CPHS Boys' Basketball Preview: No. 12 Sandites host Ponca City Tuesday

Colt Savage goes for a big jump shot in a game against Wichita. (Photo: Morgan Miller).

The Charles Page High School varsity basketball season will kick off this Tuesday at the Ed Dubie Field House as the Sandites host the Ponca City Wildcats in a non-conference matchup.

The varsity boys enter the season with the No. 12 ranking in Class 6A. The Sandites went 12-14 last season and finished seventh in the Frontier Valley Conference. They upset No. 9 Yukon 66-59 in the Regional playoffs but fell 85-73 to No. 12 Sapulpa in the Area Tournament.

Unranked Ponca City is the lone school in 6A without a conference. They went 3-18 and were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs after a 79-23 beatdown by No. 1 Union. 

The Sandites lost a quarter of their scoring power in University of Central Oklahoma freshman Kyle Keener who averaged 16.6 points-per-game. They return the top-scoring player in the entire conference in senior Colt Savage who averaged 22.6. 

Sand Springs is currently in a bright spot for the program, going 38-36 over the past three seasons and 46-54 under fifth-year head coach Eric Savage. The Sandites went 3-40 in conference play, finishing dead last for three-straight years before Savage moved up from the 5A circuit. During his time at Tulsa Memorial he led the Chargers to three State Championships, and in 2015-2016 he led the Sandites to their first winning record since 2000. 

Colt and Cale Savage, Matthew Price, Cole Durkee, and Davon Richardson are expected to start the game against Ponca City.

• Colt started 25 games last season and led his team in scoring on nineteen occasions with a personal-best 34 points against Bixby.
• Cale started 24 games and tied his personal best of eleven points on three separate occasions.
• Price was a mid-season transfer, starting once and seeing action in fourteen games. He scored a season-best nine points against Bishop Kelley.
• Durkee started fifteen games and scored a season-best eight points against Broken Arrow. 
• Richardson transferred from Tulsa Central where he was a 4A State Tournament Semifinalist. He made headlines last December when he came off the bench in the second half to score twenty points and upset 5A No. 4 East Central. 

"We have five players on the floor who are very well rounded, that can all handle and shoot" says Coach Savage. "We will need to develop some depth as the year progresses. Only two seniors on the team and two returning starters, we are a young team." 

Colt Savage, who has received offers from the University of Central Oklahoma, Rogers State University, Cameron University, Oklahoma Baptist University, and Missouri Western State University, will be looked to for leadership as the team's only four-year starter and most experienced player. 

"Several young guys will be counted on to be difference makers," says Coach Savage. "Sophomores Davon Richardson and Josh Minney, freshmen Marlo Fox, Kendrick Williams, and Cason Savage could see significant minutes." 

The Sandites' first in-conference opponent will be 5A No. 9 Bishop Kelley this Friday at home. They will play the first installment of the Highway 97 Rivalry Series against No. 18 Sapulpa next Tuesday.

2017-2018 Week 1 Boys Rankings

1. Putnam City North (12)
2. Broken Arrow (3)
3. Edmond Santa Fe (1)
4. Midwest City
5. Westmoore
6. Union (1)
7. Edmond North (2)
8. Putnam City West (1)
9. Norman
10. Norman North
11. Edmond Memorial
12. Sand Springs
13. Stillwater (1)
14. Muskogee
15. Owasso
16. Putnam City
17. Shawnee
18. Sapulpa
19. Deer Creek 
20. Mustang

()*First Place Votes

Boys 2016-2017 FVC Standings
1. Union (14-0)
2. Broken Arrow (11-3)
3. Sapulpa (9-4)
4. Muskogee (9-5)
5. Owasso (7-7)
6. Bixby (6-8)
7. Sand Springs (5-9)
8. Bartlesville (4-9)
9. Bishop Kelley (3-11)
10. Jenks (1-13)

Two Sandites Win Divisions at Springdale Disc Golf Tournament

Richard Why (right) took first place in the Inaugural J. Beast Fall Classic earlier this month. (Courtesy photo).

Two Sand Springs disc golfers won their divisions at the Inaugural J. Beast Fall Classic in Springdale, Arkansas recently.

The Springdale Parks and Recreation department hosted the tournament at J.B. Hunt Park. Springdale mayor Doug Sprouse was on hand to kick the park's first event off with a ceremonial first throw. Charles Page librarian Richard Why and Sandite Pride Staff Writer Virgil Noah traveled to the event and both came home with victories in their respective divisions.

Why shot back-to-back rounds of six under par to win by a stroke in the Men's Professional Open division. Why defeated a field of seven other professional disc golfers and it is the eleventh professional win of his career. He is sponsored by FOSSA Disc Golf and WhyDry Chalk Bags. 

