CPHS Football: Payton Scott named Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the Year

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In its 33rd year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company announced Payton Scott of Charles Page High School as its 2017-18 Gatorade Oklahoma Football Player of the Year. Scott is the first Gatorade Oklahoma Football Player of the Year to be chosen from Charles Page High School.

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Scott as Oklahoma’s best high school football player. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Football Player of the Year award to be announced in December, Scott joins an elite alumni association of state award-winners in 12 sports, including Mitchell Trubisky (2012-13, Mentor High School, Ohio), Greg Olsen (2002-03, Wayne Hills High School, N.J.), Matthew Stafford (2005-06 Highland Park High School, Texas), Harrison Smith (2006-07 Knoxville Catholic High School, Tenn.), Latavius Murray (2007-08, Onondaga High School, N.Y.), Brock Osweiler (2008-09, Flathead High School, Mont.) and Leonard Fournette (2014-15 & 2012-13, St. Augustine High School, La.).

The 5-foot-5, 180-pound senior running back rushed for 2,597 yards and 33 touchdowns this past season, leading the Sandites to the Class 6A-II quarterfinals. In breaking the single-season rushing record in Class 6A, the state’s largest division, Scott averaged 31 rushing attempts and 236 yards per game and 7.6 yards per carry for the 5-6 Sandites. This fall, Scott broke school records for rushing yards and rushing TDs in a season, and also set new school marks for single-game yards (507) and single-game TDs (7). A finalist for the Shelter Insurance Mr. Football Award in Oklahoma, Scott ran for 5,826 yards and 71 touchdowns in prep career.

A state champion as a wrestler as well, Scott volunteers at the John 3:16 Mission homeless shelter while also coaching at youth wrestling and youth football camps. “I can say that unequivocally that Payton Scott is the best player I’ve seen in the state,” Bartlesville interim head coach Kyle Ppool said. “He is absolutely amazing on the field. We faced all those guys and he is the best of the group, and definitely most meaningful to his team.”

Scott has maintained a weighted 3.5 GPA in the classroom. He remains undecided on his collegiate destination.

The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.

Scott joins recent Gatorade Oklahoma Football Players of the Year Brandon George (2016-17, Jones High School), Mason Fine (2015- 16 & 2014-15, Locust Grove High School), Cameron Batson (2013-14, Millwood High School), Stanvon Taylor (2012-13, East Central High School), Andrew Hearon (2011–12, Metro Christian Academy), David Glidden (2010-11, Mustang High School), and Demarco Cobbs (2009-10, Central High School) among the state’s list of former award winners.

As a Gatorade Player of the Year, Scott will be able to select a national or local youth sports organization to receive a grant as part of the Gatorade Play It Forward program. Every Gatorade Player of the Year state winner receives a $1,000 grant to donate and will have the opportunity to enter for an additional $10,000 spotlight grant by writing a brief essay explaining why their selected organization deserves additional support. 12 spotlight grants – one for each sport – will be announced throughout the year.

To keep up to date on the latest happenings, become a fan of Gatorade Player of the Year on Facebook and follow the conversation on Twitter #GatoradePOY. For more on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, including nomination information, a complete list of past winners and the announcement of the Gatorade National Player of the Year, visit http://playeroftheyear.gatorade.com/.

CPHS Basketball: Sandites fall to No. 4 Union, Richardson leads Sandites with 12

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CPHS junior Cale Savage had a career-high night against Union, scoring eleven points with six rebounds. (Photo: Morgan Miller).

Two of the top teams in the Frontier Valley Conference went head-to-head Tuesday night at the Ed Dubie Field House and the No. 4 Union Redskins (4-1, 2-0) came back from a 22-13 deficit for a 60-45 win over the No. 8 Sand Springs Sandites (3-1, 2-1) to remain undefeated in conference play. 

Sand Springs showed how deep its talent pool goes by taking a 22-13 lead in the second quarter before typical leading scorer Colt Savage even got on the board.

