Megan Deshazo signs LOI to play college soccer at Northern Oklahoma College

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Seven Sand Springs High School students signed letters-of-intent Wednesday morning in the Ed Dubie Field House, bringing the grand total of college-bound athletes from the Class of 2017 to fourteen.

Sand Springs has two softball players, two cross-country runners, two baseball players, one basketball player, three football players, one volleyball player, and two soccer players all headed to the next level.

Megan Deshazo accepted a soccer scholarship to Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa. The Tonkawa Mavericks participate in the NJCAA and are coached by Juan de Dios Castillo. They finished the 2016 season with a 19-2-1 record and fell in the second round of the District Tournament. Deshazo scored a team-high 13 goals in the 2016 season with a hat trick against East Central and a double-hat trick against Putnam City North. She was the CPHS Offensive MVP and the 2016 Sandite Pride Offensive Player of the Year. The Lady Sandites went 9-6 last season.

Hunter Greathouse signs LOI to play college baseball at Cowley County Community College

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Seven Sand Springs High School students signed letters-of-intent Wednesday morning in the Ed Dubie Field House, bringing the grand total of college-bound athletes from the Class of 2017 to fourteen.

Sand Springs has two softball players, two cross-country runners, two baseball players, one basketball player, three football players, one volleyball player, and two soccer players all headed to the next level.

Hunter Greathouse accepted a baseball scholarship to Cowley County Community College in Arkansas City, Kansas. Greathouse had a standout high school career in both baseball and football, and was a two-year starting quarterback. CCCC is an NJCAA school participating in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference. The Tigers are coached by Dave Burroughs and finished the 2016 season with a 40-16 record.

Greathouse finished last baseball season with a 2-0 record and 3.73 record on the mound. In fifteen innings he gave up only eight hits against 32 strikeouts. At the plate he held a .405 batting average, .486 slugging average, and .488 on-base percentage. He scored 26 runs and 16 RBI with 34 singles, nine doubles, and two triples. The Sandites went 21-14 last season before falling at Regionals.

As a quarterback, Greathouse was a two-year starter in the first-ever class of Sandites to make the playoffs four-straight years. The Sandites went 28-19 during his career and were the 2015 6A-II State Runner-Up. He completed 247 passes on 486 attempts for 3933 yards and 37 touchdowns in his career. He also scored thirteen touchdowns on the ground. He was named the All-District Quarterback and was an Honorable Mention on both the All-Conference and All-State teams. He is a three-time Sandite of the Week, twice for football and once for baseball.

Lee Leslie signs LOI to play college volleyball at Oklahoma Wesleyan University

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Seven Sand Springs High School students signed letters-of-intent Wednesday morning in the Ed Dubie Field House, bringing the grand total of college-bound athletes from the Class of 2017 to fourteen.

Sand Springs has two softball players, two cross-country runners, two baseball players, one basketball player, three football players, one volleyball player, and two soccer players all headed to the next level.

Lee Leslie accepted a volleyball scholarship to Oklahoma Wesleyan University in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. The Eagles are coached by Tracie Gillette and compete in the NAIA and NCCAA. They finished the 2016 season with a 19-11 record. Leslie was a starting player for the Lady Sandites this year, who went 24-14 before falling in the second round of Regionals. 

No. 4 Sand Springs steamrolls Jenks 71-35, Kersgieter is force to be reckoned with

Holly Kersgieter scored 19 Tuesday night against the Jenks Lady Trojans. (Photo: Scott Emigh).

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

CPHS 71 Jenks 35

1Q Sand Springs 15-6
2Q Sand Springs 15-8
3Q Sand Springs 26-6
4Q All 15-15

Scoring: (Sand Springs) Kersgieter 19, Pennington 15, McGee 11, Johnson 10, Taber 7, Regalado 4, Collins 2, Bunch 2, Boaz 1. (Jenks) Wasson 12, Watson 7, Ruley 7, Meely 4, Gilford 4, Smith 1.

(Sand Springs only)
Offensive Rebounds: Kersgieter 5, Johnson 3, Taber 2, Pennington 2, McGee 1.
Defensive Rebounds: Pennington 6, Kersgieter 5, Collins 4, McGee 4, Regalado 3, Taber 3, Johnson 2, Bunch 2, Grant 1.
Steals: Pennington 2, Bunch 2, Johnson 2, Regalado 1, Taber 1.
Assists: Pennington 6, Taber 3, Kersgieter 2, McGee 2, Johnson 1, Collins 1.
Blocks: Johnson 2, Kersgieter 1.
Fouls: Regalado 4, Taber 3, Johnson 2, Pennington 1, McGee 1, Kersgieter 1.

