semifinals. 

Frontier Valley Ladies' Basketball in good shape for years to come

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Another great year of Ladies' Basketball has come to an end for the Frontier Valley Conference and though the gold ball escaped them this season, they put four teams in the Area playoffs and one team in the State Tournament. 

The Central Oklahoma Conference was the most heavily represented in the State Tournament, with three qualifiers in Mustang, Deer Creek, and Edmond Santa Fe. The Big Ten Conference qualified Putnam City West and Choctaw. Booker T. Washington qualified from the Green Country Conference, and Ponca City qualified as the only team in 6A with an independent schedule. Choctaw laid claim to the title.

No. 3 Sand Springs (24-2, 13-1) won the Conference series with a single regular-season loss and advanced to the State Semifinals for the first time since 1994. They defeated Stillwater, Union, Booker T. Washington, and Mustang before falling to Deer Creek. The Lady Sandites pulled off one of the most impressive seasons in school history and finished the season with four players averaging in the double-digits. Leading scorer Sydney Pennington (10.8) will move on to play collegiate softball at Oklahoma State, and they'll also lose Kierra McGee's 8.7 points per game. Holly Kersgieter (10.2), Gloria Mutiri (10.0), and Destiny Johnson (10.2) will all return next season.
State Champions: 1994.

No. 6 Owasso (17-9, 11-3) made it through Regionals with a win over Jenks and a loss to Ponca City, but lost in the Area Consolations to Bartlesville. The Lady Rams have been anchored by Terryn Milton with 16.6 points per game, followed by Leiloni Culley with 8.8 and Mya Bhinhar with 8.3. All five of the leading scorers will return next season. 
State Champions: 1990.

No. 14 Bartlesville (16-10, 10-3) split their post season, beating Sapulpa and falling to Putnam West in Regionals, then beating Owasso and falling to Booker T. Washington in Area. Jenna Williams led the team with 12.6 points per game, followed by Lauren Richter with 8.4 and Erin Shoemaker with 7.6. They will lose Richter and Emily Hicks (3.9), but will retain three of their top-five.

No. 17 Union (14-12, 8-6) made it past Regionals but ended the post-season 1-2 with a first round loss at Area. The Lady Redskins will lose leading scorer Taylor Malham (17.1), but will retain their next four, including Deasia Thomas (6.5) and Sadie Moyer (5.8).
State Champions: 2008.

No. 15 Broken Arrow (13-11, 8-6) lost in the first round of Regionals to Union, and in May they'll lose Jalise Smallwood, who averaged 15.3 points per game, and Angelica Cuellar with 6.7 and Danyell Moore with 4.2. The Lady Tigers will look to rebuild around Kinsey Callen (6.7), Brooke Bowker (3.0) and Aallya Nascimento (3.0).
State Champions: 2015, 2014, 1983.

No. 19 Sapulpa (10-13, 6-7) saw their season come to an end in the first round of Regionals against Bartlesville. The Lady Chieftains will retain four of their top-five scorers, including leader Kiarra Brooks, with 10.0 points per game. Their only loss will be Michael Bethel (7.2), and they'll be in good shape with Taylor Dement (6.7), Ray Osborn (6.4) and Hailey Morrison (5.7).
State Champions: 2007, 1998, 1980, 1979.

Jenks (7-16, 5-9) may not have had the best season this year, falling to Owasso in the first round of Regionals, but they're in good shape for the future as they return all five of their leading scorers, led by a pair of freshmen. Haley Meely averaged 12.4 points per game, followed by Makenna Burch with 10.5.
State Champions: 2004, 2003, 2001, 2000, 1991. 

Muskogee (9-14, 4-10) fell to Booker T. Washington in the first round of Regionals, but their biggest losses will come in May as they graduate leading scorers Trena Mims (19.4), Dia-Nitta Brown (7.7), Chrisalee Patterson (7.0), and Brandi Nash (5.5). Bre'Aunee Virgin (5.0) will be the only member of the top-five to return next season as the Lady Roughers look to rebuild from the ground up.

Bixby (7-16, 2-11) fell in the first round of Regionals to Norman North, but they look sharp going into the next season with three of their top-five scorers returning. Maddie Bittle averaged 14.5 points per game for the Lady Spartans, followed by Sarah Tyree with 7.9 and Savanna Stout with 5.2.
State Champions: 1957.

5A No. 17 Bishop Kelley (6-16, 2-12) fell in the first round of Regionals to Del City, but they're in solid shape looking to the next season as they return their top-two scorers in Macy Craig (10.1) and Michaela Martin (9.0). 

FVC Top-Ten Scorers

1. Trena Mims (Muskogee) 19.4
2. Taylor Malham (Union) 17.1
3. Terryn Milton (Owasso) 16.6
4. Jalise Smallwood (Broken Arrow) 15.3
5. Maddie Bittle (Bixby) 14.5
6. Jena Williams (Bartlesville) 12.6
7. Haley Meely (Jenks) 12.4
8. Sydney Pennington (Sand Springs) 10.8
9. Makenna Burch (Jenks) 10.5
10. Holly Kersgieter (Sand Springs) 10.2
    Destiny Johnson (Sand Springs) 10.2

State Championships by Conference:

1. Central Oklahoma 22
2. Frontier Valley 16
3. Big Ten 13
4. All-City 9
5. Green Country 8

6A State Championships (since 1996)

1. Frontier Valley 9 
2. Central Oklahoma 8
3. Big Ten 4
4. Green Country 1

State Championships (Last Ten Years, All Classes)

1. Central Oklahoma 5
2. Big Ten 5
3. All City 4 
4. Green Country 4
5. Frontier Valley 3

Lady Sandite Dream Season comes to an end, 64-54 against No. 4 Deer Creek

DCHS 64 CPHS 54

1Q CPHS 17-7
2Q DCHS 18-5
3Q All 16-16
4Q DCHS 23-16

Free Throws: CPHS 16-of-27, DCHS 20-of-28.
Field Goals: CPHS 18-of-38, DCHS 20-of-46.
Fouls: CPHS 22, DCHS 19.