Union's Jordan Flood scored the first points of the game, but Davon Richardson quickly retaliated with a three point play. Mo Garcia and Noah Brown scored back to back but Colt Savage stripped the ball on a layup attempt and sent it to Richardson at half court, who passed it to Cale Savage for a game-tying three-pointer. Kendall McVay scored a free throw, but that would be the last lead of the half for Union.

Cole Durkee drained a three then Richardson and Josh Minney scored a pair of twos for a 13-7 lead. Garcia added a free throw for his team, but Durkee had the final basket to end the first quarter 15-8.

Union cut the deficit to 24-21 by halftime, Flood opened the third quarter with a steal and a layup, then Garcia scored a three to put the Redskins back out front. Durkee hit a three for Sand Springs, McVay and Garcia combined for five, Richardson scored two, then Union went on a six-point run before Cale Savage hit a three to end the period 37-32 with an assist from his older brother.

Garcia started the final stretch with a trio of free throws, setting the tone for a stanza that would be spent almost entirely at the charity stripe. The Sandites cut it as close as 46-40 with a steal and layup from Minney, but Union went on an eight-point run to put the game out of reach. 

Davon Richardson scored a season-high twelve points to lead the Sandites. Cale Savage tied his career high with eleven, and Cole Durkee scored a career-high ten points to put three Sandites in double digits. Leading Frontier Valley scorer Colt Savage was held to six points, his lowest output since his sophomore season. Garcia led all scorers with 21 points, followed by Michiah McQuarters with thirteen and Flood with twelve. 

The Sandites will return to action Thursday at 7:00 p.m. against the Wichita Defenders (7-1) in the first round of the Tulsa Memorial Veterans Arena Invitational. Union will host No. 17 Sapulpa (4-1) next Tuesday at 8:00 p.m.

Union 60 CPHS 45

1Q CPHS 15-8
2Q Union 13-9
3Q Union 16-8
4Q Union 23-13

Free Throws: Union 14-of-17, CPHS 5-of-7.
Field Goals: CPHS 17-of-37, Union 21-of-51.
Offensive Rebounds: Union 8, CPHS 8.
Defensive Rebounds: Union 13, CPHS 13.
Steals: Union 6, CPHS 5.
Blocks: CPHS 6, Union 1.
Fouls: CPHS 15, Union 10.

(Sand Springs Stats)
Scoring: Richardson 12, Cale Savage 11, Durkee 10, Colt Savage 6, Minney 4, Price 2.
Offensive Rebounds: Richardson 3, Cale Savage 2, Minney 2, Durkee 1.
Defensive Rebounds: Cale Savage 4, Price 3, Colt Savage 2, Durkee 2, Richardson 1, Fox 1.
Total Rebounds: Cale Savage 6, Richardson 4, Price 3, Durkee 3, Colt Savage 2, Minney 2, Fox 1.
Steals: Minney 2, Colt Savage 2, Price 1.
Assists: Colt Savage 3, Richardson 2, Minney 2, Cale Savage 1.
Blocks: Richardson 2, Colt Savage 1, Price 1, Durkee 1, Minney 1,
Fouls: Richardson 4, Price 3, Minney 2, Cale Savage 2, Fox 2, Colt Savage 1, Williams 1.

(Union Stats)
Scoring: Garcia 21, McQuarters 13, Flood 12, Brown 6, McVay 5, King 2, Hawkins 1. 
Fouls: King 3, Brown 2, Flood 2, McVay 1, Hawkins 1, McQuarters 1. 

CPHS Basketball: Kersgieter scores 29, Johnson 25 in 71-54 victory over Union

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The Class 6A No. 1 ranked Charles Page High School girls' basketball team improved to 7-0 overall and 3-0 in conference with a 71-54 victory over Union (2-3, 1-1) that was anything but easy. The aggressive Redskins forced Head Coach Dustin Morrow to leave in his starters for most of the game, allowing University of Kansas-commit Holly Kersgieter to score a career-high 29 points, closely followed by Destiny Johnson with 25. 

