Class 6A No. 2 ranked Norman North (15-1) managed to edge out No. 5 Charles Page High School (13-3) in the semifinal round of the John Nobles Invitational at Moore High School Friday afternoon, snapping a ten-game winning streak from the Sandites.
The Timberwolves held close leads after the first and second quarters but were dominated 12-4 in the third before clawing their way back to the front early in the fourth. Harding University-committed senior Jacie Evans scored the first eight points of the quarter to stymie the Sandite tide and lead her team to a 45-41 victory.
Jacie Evans and University of Kansas-committed Sandite Holly Kersgieter led all scorers with nineteen points apiece, and Kersgieter had twelve rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season. Jessika Evans was second for the Timberwolves with thirteen points and Tulsa-commit Destiny Johnson added fifteen for Sand Springs.
It was a back and forth affair right out of the gate and neither team scored back to back field goals till Emma Base and Jacie Evans combined for a 12-7 advantage. Kersgieter quickly responded with a layup and two free throws for an eleven-point first period. Base knocked down two more from the stripe but Johnson laid up to keep it a one-point game, 14-13, at the end of the period.
Mikah Hampton scored in the paint to tie it up at 20-20 midway through the second. Jacie and Jessika Evans gave their team a four point lead, then Kayton Kite hit a layup on a steal to take a 28-26 advantage into the locker room.
Both teams had trouble scoring early in the third, but Kennedy Cummings put the Timberwolves up by eight to start the half. Sand Springs battled back with a pair of free throws from Johnson and a three point play from Kersgieter. Isabella Regalado hit a long two and a free throw to tie it, and Johnson scored in transition for their first lead since the opening field goal of the game. Jacie Evans broke up the ten-point run, but Johnson hit two more from the stripe for a 34-32 lead.
Jacie Evans put her team back out front with a pair of free throws and a pair of layups to start the fourth, and Kite scored on a steal for a six-point advantage. Darrian Jordan broke up the run and Johnson hit a free throw to make it a one-score game.
The Timberwolves took a three-point lead into the final minute. Johnson scored again to make it 40-39, but Kite made a three point play that put the game out of reach. Johnson laid up again, Jacie Evans hit two from the stripe, and Norman North secured the 45-41 victory.
The Sandites have only lost three games this season, all non-conference. Their last defeat was also in the semifinal round of a tournament, when they fell 57-43 to still undefeated No. 3 Shawnee (14-0). Shawnee and Norman North were set to meet in the Bishop Kelley Invitational finals, but didn’t play the championship game due to winter weather.
Sand Springs will return to action Saturday at 4:00 p.m. when they play for third place against the loser of No. 8 Moore (12-3) vs. No. 11 Choctaw (12-3). Norman North will play the winner of Moore/Choctaw at 7:00 p.m.
(Sand Springs Stats)
Scoring: Kersgieter 19, Johnson 15, Regalado 3, Jordan 2, Hampton 2.
Offensive Rebounds: Kersgieter 4, Johnson 2, Burris 1.
Defensive Rebounds: Kersgieter 8, Johnson 2, Burris 2, Regalado 1, Jordan 1.
Total Rebounds: Kersgieter 12, Johnson 4, Burris 3, Regalado 1, Jordan 1.
Steals: Johnson 2, Kersgieter 2, Burris 2, Jordan 1.
Assists: Hampton 2.
Fouls: Kersgieter 4, Johnson 3, Regalado 3, Jordan 2, Burris 1.
(Norman North Scoring): Jacie Evans 19, Cummings 13, Base 6, Kite 4, Jessika Evans 3.
NNHS 45 CPHS 41
1Q: NNHS 14-13.
2Q: NNHS 14-9.
3Q: CPHS 12-4.
4Q: NNHS 13-7.
Free Throws: CPHS 11-of-13, NNHS 13-of-17.
Field Goals: NNHS 15-of-36, CPHS 14-of-34.
Offensive Rebounds: CPHS 7, NNHS 7.
Defensive Rebounds: CPHS 14, NNHS 7.
Total Rebounds: CPHS 21, NNHS 14.
Steals: NNHS 11, CPHS 7.
Blocks: CPHS 1.
Fouls: NNHS 12, CPHS 13.
Tournament Results/Schedule.
QF: No. 8 Moore 78-45 Douglass.
QF: No. 12 Choctaw 67-63 3A No. 10 Millwood.
QF: No. 2 Norman North 69-20 Durant.
QF: No. 5 Sand Springs 55-46 Southmoore.
Cons. SF: 3A No. 10 Millwood 58-42 Douglass.
Cons. SF: Southmoore 57-33 Durant.
SF: No. 2 Norman North 45-41 No. 5 Sand Springs
SF: Fri. 7:00 p.m. No. 8 Moore vs. No. 12 Choctaw.
7th Place: Sat. 10:00 a.m. Durant vs. Douglass.
5th Place: Sat. 1:00 p.m. No. 10 Millwood vs. Southmoore.
3rd Place: Sat. 4:00 p.m. No. 5 Sand Springs vs. TBA (Moore/Choctaw).
1st Place: Sat. 7:00 p.m. No. 2 Norman North vs. TBA (Moore/Choctaw).
