#13 Sandite dribblers snap losing streak at #15 Bishop Kelley

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief with Morgan Miller, Staff Writer

After a rocky start, the #13 Charles Page High School varsity basketball team (8-4) finally snapped out of a three-game losing streak Tuesday night at Bishop Kelley. 

The 5A #15 Comets (5-6) got off to an early lead, limiting the Sandite scoring action to a series of Kyle Keener free throws for most of the first quarter. Finally, Brooks Haddock sank a three to get the Sandites back on the right track. 

Mack Thompson struck a series of field goals midway through the second period to help carry the Sandite momentum, and the boys began to lead for the duration of the half. 

The Comets, however, came out firing in the third to take a 39-35 lead before the Sandites once more found their feet and began to build some cushion. 

Trailing by four with a minute to play, the Comets began a series of desperation fouls, but were unable to close the gap, thanks to the near-perfect free throw capabilities of the Sandites, and the visitors returned home with a 57-53 victory. 

Kyle Keener led the Sandites with 15 points, shooting 7-of-9 from the charity stripe, 4-of-5 from field goal range, and adding 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks in an outstanding performance consistent with what we've come to expect from the talented giant. 

Mack Thompson and Colt Savage were right behind Keener, each scoring 14 points, with Savage shooting a perfect 6-for-6 on free throws. Brooks Haddock also doubled with 10 points. Haddock has doubled in all but one game this season, and Thompson tied his career-high. 

The Sandites return to action on Thursday night in Coffeyville, Kansas against Nathan Hale at the Interstate Classic tournament.  

#20 Jenks Trojans upset #10 Sandites

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Charles Page High School varsity dribblers still hold their #10 ranking, but have been going in the opposite direction from where they started.  

After starting the season 7-0, the boys have given up four straight and gave up a close loss to the #20 Jenks Trojans whom they should have handled easily. 

The Sandites got on the board first with a layup by Arvionte Nichols, but TJ Washington shot three from three-point range, broken up by a Kyle Keener free throw, to make the score 9-3. Once more it would appear the Trojans were having difficulty at the score table, however, and the score was only updated to 7-3--a mistake that would not be corrected.  

The Trojan scoring frenzy continued till they had worked up a 22-9 first quarter lead.

The second quarter belonged to Sand Springs, however, as the Sandites found their mojo and doubled the home team 16-8 by half time. The visitors still trailed by 5 (three according to the scoreboard) but they were clearly on the up-and-up.  

The Sandites won the third quarter as well, but only by 12-11 and still trailed by four going into the final period.  

Both teams battled valiantly but ultimately it came down to a series of desperation fouls and the Trojans came out on top for a 53-48 finish with Washington sinking a pair of freebies for an incredible 28 point game high. 

Keener and Haddock both doubled but it was a shortage of rebounds that ultimately did the Sandites in.  

Gloria Mutiri scores 20 in 64-43 rout of Jenks

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The #14 Charles Page High School varsity girls (8-2) had no problem running up the scoreboard against the unranked Jenks Lady Trojans (4-8) Friday night at Frank Herald Gym, emerging to a swift 9-2 lead before allowing the host team to catch back up 16-15 by the end of the first. 

The home team took a brief 3 point lead to start the second quarter but the Sandites responded with an 11 point streak and held a 34-25 lead at halftime.  

The second half was no better for the home team despite the Sandite starters being benched early in the fourth. In the third period the Lady Sandites outscored Jenks 19-6 and 11-10 in the final quarter for a commanding 64-43 victory. 

Gloria Mutiri stole the show scoring 20 points with 4 rebounds, 3 blocks, 1 steal and 1 assist.  It was Jenks's Jensen Price with the game-high 22, however. 

All the Sandites were impressive and Destiney Johnson and Sydney Pennington each doubled with 11.  

In JV action, the Lady Sandites improved to 5-1 with a 46-45 victory. 

Jacob Garbey scores 21 in JV loss to Jenks

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The JV Sandite boys got off to a great start against the Jenks junior Trojans Friday night at Frank Herald Stadium, battling back and forth before taking a 19-17 lead at the end of the first.