The Sandites utterly dominated in the first quarter, taking a 21-4 lead with three-straight scores from Jacie Taber steals, including back-to-back layups from Taber herself. Kimi Presnell had a pair of steals as well, and the girls appeared ready to put this game behind them as quickly as possible.

Union had other plans, however, and battled back with eleven-straight points, including seven-straight to start the second quarter before Isabella Regalado got the Sandites back in action. It was back and forth from there as Sand Springs repeatedly tried for quick transition layups that were blocked, stolen back, or simply slipped loose. By halftime the Redskins had cut the gap to 29-22.

The third quarter started in the same back-and-forth manner in which the second quarter ended, but midway through the Sandites went on a five-point run that seemed to snap them back to their normal selves. Kersgieter, who scored seven in the first half, exploded for fourteen in the third quarter and the girls were back out front of a 53-35 lead.

The visitors continued to play aggressively throughout the game, but they were outgunned by the powerful Sandite offense that pushed its lead as far as 65-41 before Coach Morrow benched his starters. Union outscored the Sandite second string 6-0, entirely from the free throw line, to finish the night.

Sand Springs will return to action Tuesday with a home conference game against No. 13 Owasso (1-1, 1-1). Union will host No. 19 Sapulpa (3-2, 1-1) on Tuesday.

CPHS 71 Union 54

1Q CPHS 21-8
2Q Union 14-8
3Q CPHS 24-13
4Q Union 19-18

Free Throws: Union 15-of-16, CPHS 12-of-17.
Field Goals: CPHS 28-of-47, Union 18-of-40.
Offensive Rebounds: CPHS 6, Union 4.
Defensive Rebounds: CPHS 14, Union 7.
Total Rebounds: CPHS 20, Union 11.
Steals: CPHS 14, Union 8.
Blocks: CPHS 1, Union 1.
Fouls: Union 10, CPHS 13.

(Sand Springs Stats)
Scoring: Kersgieter 29, Johnson 25, Regalado 9, Taber 6, Presnell 2.
Offensive Rebounds: Johnson 3, Regalado 2, Kersgieter 1.
Defensive Rebounds: Kersgieter 4, Presnell 3, Taber 3, Regalado 2, Johnson 1, Burris 1.
Total Rebounds: Kersgieter 5, Johnson 4, Regalado 4, Presnell 3, Taber 3, Burris 1.
Steals: Taber 5, Regalado 3, Johnson 3, Kersgieter 2, Presnell 1.
Assists: Taber 2, Presnell 1, Johnson 1.
Blocks: Taber 1.
Fouls: Johnson 3, Bunch 3, Kersgieter 2, Taber 2, Presnell 1, Burris 1, Shrum 1.

CPHS Basketball: Undefeated Lady Sandites claim No. 1 ranking in Class 6A

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The Charles Page High School girls' basketball team claimed the number-one ranking in Class 6A Monday evening. The undefeated Lady Sandites handily won the Bishop Kelley Invitational this past weekend, handily overpowering formerly undefeated No. 8 Norman North (5-1) in the finals, 59-34. 

The Sandites, who were ranked third the week before, picked up eight first-place votes from the 6A coaches after not receiving any votes the week before. Formerly top-ranked Choctaw (4-1) dropped to third after falling 49-33 to 4A No. 1 Harrah (6-0) at the Panthers' home tournament. The Yellowjackets received six first-place votes after having fifteen the week prior. 

Coming in at number two is Putnam City West (4-1) whose only loss was 80-44 to Duncanville, Texas three weeks prior. The Patriots dominated unranked Putnam City (1-5) 60-35 in their lone game last week and actually received the most first-place votes with ten. 

Also receiving first-place votes is undefeated No. 4 Bartlesville (4-0) with five, No. 5 Norman North (5-1) with one, and No. 9 Deer Creek (4-2) with one. 

