#14 Lady Sandites drop the hammer on Union
/By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief
The #14 Lady Sandite Varsity squad (5-2) had little trouble in defeating the unranked Union Redskins (1-6) in their first game of the new year. Before the break, Sand Springs dropped a heart-breaker to #6 Sapulpa (5-0) after leading their rivals for nearly the entirety of the game. There was no doubt who the better team was in this match-up.
Four Lady Sandites doubled Tuesday night, including Sydney Pennington who led with 15 points, and Gloria Mutiri who shot a season-high 10.
The team consists of a lot of young talent, starting only 1 senior and 3 freshmen.
Kierra McGee drew first blood for the Redskins, but Cierra Scott, Holly Kersgieter, Isabella Regalado, and Gloria Mutiri scored back-to-back to claim an early 9-2 lead before giving up points to Kiara Denton and Taylor Malham. Pennington got in the game with her first field goal of the night to snag an 11-8 first quarter lead.
The lopsided scoring was even greater in the second period, which saw Mutiri score 6 of her team's 15 points for a 26-19 halftime lead.
Rather than being comfortable with their lead, the Sandites proceeded to dominate Union defensively and held them to a mere 8 points against the Sandites' 14. Destiney Johnson had her breakout quarter, going on a run of 6 points to contribute to a 40-27 lead.
The fourth quarter was the highest-scoring period of the night for both teams, but once more the Sandites won it 19-12 and wrapped up their third 20+ point win of the season, 59-39.
The JV girls (2-1) started hot and led till moments before the fourth, but were ravaged in a polar-opposite second half for a stunning 37-27 defeat.
Selena Hitchcock dropped a pair of threes in the first quarter, Kimi Presnell hit a three, and Jacie Taber added two to give the girls a bold 11-4 first quarter lead that looked to be the opening to a slaughter. The second quarter was closer, but there was still no denying that it was the Sandites stealing the show as the home team rode a 21-10 lead into the half.
Whatever the Union coaches said to their team at half time worked.
The Lady Redskins scored 13 unanswered points before Hitchcock got the Sandites back on the scoreboard with their lone basket of the third period. Union had taken the lead, 24-23.
Amari Grant took the lead back briefly with the first field goal of the fourth, but only Taber would score another. Maddie Ward tacked on a free throw to end the game, but it wasn't enough to overcome the massive deficit Union had stuck them with.