The Sandites lost their 6'2" Division One-bound center a week ago after Gloria Mutiri sprained her ankle against Union. Her absence was a major factor in the Ladies' first loss of the season Friday at Owasso. Her absence was less noticeable Tuesday night in Jenks as Sand Springs rolled to a 35-point victory for the fifth time this season.

Despite the 30-14 halftime lead, the game was still a slow-starter for the Sandites considering their competition. The Lady Sandites are ranked fourth in Class 6A with a 15-1 record, while Jenks is unranked with a 5-12 record. Sand Springs is 8-1 in the Frontier Valley Conference while Jenks is 3-6.

Oklahoma State University softball-signed senior Sydney Pennington scored the first five points of the night for Sand Springs before sophomore Holly Kersgieter got in on the action with a layup and foul shot. The Trojans' first points came from the charity stripe, shot by Haley Meely. Sand Springs took an 8-2 lead before Rylie Watson hit back-to-back field goals to cut the deficit down. The Sandites had no intention of a close game, however, and Pennington laid up and shot a plus-one, followed by field goals from Kersgieter and Destiny Johnson.

Pennington added four more points in the second period, Kersgieter had two, Kierra McGee got in on the action with four, Johnson added four more, and Isabella Regalado had the final goal of the half on a free throw to make it 30-14.

Sand Springs found the throttle in the third quarter, outscoring their opponents 26-6 with eight from Kersgieter. Sophomore Jacie Taber also got in on the action with a layup and free throw. Starting the fourth quarter 56-20, Kersgieter scored four-straight and Johnson hit a two for the forty-point advantage and Sand Springs pulled their starters.

The second string was more equally matched and the Trojans cut things back down to 63-26 with goals from Tatiana Gilford and Watson. Bailey Boaz, Amari Grant, Jessica Collins, and Ashley Bunch all got in on the action for Sand Springs and finished the evening 71-35.

Kersgieter scored a career-high 19 points for the evening and hauled in ten rebounds for her first ever double-double. She also added two assists and a block. Pennington was next up with 15 points, six rebounds, six assists, and two steals. McGee scored 11 and Johnson scored 10 to put four Lady Sandites in double-digits. Wasson was the lone Trojan to break double digits, scoring 12.

The Sandites will return to action Friday with a home game against 5A No. 16 Bishop Kelley (6-9), who they already defeated 71-36 in the first game of the season. Jenks will travel to No. 16 Union (10-8) next Tuesday.

Sand Springs Boys' Basketball beats Jenks 51-44, Savage scores 19

Jacob Garbey scored ten points Tuesday night at Jenks. (Photo: Morgan Miller).

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

CPHS 51 Jenks 44

1Q Sand Springs 11-8
2Q Sand Springs 17-12
3Q Jenks 8-6
4Q Sand Springs 17-16

Scoring: (Sand Springs) Colt Savage 19, Keener 13, Garbey 10, Price 5, Golightly 2, Cale Savage 2. (Jenks) Carson 13, Kuykendall 8, Surrett 8, Epps 7, Leitao 4, Harris 3, Bell 1.

(Sand Springs only)
Offensive Rebounds: Colt Savage 2, Keener 2, Golightly 1, Price 1.
Defensive Rebounds: Colt Savage 7, Keener 7, Price 2, Golightly 1, Garbey 1, Cale Savage 1.
Steals: Keener 2, Price 2, Colt Savage 1, Cale Savage 1, Taber 1.
Assists: Keener 3, Taber 2, Garbey 1.
Blocks: Keener 7, Colt Savage 1.
Fouls: Price 4, Colt Savage 3, Keener 3, Taber 3, Garbey 2, Smith 1, Cale Savage 1, Durkee 1.

The Charles Page High School boys' basketball team (8-10 overall, 2-7 conference) traveled to Jenks (3-12, 1-8) Tuesday night and snapped a four-game losing streak with a 51-44 Frontier Valley Conference victory. 

Junior point guard Colt Savage led all scorers with 19 points and was one rebound short of a double-double. University of Central Oklahoma-signed senior Kyle Keener scored 14 points, also with nine rebounds, and added seven blocks, three assists, and two steals. Ananias Carson was the top dog for the Trojans with 13 points and led all scorers from three-point range. 