The Central Oklahoma Athletic Conference is still the best-represented team in the rankings with nine ranked schools and six in the top-ten. The Big Ten has three ranked teams in 6A and three in 5A with two top-five 6A teams and one top-five 5A team. 

Only three undefeated teams remain in 6A, and all three are from the Frontier Valley Conference. Sand Springs is 6-0, Bartlesville is 4-0, and the biggest surprise is Bixby who is also 4-0. The Spartans kicked off the season with a 52-36 win over No. 5 Owasso, then handily defeated Southmoore, No. 13 Ponca City, and No. 10 Deer Creek to win their own invitational tournament and go from unranked last week to No. 11.  

The Lady Sandites will defend their new position against unranked Union (2-2) Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. in Sand Springs.

Class 6A Week 4 OSSAA Rankings as of 12/11/2017

  1. Sand Springs (6-0)
  2. Putnam City West (4-1)
  3. Choctaw (4-1)
  4. Bartlesville (4-0)
  5. Norman North (5-1)
  6. Westmoore (4-2)
  7. Edmond Memorial (4-2)
  8. Mustang (5-1)
  9. Deer Creek (4-2)
  10. Edmond North (4-2)
  11. Bixby (4-0)
  12. Edmond Santa Fe (4-2)
  13. Owasso (0-1)
  14. Midwest City (4-2)
  15. Norman (5-1)
  16. Yukon (4-1)
  17. Ponca City (3-1)
  18. Shawnee (3-2)
  19. Sapulpa (2-2)
  20. Jenks (3-1)

Undefeated teams as of 12/11/2017.

  • 6A No. 1 Sand Springs (6-0)
  • 6A No. 4 Bartlesville (4-0)
  • 6A No. 11 Bixby (4-0)
  • 5A No. 3 Booker T. Washington (2-0)
  • 5A No. 4 Eisenhower (5-0)
  • 5A No. 5 Woodward (2-0)
  • 5A No. 19 Guthrie (1-0)
  • 4A No. 1 Harrah (6-0)
  • 4A No. 2 Ft. Gibson (5-0)
  • 4A No. 3 Ardmore (4-0)
  • 4A No. 4 Broken Bow (4-0)
  • 4A No. 5 Muldrow (4-0)
  • 4A No. 9 Perkins-Tryon (5-0)
  • 4A No. 11 Classen SAS (8-0)
  • 4A No. 16 Oologah-Talala (2-0)
  • 4A No. 18 Kingfisher (3-0)
  • 3A No. 2 Adair (3-0)
  • 3A No. 3 Comance (2-0)
  • 3A No. 6 Prague (3-0)
  • 3A No. 7 Beggs (0-0)
  • 3A No. 8 Kansas (5-0)
  • 3A No. 9 Alva (3-0)
  • 3A No. 10 Pocola (6-0
  • 3A No. 13 Hartshorne (5-0)
  • 3A No. 20 Eufala (1-0)
  • 2A No. 1 Christian Heritage (5-0)
  • 2A No. 2 Dale (8-0)
  • 2A No. 3 Cashion (2-0)
  • 2A No. 5 Mounds (4-0)
  • 2A No. 7 Kiefer (3-0)
  • 2A No. 8 Fairview (5-0)
  • 2A No. 11 Caney Valley (7-0)
  • 2A No. 13 Rush Springs (7-0)
  • 2A No. 17 Oklahoma Union (7-0)
  • 2A No. 18 Hobart (6-0)
  • 2A No. 19 Savanna (3-0)
  • A No. 1 Seling (2-0)
  • A No. 3 Vici (9-0)
  • A No. 16 Thomas-Fay-Custer (2-0)
  • B No. 1 Lomega (8-0)
  • B No. 4 Red Oak (9-0)
  • B No. 6 Sasakwa (7-0)

CPHS Wrestling: Carter Young wins Perry Tournament of Champions, Sandites place 8th

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The Class 6A No. 5 ranked defending State Champion wrestling team from Sand Springs traveled to storied Perry, Oklahoma this weekend for the 42nd Annual Tournament of Champions and placed eighth with a depleted roster, claiming one individual title.