Scoring: (CPHS) Mutiri 16, Johnson 12, McGee 9, Pennington 9, Kersgieter 7, Wilson 1. (DCHS) Fields 20, Manning 16, Vann 10, Rehl 9, Blackburn 5, Mouser 3, Wade 1.

(CPHS Only)
Offensive Rebounds: Mutiri 3, Wilson 1, Johnson 1, McGee 1. 
Defensive Rebounds: Pennington 8, Mutiri 5, McGee 3, Taber 3, Johnson 2, Kersgieter 2.
Assists: Johnson 5, Kersgieter 2, McGee 1, Pennington 1, Taber 2, Regalado 1.
Blocks: Mutiri 5, Pennington 1. 
Steals: Kersgieter 3, Johnson 1.

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Charles Page High School Girls' Basketball program has officially returned to the big leagues, making their first appearance at the Oral Roberts Mabee Center since 1994.

The third-ranked Lady Sandites (24-2) took on the fourth-ranked Deer Creek Antlers (26-2) and saw their dream season finally come to an end, despite outstanding performances from a mostly young team.

Sand Springs took an early and dominant lead in the first quarter, but the Lady Antlers were familiar with playing from a deficit. They trailed No. 6 Booker T. Washington (22-6) for much of their quarterfinal game before securing the seven-point win. Deer Creek played quick catch-up with a thirteen-point streak in the second quarter and the teams stayed in close proximity for the duration.

6'1" Ohio State Volleyball-commit Gloria Mutiri struck first off an assist from Destiny Johnson, then scored on a rebounded three from senior Kierra McGee and hit two from the charity stripe for a 6-2 Sandite lead. Kendall Blackburn was first on the board for the Lady Antlers, followed by a free throw from Hannah Wade, but then it was Mutiri right back in the action off an assist from Oklahoma State Softball-signed senior Sydney Pennington.

Sydney Manning posted two for Deer Creek, but McGee's next three-point attempt sailed true, Mutiri added one from the free throw line, then sophomore Holly Kersgieter scored on an assist from classmate Isabella Regalado. Lauren Fields hit her first basket of the night soon after, but McGee had the final say of the stanza from three point range for the 17-7 lead.

Kersgieter posted the first points of the second quarter after Deer Creek turned over their first possession, but Maddie Rehl and Skylar Vann scored the first back-to-back baskets of the game for the Antlers. Sand Springs turned over four-straight possession, allowing Vann to score back-to-back with herself, cutting the deficit to 19-13 before Brynn Mouser sank a two and Fields hit a three to narrow it to 19-18. Pennington missed a pair of free throws, McGee rebounded, but turned it over, and Vann scored through contact for the first Antler lead of the game.

The thirteen-straight scoring streak came to an end with a McGee free throw to tie it at 20-20, but Fields made both of her free throws to reclaim the advantage. McGee got another shot on a 1-1 and sank both, but fouled Rehl to give up one. The Sandites' last possession came up short and Blackburn iced the cake for the Antlers with a two-point shot as time expired.

Fields kicked off the second half on the opening possession, but Mutiri retaliated off a rebounded shot by Johnson. Manning and Johnson each went two-for-two from the charity stripe, broken up by another Mutiri field goal, cutting the gap to a single point at 29-28. 

The Antlers got busy from three-point range with baskets by Fields and Manning, but they also got busy fouling, giving up free throws to Pennington and Johnson, as well as a pair of turnovers, allowing Pennington to cut it to 35-34. Kersgieter scored the go-ahead basket, Manning retaliated, then Johnson took it right back with a pair of free throws. The Antlers had the final say of the period with goals by Vann and Fields for a 41-38 lead to start the final stranza.

Johnson opened the fourth quarter with one of her signature transition layups, but Manning scored a two and Blackburn hit a free throw before Pennington got in the action. The Antlers went on another run from there with a Manning three for the catalyst. Fields and Vann both scored off steals, then McGee sent Rehl to the line for one. 

Kersgieter returned to the game after a slight injury and immediately went to work, assisting Mutiri for two, then scoring one from the charity stripe, but the Sandites never would regain the advantage in the fourth quarter. 

As time dwindled and the possibility of a come-back became more and more unlikely, Head Coach Dustin Morrow was able to empty his bench, and give the majority of the team State Tournament experience. The Sandites will lose only two starters next year when they graduate Pennington and McGee, and they return a mess of talented underclassmen to anchor the program for the years to come.

The Lady Sandites will return to the Mabee Center next Christmas Break for the prestigious Tournament of Champions, and with so many returning stars, they may likely find themselves back in the spotlight for the next State Tournament as well.

For now, they'll have to settle for having one of the best seasons in school history with Championship wins at the Bishop Kelley Tournament, the Coffeyville Interstate Classic, the Regional tournament, and the Area tournament to compliment their 13-1 Frontier Valley Conference Championship. Not a bad run, to say the least.

Deer Creek will return to action Saturday at noon in the Championship Finals against the winner of No. 1 Edmond Santa Fe (25-2) vs No. 2 Choctaw (24-3). The Lady Antlers have already prevailed 68-51 over Santa Fe and 62-50 over Choctaw since the final rankings came out, and would likely have been ranked No. 1 in the State if the rankings continued through the playoffs.