Noah and Tyler Thomason, both 2012 graduates of Charles Page High School, competed in the Men's Recreational division. Noah shot the low score in Rec during Round One with a one-under-par and had a three-stroke lead going into the final round. Thomason shot three over and was in a tie for third. Noah and Thomason shot four over and ten over respectively in the second round to finish First and Fifth in a field of eighteen. The victory was the third amateur win in Noah's career. 

Complete results of the tournament can be viewed below:  https://www.pdga.com/tour/event/33802

Eleven Sandites Take First Place at Coweta Wrestling Tournament

Abraham Flores was one of eleven Team Big wrestlers to take first place at the Coweta Open. (Photo: Scott Emigh)

Nearly a dozen members of the Sand Springs Team Big elementary wrestling program took first place at last weekend's Coweta Open.

Abraham Flores (7-1) took first place in Division 4 at 110 pounds, scoring a 9-0 major decision against Cameron Braswell and a 16-1 tech fall against Joseph Robbins. Adrian Flores (2-6) took second place, beating Robbins 6-2 and Braswell 5-0.

Balance Johnson (3-0) took first place in Division 4 at 140 pounds, pinning Connor Gough in 0:53 and Cameron Ford in 2:07. He also scored a 16-7 major decision against Micco Jones.

David Ritchey (4-2) took first place in Division 3 at 73 pounds, scoring a 16-0 tech fall against Braxton Cook and pinning Cruz Morrison in 1:47.

Nation Johnson (4-0) took first place in Division 3 at 85 pounds, pinning Bow Rush in 1:10, Daniel Gruenwald in 0:16, and Riley Hicks in 0:46. In the finals he defeated Ty Thrasher by 6-3 decision.

Jaxon Trotter (3-1) won a best-of-three series against Lance Arbona for first place in Division 3 at 100 pounds. He pinned the Ponca City wrestler in 2:40, then won a 9-6 decision. He also took second place in Division 4, pinning Mathew Franklin in 1:16 and Brice Chitwood in 3:00. He scored a 4-0 decision against Cael Eremita, but fell in 1:55 to Catoosa’s Tyler McCall.

Jayden Bussell (3-2) won a best-of-three series against Evan Luna for first place in Division 2 at 67 pounds, pinning the Wagoner wrestler in 3:25 and 3:30.

Ethan Starks (4-2) won the seventy-pound bracket in Division 2, receiving a forfeit from Braxton Floyd and scoring a 12-1 major decision against Glenpool’s Colton Treat.

Promised Johnson (3-0) won the 75-pound bracket in Division 2, pinning Eli Montgomery in 0:35 and Jake White in 2:45. In the finals he scored a 17-2 technical fall against Berryhill’s Max Harland.

Ramone Sparks (4-0) won the 88-pound bracket in Novice 4, scoring an 18-4 major decision against Kaden Boucher and pinning Avery Richey in forty seconds.

Connor Beals (6-1) won his third-straight tournament in Novice Division 3 at 73 pounds. He scored a 10-0 major decision against Braxton Cook and defeated Aeleyah Mumau 9-2 in the finals.

Tyler Feigenbaum (7-0) won his second-straight tournament in Novice 2 at 67 pounds. He pinned Mason Denison in 1:29, Walter Black in 0:39, Jaxon Steel in 2:25, and Laike Barnhart in 1:22.

Kaden Pope (1-1) took second place in Division 3 at 64 pounds, scoring a 15-0 tech fall against Jimmy Groden, but falling 6-2 to Collinsville’s Cayden Cupps. Matthew Moore (5-2) placed third, falling to Cupps in the opening round. He won his way through the consolation bracket with a 7-0 decision against Caleb Thompson, an 11-1 major decision against Groden, and a 6-2 decision against Connor Cox.

Aiden Wilkerson (2-1) took second in Novice 4 at eighty pounds, pinning Drake Blue in 0:21 and Rylie Brown in 0:49, but falling 10-8 to Isaac Valencia in sudden victory overtime.

Brody Wilson (2-1) took second in Novice 3 at 67 pounds, defeating Brody Stevenson 5-2 and William Laffoon 6-4, but falling 3-0 to Ethan Oglesbee in the finals.

Bently Furr (7-3) placed second in Novice 2 at 64 pounds, pinning Jake Weaver in 1:23 and Amos Wright in 1:16, but falling 14-4 to Conlee Curry in the finals.

Chase Kelley (2-4) placed third in Novice 4 at 110 pounds. He pinned Aundray Waller in 1:42 and Rhyley Tripp in 0:13, but fell 6-2 to Joseph Robbins and was pinned in 1:49 by Cooper Thomas.