Last year the Sandites won the tournament with three champions after placing second the year before. The Sandites graduated all three of those champions, including four-time winner Daton Fix, but crowned a new champion in freshman Carter Young, who is 5-0 since starting his varsity career last week.

Young breezed through the competition at 106 pounds, scoring a 20-5 technical fall over Martezz Carnes in 2:59. Next to fall was Ethan Kemble, who was pinned in 1:14. In the semifinals Young scored a 19-5 major decision against Choctaw’s Caleb Williams, and in the finals he majored Perry sophomore Ryan Smith 15-7. Young is currently ranked 20th nationally by FloWrestling. 

Also making the finals was senior Gage Fain (4-1 season, 43-39 career) at 220 pounds. He pinned Marlon Welty in 3:25 and Raven Soap in 1:15, then scored a 6-5 decision against Matt Woods before getting pinned in 4:53 by Kansas State Qualifier Qualin Powell.

Defending State Champion Riley Weir (4-2, 66-20) took third place at 120 pounds with a 2-0 decision over Perry freshman and U.S. Junior Open Champion Cade Nicholas. He started the tournament off by pinning Bryce Hawk in seventeen seconds, then scored a 7-2 decision over Choctaw senior Andrew Schlaepfer before falling 3-1 to Kansas State Runner-Up Gabe Buckbee. In consolation he majored Billy Gonzales 11-2. Owasso junior Zeke Washington, who stunned the crowd in the Sandites’ season-opening dual by defeating Weir, followed up that success with a first-place finish, defeating Buckbee 3-1.

Sophomore Seth Jones (4-2, 6-5) also competed at 120, wrestling unattached, and took fifth place. He pinned Trenton Harding in 45 seconds before being defeated 11-3 by Buckbee. In consolation he pinned Kristopher Humble in 2:11 and defeated Kaden Stanley 8-1 before falling 6-3 to Nicholas. In the placement round he majored Gonzales 12-4.

Irwin Portillo (3-3, 9-8) placed sixth at 132 pounds. He lost his opening match 3-1 to Edmond Memorial senior Ty Lutze but worked his way up through consolation by defeating Kansas State Qualifier Logan McDonald 8-5 and Marcus Slater 3-2 before once again meeting Lutze in the semifinals. This time he was defeated 5-1 and he lost his placement match 7-5 to State Qualifier Jaylon Otero. Ponca City senior Dylan Schickram won the division.

Scott Patton (4-4, 11-6) placed sixth at 138 pounds. He lost his opening match 11-4 to two-time State Finalist Connor Holman but worked his way through consolation by teching Landis Scoon 18-3 in 3:29, pinning Logan Patton in 2:44, and majoring Kansas State Qualifier Brady McDonald 12-1. In the semifinals he was defeated 9-1 by three-time Kansas State Champion Marcus Robinson and in the placement round he was defeated 11-10 by Pryor senior State Qualifier Bennett Sherrer. Ponca City junior Spencer Schickram won the division.

Dayvon Taylor (3-4) placed sixth at 170 pounds. He started hot, defeating Edmond Memorial senior Ben Parkhurst 13-3, Kansas State Qualifier Mason Manning 5-3, and Kingfisher senior Jameson Hale 12-11 before being pinned in 5:14 by two-time State Champion Jaryn Curry in the semifinals. In consolation he was pinned in 3:53 by Yukon’s Waylon Heger and was defeated 6-5 by Harrah sophomore Hunter Mauldin in placement. Curry won the bracket.

