CPHS Basketball: Sandites undefeated at Memorial Invitational, Savage scores 35

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The Class 6A No. 8 ranked Charles Page High School boys' basketball team (6-1) had to play four quarters of solid basketball to overcome a tough private school team Saturday afternoon at the Tulsa Memorial Veterans' Arena Invitational. 

The Sand Springs Sandites went undefeated in the festival for the third-straight year, but their competition was far tougher than in previous seasons. The Redemption Life World Institute (3-4) upset 5A No. 8 Collinsville (4-3) on Thursday and nearly knocked off 5A No. 1 Tulsa Memorial (9-0) Saturday before falling 70-68. Sand Springs won their match with the Disciples 71-67, but needed every bit of senior standout Colt Savage's abilities to do it. 

Sevor Blackburn struck first for the Disciples, but the Sandites went on a nine-point run, book-ended by Savage, before Zerek Thomas drained a three-pointer. Savage added a three of his own, followed by baskets from Cole Durkee and Matt Price for a 16-5 lead and the teams exchanged blows before ending the period 20-13. 

Sand Springs cushioned their lead in the second quarter, despite a hot start from Nate White with five-straight points. Savage scored the next three baskets for Sand Springs, one each from three-point and two-point range plus a free throw. Price and White scored threes, Savage made a three-point play, Cale Savage got in on the action with a five-point run late in the period, and the Sandites held a 42-31 advantage as they headed to the locker room. 

The third quarter belong wholly to the underdogs as the Disciples steamrolled the Sandites 20-7 and took their first lead since the opening basket at 51-49. White and Christian Prayer expanded the lead to 55-49 to start the final stanza, but the Sandites reclaimed their advantage with a seven-point run capped by a Colt Savage three. 

Next it was Zack Thomas's time to shine with a pair of free throws and a field goal to make it 59-56 in favor of the Disciples. Davon Richardson hit a free throw, White scored on a steal, Durkee sank a three, then Price scored two more from the charity stripe. Blackburn hit a freebie for the Disciples, followed by a goal from White, but Cale Savage made it 65-64 with a three-pointer for the final lead change of the game. Colt Savage hit two from the charity stripe with thirty seconds left, but it was far from over.

Matt Price fouled Zack Thomas on a three-point shot, but the Disciple only went one-of-three, then Colt Savage scored two more. Zerek Thomas kept his team alive, scoring with 4.8 seconds left, but Colt Savage sank two more free throws after a desperation foul, putting the game out of reach for the valiant underdogs. 

Colt Savage finished with a career-high 35 points and seven rebounds, followed by Durkee with thirteen points and Cale Savage with eleven for the Sandites. Four Disciples broke double-digits. Zerek Thomas had eighteen, White had sixteen, Zack Thomas had thirteen, and Blackburn scored ten. 

Sand Springs will return to action Tuesday with a Frontier Valley Conference matchup against No. 13 Owasso (1-1) at 8:00 p.m. in the Sand Springs Ed Dubie Field House.  

CPHS 71 RLWI 67

1Q CPHS 20-13
2Q CPHS 22-18
3Q RLWI 20-7
4Q CPHS 22-16

Free Throws: CPHS 18-of-23, RLWI 9-of-20.
Field Goals: CPHS 22-of-40, RLWI 27-of-60. 
Offensive Rebounds: RLWI 11, CPHS 7.
Defensive Rebounds: CPHS 20, RLWI 14.
Total Rebounds: CPHS 27, RLWI 25.
Steals: RLWI 14, CPHS 7.
Blocks: RLWI 1.
Fouls: CPHS 14, RLWI 17.

(Sand Springs Stats)
Scoring: Colt Savage 35, Durkee 13, Cale Savage 11, Price 7, Richardson 5.
Offensive Rebounds: Richardson 3, Cale Savage 3, Durkee 1.
Defensive Rebounds: Colt Savage 7, Price 4, Richardson 4, Durkee 4, Minney 1.
Total Rebounds: Colt Savage 7, Richardson 7, Durkee 5, Price 4, Cale Savage 3, Minney 1. 
Steals: Durkee 2, Price 2, Colt Savage 1, Richardson 1, Fisher 1.
Assists: Cale Savage 3, Durkee 2, Price 2, Colt Savage 1, Richardson 1.
Fouls: Price 4, Colt Savage 3, Richardson 3, Cale Savage 3, Fox 1.

(Redemption Life Stats)
Scoring: Zerek Thomas 18, White 16, Zack Thomas 13, Blackburn 10, Prayer 8, Yiel 2.
Fouls: White 5, Blackburn 4, Prayer 3, Young 3, Lako 1, Yiel 1.