Blayton Collins (10-6) competed in Novice Division 2 at two different weight classes. He placed fourth at 61 pounds and third at 64 pounds. In the 61-pound bracket he defeated Mikaili Lee 7-5 before getting pinned by Glenpool’s Landon Barber in 2:48. In the consolation bracket he pinned Dylan Cook in 1:59 and Riley Holman in 0:57, and won a 4-1 decision over Hunter Belcher before meeting Barber once again in the finals. This time his opponent came out on top of a 7-1 decision. At 64 pounds Collins pinned Ty Holly in 0:39, Jake Weaver in 1:47, and Amos Wright in 1:42, but fell to Conlee Curry from Jay.

Wes Wilson (5-1) took third place in Novice Division 1 in the forty-pound weight class. He majored Jacob Lonewolf 10-2 but was pinned in 2:44 by Mylum Ache. In the consolation bracket he pinned Ryker Romine in 1:42, majored Brayden Otero 10-0 and Larry Blevins 17-6, then pinned William Thompson in 1:38 in the finals.

CPHS Wrestling: Carter Young wins Westmoore Open, 4 Sandites win at Owasso

Central Ninth Grade Center freshman Carter Young recently took first place at the Westmoore Open, a preseason folkstyle tournament in Moore. The defending Junior High State Champion competed at 106 pounds and breezed through the competition. In the first round he pinned Michael Vincent in 3:00, then won a 21-5 tech fall against Westmoore’s Cooper Evans before majoring Blanchard’s Braeden Williams 14-5 in the finals.

At the Joe Zamora / Skyler Holman Open in Owasso, four Sandites won junior high gold. 

Sophomore Brendon Wiseley (4-1) took third at 106 pounds in the high school division. He pinned Sian Suan in 2:40 and won a 6-0 decision against Thai Ta before falling 4-4 to Broken Arrow’s Blazik Perez in an ultimate tie-breaker. In the consolation bracket he defeated David Boucher 4-0 and won a 6-5 rematch with Ta in the finals.

Braylon Flores (3-0) breezed through the junior high division at 113 pounds, pinning all three of his foes. He took down Kaleb Pendergraft in 1:26, Braden Hurst in 3:40, and Preston Baker in 1:59.

Rhett Peak (6-3) was equally dominant at 80 pounds, majoring Mason Duke 13-0 in the first round and pinning his next three opponents. He took down Riley Kuder in 1:11, Xavier Wolfe in 1:26, and Ethan Rodriguez in 2:15.

The pin record for the day went to Mitchell Smith (8-1) who won all four of his matches by fall. He pinned Rowty Redburn in 1:01, John Tyler Dunbar in 0:40, Evan Rodriguez in 2:00, and Mac O’Brien in 0:44.

Christian Forbes (5-2) won his division with a 5-2 decision against Pacen Crittenden, a 19-3 tech fall against teammate Colton Luker, and a 6-4 decision against Parker Witcraft.

Caden Vaughn (3-1) came in runner-up at 120 pounds. He pinned Grant Bunten in 1:05 and CJ Clifton in 2:45 and majored Brock Mattioda 9-1 but fell 9-2 to Ty Moose in the finals.

Santana Naugle (3-2) took fourth place at 162 pounds. He pinned Zach Powell in 19 seconds and scored three-point decisions over Caden Osborne and Connor DiCarlo, but was pinned by Gage Hamm and Jordan Hanna.

Seven Sandites win gold at Catoosa Tournament

Seven Sandites took home top prize at the Catoosa Open tournament recently.

Asher Giddens (6-1) took first place in Division 1 at 46 pounds. He pinned Maddox Masters in 1:27, then defeated Toby Shield 11-4 and Grady Langham 7-2.

Clayton Giddens (6-0) won his second straight tournament in Division 4 at 73 pounds. He pinned Max Matthews in 3:39, Dylan Abbott in 0:36, and Rich Xiong in 0:32.

Kasen McAffrey (4-0) won his second-straight tournament in Division 2 at seventy pounds. He defeated teammate Ethan Starks 11-6 then pinned Kyle Belt in 26 seconds. Starks (2-2) took second place by pinning Belt in 24 seconds.

Jaxon Grigsby (5-0) won his second-straight tournament of the season, competing at 55 pounds in Division 3. He pinned Korbin Rogers in 1:24 and Jacob Fuller in 1:01.

Abraham Flores (4-1) took first place in Division 4 at 110 pounds, pinning Aiven Robbins in 2:42 and majoring Hank Powell 13-2.