Josh Fincannon (2-3) placed sixth at 195 pounds. He lost his first match 6-2 to Ponca City junior Abram Arechiga, defeated Braden Thomas 2-1 and Owen Vincent 7-2 in consolation, then fell 7-2 to Arkansas City senior Dalton Collins in the semifinals. In the placement round he was defeated 5-2 by Arechiga. Choctaw senior Easton Rendleman won the bracket.

Caleb Phillips (2-2) competed at 145 pounds was defeated one round short of placement, going 2-2. In the opening round he was pinned in 1:15 by State Champion Jaxen Gilmore, who went on to win the bracket. In consolation he defeated Kailieb Ruff 6-4 and pinned Kansas State Qualifier Huntyr Schwegman in 2:01 before falling in 2:14 to State Qualifier Connor Simpson.

Chris Kirby (2-2) won his first match at 152 by pinning Kingfisher senior Mike Callente in 5:16, but was pinned in 3:14 by Perry senior Parker Nicholas and in 0:58 by Catoosa junior Trenton Blair. MacArthur senior Nick Mahan won the bracket.

Sophomore Brendon Wiseley (1-2, 2-2) competed at 113 pounds and fell to State Qualifier Studd Morris 16-3 in the first round. In consolations Wiseley was pinned in 0:42 by State Qualifier Fabian Huerta. Edmond Memorial sophomore Jackson Oplotnik won the division.

Colten Roberts (0-2) competed at 126 pounds and was pinned in 3:00 by Arkansas City’s Trig Tennant and in 4:22 by Stillwater’s Tanner Robinson. Choctaw junior Colt Newton won the division.

Defending State Champion Payton Scott and State Qualifier Blake Sargent were both absent. The Sandites didn’t wrestle anyone at 160, 182, or heavyweight. Lawton MacArthur junior Hunter Jump won 160, Choctaw junior Zane Coleman won 182, and MacArthur junior Montana Phillips won 285.

6A No. 2 ranked Choctaw won the tournament by a 61.5 point margin over 3A No. 1 Perry. Sand Springs will take the week off from duals to prepare for the 12th Annual Kansas City Stampede this Friday. 5A No. 2 Collinsville, 5A No. 3 Coweta, 6A No. 3 Edmond North, Perry, 6A No. 6 Ponca City, Southmoore, 6A No. 11 Stillwater, and 4A No. 1 Tuttle will all be competing at the tournament, as will nationally-ranked No. 11 Park Hill, No. 24 Christian Brothers College Prep, and No. 49 Goddard.

Sandite of the Week: Holly Kersgieter averages 20+ points per game, named Tournament MVP

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Charles Page High School junior basketball standout Holly Kersgieter was selected as Sandite of the Week for her consistent and outstanding performances in last week's games. The University of Kansas-commit led her team in three out of four games and was recognized as the Bishop Kelley Invitational All-Tournament Most Valuable Player.

On Tuesday the Class 6A No. 3 ranked Lady Sandites (6-0) notched their second in-conference win 60-48 over No. 18 Sapulpa (2-2), led by Kersgieter with a career-high 28 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and three steals. 

On Thursday the Sandites played Tulsa Memorial (0-6) in the first round of the Kelley tournament and hammered their competition 68-32. Kersgieter led the team once again with seventeen points, eight rebounds, and one steal, despite only playing for about half of the game. 

On Friday the Sandites took on the tournament hosts and prevailed 53-30 over the 5A No. 18 Comets (1-3). Kersgieter was the number-two scorer on the team with fifteen points, six rebounds, a steal, and two assists.

In Saturday's tournament finals the Sandites easily handled formerly undefeated No. 8 Norman North (5-1) 59-34, led by Kersgieter with 27 points, three rebounds, and two steals.

Thus far in the season, Kersgieter is shooting 54% on field goals, 50% from three-point range, and 82% from the charity stripe. She averages 20.5 points, seven rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 2.5 steals per game. 

Sand Springs will return to action Tuesday when they host the Union Redskins (2-2, 1-0) in a conference battle at 6:30 p.m.