The home team started the season with six-straight losses, then snapped a four-game losing streak last week with wins over Holland Hall and Bishop Kelley. After falling to No. 18 Bartlesville last week, the Trojans were looking to get back in the win column and take some momentum into the final stretch of the season. They never led after the first quarter, but consistently kept the Sandites on their toes and didn't slip to a double-digit deficit till the second-to-last shot of the night. 

Senior Jacob Garbey opened the night off with a three-pointer for the Sandites, and Jared Kuykendall responded immediately with a three for the home team. The teams exchanged blows from there, but Garbey took the lead once and for all at 8-5 and Keener ended the first quarter with a layup to make it 11-8.

Keener and Savage added seven points apiece in the second quarter to force a 28-20 halftime advantage. After combining for 29 points in the second quarter, the third quarter was relatively quiet as the teams scored only 14 points altogether, with Jenks winning the period 8-6. 

Keener started off  the fourth quarter with a layup, but Kuykendall hit a pair of free throws and Isaiah Epps hit a two to cut it to 36-32. Garbey hit his third three of the night and by the time there was only a minute left, the Trojans were still hanging tough at 45-39. Matt Price put the game away for the Sandites in the last thirty seconds, shooting a free throw, then snagging a steal on the next possession and taking it coast-to-coast for two. He drew a foul on the layup and sank his and-one for the first double-digit lead of the night at 51-41. Carson hit his fourth three-pointer of the night with three seconds left, but the Sandites had clinched their second conference victory.

Sand Springs will return to action Friday night when they host 5A No. 17 Bishop Kelley (6-11). The Comets defeated Sand Springs 45-42 in the second game of the season, but they're now riding a four-game losing streak with losses to unranked Jenks and Bixby. Jenks has a tough week ahead, traveling to No. 12 Sapulpa (10-4) Friday and No. 1 Union (18-0) Tuesday. 

No. 1 Sand Springs improves to 16-0 with 70-12 victory over Bixby

CPHS junior Blake Sargent majored State Qualifier Easton Hudson 11-0. (Photo: Scott Emigh)

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The No. 1 ranked undefeated Charles Page High School wrestling team (17-0) traveled to Bixby (1-7) Tuesday night for their final dual of the regular season and won twelve of fourteen matches for a dominating 70-12 victory. The Sandites picked up forfeits at 106 and 220 and nine victories by pin.

Bixby started with a six-point deficit after forfeiting the 106 pound weight class to Brendon Wisely and it was the closest they would get all night. Tanner Ward (27-9 season, 103-21) pinned Alex Hernandez in 0:42, then Michael Ritchey (30-8, 59-32) worked up a 12-0 lead on Ainslie Lane before pinning her in 5:11. 

Blake Sargent (30-8, 82-22) took on the Spartans' top dog, Easton Hudson, at 126 and nearly pinned the State Qualifier before he was saved by the buzzer. Sargent took a 5-0 lead into the second and quickly got an escape. He added another takedown early in the third period and added back points for an 11-0 major decision and a 22-0 team lead.

Daton Fix (37-0, 155-0) brought his infamous offensive assault against Gavin Southern and took a 16-4 lead before pinning the Spartan in 1:46. Jack Karstetter (23-1, 96-16) pinned Derek VanDyke in 0:49. Beau Bratcher (36-6, 127-29) pinned Braden Roller in 0:40. Payton Scott (31-2, 52-10) worked over Ryan Stetler in 0:46. Noah Almy (18-16) had little difficulty with Owen DeWoody and scored a 7-1 lead before pinning the Spartan in 0:59. Zane Basma (20-2, 82-27)  got his pin in 0:58 against Christian Shubert.

Hayden Cramer (8-8) worked up a 5-0 lead against Max Guyer before getting suprised and pinned in 4:54. With the dual officially a Sandite victory at 58-6, the Spartans finally averted the shutout.

Gage Fain (25-11, 38-33) got in trouble early against Matt Smith and was taken down for nearfall points before reversing and getting the pin in 1:35. Bixby waited to see who would check in at 220 and forfeited to Delvin Jordan (35-2, 66-14), sending No. 7 Cody Adams up against Kris Edwards (4-1). Edwards put up a tough fight, but the first-year varsity wrestler wasn't quite ready for the two-time State Qualifier and was pinned in 0:31.

The season is nearing its end for the Sandites, and they won't return to action till Dual State at Firelake Arena in Shawnee Friday, February 11th. The undefeated District Champions will also host the Regional Tournament February 17th and 18th.