CPHS Basketball: No. 8 Sandites throttle Hornets 83-51, Savage scores 18

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The Class 6A No. 8 ranked Charles Page High School boys' basketball team (5-1) took on the Northwest Arkansas Hornet home-school team (9-10) in the second round of the Tulsa Memorial Veterans' Arena Invitational Friday night and overcame a rocky start for a decisive 83-51 victory.

It was less of a game, and more of a varsity on JV scrimmage to begin with. The Sandites ran laps around the Hornets for a 15-0 lead before Daniel Wenger got his team on the board and Aaron Sanders followed it up with a putback. The teams exchanged blows from there and ended the first quarter 21-9.

The second period was a whole different story for both teams as the Tri-State homeschoolers won the stanza 21-16 to cut the gap to 37-30. The Sandites were back to their usual selves in the second half, however, jumping back out to a 48-32 lead in no time and ending the quarter 57-34.

Colt Savage came out hot in the fourth quarter with a layup, steal, dunk, and assist to push the advantage to 63-43. Cole Durkee sank his fourth three-pointer of the night to finish with his third career-high night in the past week at sixteen points. 

Savage led all scorers with eighteen points, followed by Durkee and Davon Richardson with a season-high fifteen. Chase Ammons was the big man for the Hornets with fourteen points, closely followed by Wenger with twelve. 

The Sandites will take on Redemption Life World Academy (3-3) Saturday at 2:00 p.m. in the final round of the invitational as they hope to finish the festival undefeated for the third-straight year. The Tulsa-based private school won't be a cakewalk, however. They upset 5A No. 11 Collinsville (3-2) on Thursday and gave 5A No. 1 Memorial (8-0) a run for their money before falling 70-68. Northwest Arkansas will play Collinsville at 12:30. 

CPHS 83 NWA 51

1Q CPHS 21-9
2Q NWA 21-16
3Q CPHS 20-13
4Q CPHS 26-8

Free Throws: NWA 10-of-15, CPHS 2-of-6.
Field Goals: CPHS 37-of-64, NWA 18-of-51.
Offensive Rebounds: CPHS 11, NWA 11.
Defensive Rebounds: CPHS 23, NWA 18.
Total Rebounds: CPHS 34, NWA 29.
Steals: CPHS 14, NWA 4.
Blocks: CPHS 3.
Fouls: CPHS 16, NWA 6.

(Sand Springs Stats)
Scoring: Colt Savage 18, Durkee 16, Richardson 15, Price 8, Cale Savage 7, Fisher 6, Fox 4, Williams 4, Cason Savage 3, Minney 2.
Offensive Rebounds: Colt Savage 3, Durkee 3, Minney 2, Cason Savage 1, Fisher 1, Richardson 1.
Defensive Rebounds: Colt Savage 8, Richardson 5, Price 5, Cale Savage 1, Durkee 1, Fox 1, Minney 1, Hughes 1.
Total Rebounds: Colt Savage 11, Richardson 6, Price 5, Durkee 4, Minney 3, Cale Savage 1, Fox 1, Fisher 1, Cason Savage 1, Hughes 1. 
Steals: Colt Savage 4, Richardson 2, Fox 2, Minney 2, Price 1, Durkee 1, Fisher 1, Quier 1.
Assists: Fox 4, Durkee 2, Richardson 2, Colt Savage 1, Cale Savage 1.
Blocks: Colt Savage 1, Durkee 1, Minney 1.
Fouls: Price 3, Durkee 3, Colt Savage 2, Fox 2, Williams 2, Cale Savage 1, Richardson 1, Minney 1, Quier 1.

(Northwest Arkansas Stats)
Scoring: Ammons 14, Daniel Wenger 12, Sanders 9, Griebel 8, Harbin 3, Caleb Wenger 3, Skelton 2.
Fouls: Griebel 3, Sanders 1, Daniel Wenger 1, Alexander 1.

CPHS Basketball: Sandites pummel Wichita 84-50, Durkee/Richardson score 15

Davon Richardson goes for a steal in a game against the Wichita Defenders. 

The Class 6A No. 8 ranked Sand Springs Sandites (4-1) took on the Wichita Defenders (7-2) in the first round of the Tulsa Memorial Veterans Arena Invitational and dealt their out-of-state foes a brutal 84-50 loss.

Cole Durkee, who was coming off a twelve-point career night just last week, scored the first three field goals for Sand Springs. The Sandites jumped out to a 5-0 lead, Sam Schmidt hit a basket to get Wichita on the board, Colt Savage scored a free throw, then Jonah Wolters and Kaz Ammons scored to tie it up at 6-6. That was as close as the Defenders would get to leading.