Will Meredith (2-0) took first place in Division 3 at 52 pounds, winning a best-of-three series with Peyton Sims. He pinned his foe in 3:58 in the first match and majored the Bristow wrestler 16-3 in round two.

Robert Burke (6-1) took first place in Division 3 at seventy pounds. He defeated Benjamin Smith 9-2, then majored Adam Russell 18-5 and Joaquin Moralez 11-2.

Grady Mittasch (2-1) placed second in Division 4 at eighty pounds. He defeated Samuel Melton 6-2 and pinned Dylan Seawright in 49 seconds, but was pinned by Corban Zugelder in the finals.

Carter Wood (5-2) came in runner-up in Division 2 at 75 pounds. He pinned Eli Montgomery in 1:12 in the opening round, but was defeated 7-0 by Mason OBanion. In the consolation bracket he pinned Robin Starrett in 1:25 and majored Max Harland 8-0.

Rollin Fish (5-1) placed second in Division 1 at 66 pounds. He was pinned by Jaden O’Kelley in the opening round, but rebounded with a fall against Wyatt Bussell in 2:33. He won a 6-2 decision over Davis Tusler then pinned Remington Hays in 57 seconds.

Jaxon Trotter (1-1) came in second in Division 3 at a hundred pounds. He was majored 13-1 by Haydan Yocham, but pinned Lance Arbona in 1:12.

Owen Martin (1-1) placed second in Division 5 at 84 pounds. He was defeated 2-1 by Ethan Peterson in the opening round but pinned Kameron Neighbors in 41 seconds.

Jace Simms (3-3) placed second in Division 3 at 73 pounds. He pinned Easton Olenberger in 2:04 and Cash Mayfield in 4:17, but was pinned in 3:52 by Daxton Sullivan. He also defeated teammate David Ritchey (2-2) by 6-3 decision. Ritchey (2-2) placed third, pinning Mayfield in 2:58 and Olenberger in 32 seconds. He also fell 9-2 to Sullivan.

Bentley Cole (2-1) placed third in Division 1 at 43 pounds. He was pinned by Knox Lopez in the opening match, but defeated Bentlee Starks in the consolations and pinned Gage Tyree in 1:14.

Wyatt Meredith (2-1) placed third in Division 5 at 92 pounds. He was pinned by Josey Jernegan in the opening round, but defeated Lane Parrish 6-0 and pinned Case Carlile in 38 seconds.

Troy Haller (2-2) took fourth in Division 3 at 67 pounds. He majored Cooper Bean 8-0 and defeated Colt Cothran 7-4 but was pinned by Hunter Knox and majored 17-6 by Kyler Auten.

Four Sandites win gold at Cleveland Novice Tournament

Several young Sandites competed at the Cleveland Novice Folkstyle wrestling tournament recently and four took home first-place medals.

Tyler Feigenbaum (3-0) won Division 2 at 67-pounds handily, pinning his first two opponents in 23 and 48 seconds. In the finals he majored Sapulpa’s Mason Denison 16-5.

Skyler Wood (4-0) won his second-straight tournament in Division 3, pinning both of his foes at seventy pounds. He took down Ryder Trepton in 1:18 and Kalon Covey in only 36 seconds.

Lane Cannon (2-0) won Division 2 at 105 pounds, pinning Law Cunningham in 2:48 and 0:50.

Connor Beals (4-1) won Division 3 at 73 pounds for the second-straight week, winning a best-of-three series against Jeremy Stubbs of Ponca City. Beals won the first match 8-7, was defeated 10-2 in the second match, then finished strong with a 10-6 decision.

Andrew Price (2-1) came in runner-up in Division 2 at 55 pounds. He pinned Brody Denison in 3:00 and edged out John Burk 7-6, but fell in 4:30 to Slade Theriot in the finals.

Jareb Boatman (3-1) took third place in the 58-pound Division 2. He pinned Kayden Harris in 1:44 in the opening round before being pinned in turn by Michael Allen. In the consolation bracket he defeated Landyn Smith 7-4 and Camille Jones 7-5 in sudden victory overtime.

Gage Gunn (1-1) came in runner-up in the Division 3 64-pound weight class. He lost his first match by a single point, 5-4 to Landon Dodd, but rebounded with a 6-3 decision over Carver Barnett.

Gatlin Gunn (1-1) came in runner-up in Division 4 at 84 pounds. He won his first match 6-4 against Tanner Hulbert but was pinned by Ryan Cantrell in the finals.

Canaan Rogers (1-3) was runner-up in the Division 2 49-pound weight class. He won his first match 14-12 against Harrison Redleaf, but was pinned in 1:35 by Michael Duncan.