The boys led by as much as 27-19 at one point before the home team went on a scoring streak nearly catching up 29-27 at the half.  

At some point during halftime the score was changed to 27-27 and the opposing teams were unable to reach a consensus on the score and the home team had their way. 

Not that those two points mattered in the end however, as the Trojans out scored the Sandites 23-8 in the third with 16 unanswered points before Josh Taber sank a pair of free throws.

Riding a 13 point advantage into the final period, the Trojans added another 11 to finish 61-44, or 61-42 according to the scoreboard. 

The boys fall to 1-5 on the season, despite a great performance from Jacob Garbey who scored an outstanding 21 points. 

#10 Sandites unable to overcome #9 Owasso's Kinzer Lambert

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Photo: Morgan Miller, Staff

The Charles Page High School varsity basketball team fell to 7-3 after a disappointing loss at Owasso Tuesday night. The boys trailed by as much as 11 at one point before rallying for a 35-34 midway through the third. It was back and forth from there, exchanging the lead five more times before the Rams (8-3) were finally able to pull away thanks to a series of free throws. 

Colt Savage and Mack Thompson each scored a team-high 14 points, followed closely by Brooks Haddock with 12. It was Kinzer Lambert, however, with the game-high 25, shooting 11-of-12 from the charity stripe.

Early in the fourth, Savage went two-for-two on free throws for a 43-42 advantage and Thompson iced the cake with a three-pointer for a 45-42 lead. Kinzer was right behind him though, shooting a pair of free throws and a three of his own for a 47-45 lead, then Thompson retaliated with yet another long-shot to make it 48-47.

Kyle Keener dropped a pair of freebies late in the fourth to get the Sandites within a single point of the Rams, but by then time was nearly out and the boys were forced to commit a series of desperation fouls that failed to pay off. 

The Rams move up to the #1 spot in Frontier Valley standings with a 4-1 conference record, while the Sandites drop to fifth with a 2-2 record.

Sand Springs will next take on #20 Jenks (4-6) Friday night in an away conference game.

The JV boys have had a tough last few games, falling 51-12 to the Green Country Defenders last week, and 49-36 to Owasso. The boys are 1-4 for the season.


#13 Lady Sandites upset #8 Owasso 51-48

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Photo: Morgan Miller, Staff

Heavy defense and a dominating second quarter were enough for the Charles Page High School varsity girls team (7-2) to hold off the #8 Owasso Lady Rams (12-3) Tuesday night. 

The scoring started off slow for both teams. Neither team scored for the first three minutes, then they exchanging the lead five times in the first period before Terryn Milton tied things up 9-9 shortly before the buzzer. 

Then, in the second quarter, Sand Springs exploded. Season scoring-leader Sydney Pennington scored 5 of Sand Springs's 16 points, but the true power lied in their defense. Pennington and Destiny Johnson each had 5 defensive rebounds for the night and Gloria Mutiri was especially impressive with a double-double, scoring 10 points with 13 rebounds. 

By the end of the first half, the Sandites held a powerful 25-14 lead. Despite being outscored in each of the next two periods, their 11-point second-quarter advantage was enough to ward off the attempted Ram-rally. 

Johnson was the star of the second half, scoring 10 points and going head-to-head with Milton and Mya Bhinhar who combined for 20 in the second half. Bhinhar, Milton, and Leiloni Culley each scored 11 to tie for team-lead.

Owasso closed the gap to 39-33 by the end of the third, and tied things up at 45-all with 2:10 left, but Johnson and Pennington tacked on a couple of field goals for a 4-point lead. Bhinhar hit a three, but Cierra Scott added two and Johnson hit a free throw for a final score of 51-48. 

The Lady Sandites move up to fifth in Frontier Valley Conference standings with a 2-2 record, while Owasso drops to sixth  with a 2-3 record.

Next, the Sandites will travel to Jenks (4-7, 2-5) Friday night to take on the unranked Lady Trojans.

In JV action, the girls were tied up 36-36 when a Lady Sandite sank a free throw with 1 second left for the win. The girls improve to 4-1 for the season.