Durkee hit his second three-point basket, Colt Savage scored his first field goal, then Matt Price made his way into the scorebook and the Sandites never looked back. David Brown scored for Wichita. Davon Richardson took a steal to the house then hooked it back to Sandite freshman Marlo Fox who drained a three. Ammons notched a free throw, but Sand Springs went on a nine-point run with baskets from Josh Minney, Cale Savage, and Kendrick Williams before Ammons put an end to the first quarter at 25-10.

Colt Savage started off the second quarter with a free throw, Durkee scored a two, Andrew Martin got Wichita on the board, then Durkee sank a three for a new career-high at thirteen points. Schmidt went off for the Defenders, scoring eight points to cut the deficit to 33-20, Gage Fisher sank his first varsity field goal attempt from three-point range, then David Brown and Wolters cut the deficit to 36-28 before the Sandite second-string got their feet under them. Minney scored his third layup of the night, followed by Williams and another three from Fisher to end the half 43-28.

Schmidt notched the first points of the second half but Sand Springs responded with baskets from Price, Richardson, and Colt Savage to make it 49-30. Wichita went on a six point run, Richardson went on a six point run, Wichita went went on a five point run, then Sand Springs finished the quarter with eight-straight for a 63-41 lead.

Justin Brown and Richardson exchanged two pointers to start the final stretch, then Price scored a pair of free throws and a three to make it 72-45. Schmidt scored his eighteenth and final point to lead all scorers, then the Sandites went on a twelve point run before David Brown sank a three to end the night.

Durkee and Richardson's fifteen points apiece were enough to lead Sand Springs, followed by Colt Savage with thirteen and Price with twelve. All twelve Sandites who came to the game got to play, and eleven of them made their way into the scorebook. Wolters had ten points to put two Defenders in the double digits. 

Sand Springs will return to action Friday at 5:30 p.m. against the Northwest Arkansas Hornets (9-9) while the Defenders will take on 5A No. 13 Collinsville (3-2) at 7:00 p.m. The invitational is played festival style with no bracket and two round-robin divisions. The Sandites will play Redemption Life World Academy (3-2) Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and will not meet the tournament hosts, 5A No. 1 Memorial (7-0). Sand Springs and Memorial have both gone undefeated for first place in their divisions the past two seasons. 

CPHS 84 Wichita 50

1Q CPHS 25-10
2Q All 18-18
3Q CPHS 20-13
4Q CPHS 21-9

Free Throws: CPHS 11-of-22, Wichita 4-of-11.
Field Goals: CPHS 30-of-58, Wichita 21-of-55.
Offensive Rebounds: CPHS 14, Wichita 9.
Defensive Rebounds: CPHS 24, Wichita 21.
Total Rebounds: CPHS 38, Wichita 30.
Steals: CPHS 10, Wichita 7.
Blocks: CPHS 2.
Fouls: CPHS 13, Wichita 18.

(Sand Springs Stats)
Scoring: Durkee 15, Richardson 15, Colt Savage 13, Price 12, Minney 6, Fisher 6, Fox 5, Williams 4, Cale Savage 3, Boyles 3, Hughes 2. 
Offensive Rebounds: Richardson 3, Colt Savage 2, Minney 2, Boyles 2, Cale Savage 1, Durkee 1, Williams 1, Fisher 1.
Defensive Rebounds: Colt Savage 5, Durkee 5, Richardson 3, Williams 3, Price 2, Fox 2, Minney 1, Fisher 1, Quier 1, Boyles 1.
Total Rebounds: Colt Savage 7, Durkee 6, Richardson 6, Williams 4, Price 3, Minney 3, Boyles 3, Fox 2, Fisher 2, Quier 1, Cale Savage 1.
Steals: Minney 3, Price 2, Cale Savage 1, Richardson 1, Durkee 1, Quier 1, Boyles 1.
Assists: Colt Savage 2, Fox 2, Cale Savage 1, Price 1, Richardson 1, Williams 1, Minney 1.
Blocks: Minney 1, Boyles 1.
Fouls: Cale Savage 3, Richardson 3, Colt Savage 2, Minney 2, Price 1, Fox 1, Williams 1.

(Wichita Stats)
Scoring: Schmidt 18, Wolters 10, David Brown 9, Justin Brown 6, Ammons 5, Martin 2.
Fouls: Martin 4, David Brown 3, Josh Martin 3, Schmidt 2, Kip Ammons 2, Wolters 1, Justin Brown 1, Kaz Ammons 1, Mefford 1.

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

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

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.