Girls Basketball: Norman wins first State Title since 2005, 44-31 against Norman North

They didn’t win their conference. They didn’t win their Region. But when it came down to it, the No. 12 ranked Norman High School girls basketball team (23-7) won the games that counted most, ending the season on a five-game streak for their fifth State Title and first since 2005. To make it extra sweet, the finals win came against their in-town rivals, No. 4 Norman North (22-7).

6’2” sophomore standout Kendra Gillispie led the Tigers with double-doubles in all three games of the tournament. She recorded 59 points and 37 rebounds in the three-round Championship.

The game marked the first State Title for the Central Oklahoma conference since 2015, and the first 6A title since 2012. The conference holds 23 titles overall and sixteen in the top classification. Frontier Valley continues to lead the top-class race with eighteen titles.

The final season rankings proved that polls don’t matter and only thing that counts is a team’s desire to win.

Only four of the top eight-ranked teams advanced to the State Tournament, and three of those four were knocked off in the quarterfinals. Three out of four semifinal teams weren’t even ranked in the top-ten, let alone the top-four.

Top-ranked Putnam West and No. 2 Shawnee tied for the longest win-streak of the season with 22-straight victories apiece. Jenks had the biggest win of the season, 94-11 over Daniel Webster. Sand Springs had the highest-scoring game, 109-39 over Muskogee.

State Tournament Results
Finals: Norman 44-31 Norman North.
SF: Norman 55-48 Edmond Santa Fe.
SF: Norman North 59-49 Mustang.
QF: Norman 59-52 Sand Springs.
QF: Edmond Santa Fe 51-43 Shawnee.
QF: Norman North 41-29 Union.
QF: Mustang 51-50 Putnam City West.

Class 6A by win/loss record
Shawnee (25-2)
Putnam West (23-2)
Sand Springs (21-5)
Union (21-6)
Norman (23-7)
Norman North (22-7)
Edmond North (20-7)
Choctaw (20-7)
Moore (19-7)
Mustang (20-9)
Midwest City (17-7)
Bartlesville (18-8)
Edmond Santa Fe (19-9)
Ponca City (16-8)
Edmond Memorial (17-9)
Deer Creek (16-10)
Booker T. Washington (16-11)
Sapulpa (13-10)
Westmoore (12-11)
Bixby (12-12)
Jenks (11-12)
Southmoore (9-14)
Putnam North (9-14)
Broken Arrow (9-15)
Enid (8-16)
Owasso (7-17)
Putnam City (6-15)
Yukon (6-17)
Stillwater (5-19)
Lawton (3-17)
U.S. Grant (2-20)
Muskogee (2-21)

Top Girls’ Offenses
73.4 Putnam City West
61.0 Jenks
60.3 Choctaw
59.6 Midwest City
59.4 Sand Springs
59.3 Shawnee
59.3 Booker T. Washington
58.8 Ponca City
58.5 Norman
58.4 Moore

Top Girls’ Defenses
36.9 Union
37.1 Shawnee
41.8 Edmond Memorial
42.4 Norman North
43.3 Bartlesville
43.3 Choctaw
45.3 Moore
45.4 Bixby
45.6 Edmond North
45.7 Sapulpa

Top Avg. Margin of Victory
23.9 Putnam City West
22.2 Shawnee
16.9 Choctaw
13.1 Moore
11.9 Norman
10.8 Sand Springs
10.7 Bartlesville
10.3 Union
10.2 Mustang
9.3 Midwest City

6A Conference Post-Season Records
25-18 Central Oklahoma - 3 Regional Champs, 3 Area Consolation Champs, 1 Area Champ, State Champ.
9-12 Frontier Valley - 3 Regional Champs, 2 Area Champs.
3-2 Suburban - 1 Area Champ.
5-8 Big Ten - 2 Regional Champs, 1 Area Champ.
0-1 All-City

CPHS Basketball: Class of 2019 leaves legacy of Sandite greatness

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They never brought home State gold, but the seniors on the 2018-2019 Charles Page High School girls’ basketball team left their mark on the program and will be remembered for years to come.

The Class 6A No. 6 ranked Lady Sandites (21-5) ended the season in a 59-52 loss to No. 12 Norman (21-7) Thursday afternoon at Memorial Veterans Arena in the OSSAA State Quarterfinals. Thus ended the high school careers of six athletes who will go down as one of the best units in school history.

Destiny Johnson will continue her career at the University of Tulsa, Holly Kersgieter will play for the University of Kansas, and Isabella Regalado will play at Northeastern State University. Jacie Taber will also play college ball, but for the Missouri State softball team. Ashlee Bunch and Daniela Solis are also seniors.

The Class of 2019 went 80-24 overall, 45-11 in conference, 12-5 in the playoffs, and 28-5 on their home court. They won two Frontier Valley Conference titles, three Regional titles, and three Area titles, and had two undefeated seasons in the Ed Dubie Field House. They also won the Interstate Classic twice and the Bishop Kelley Invitational thrice.

They may not have brought home the school’s second gold ball, but when they stepped on the court as freshmen, they inherited a program that had gone 25-68 in the four years prior, and they turned it into a powerhouse with an expectation of success.

Kersgieter recorded fourteen double-doubles in her career, leading her team on 42 occasions, and scoring a career-high 38 points senior year against Jenks. Her numerous accolades include Bishop Kelly Invitational MVP and FVC Defensive Player of the Year.

Johnson recorded four double-doubles, leading her team on 31 occasions, and scoring a career-high 31 points junior year against Ponca City. She was the FVC Newcomer of the Year as a freshman and made the Bishop Kelley All-Tournament team.

Regalado recorded one double-double with six team-highs and a career-high 23 points junior year against Jenks. She was named to the Insterstate Classic All-Tournament team as a sophomore.

Taber had one double-double and scored a career-high fifteen points senior year against Bartlesville. Solis scored a career-high four points against Field Kindley as a sophomore, and Bunch scored a career-high seven against Tulsa Memorial earlier this season.

Senior Class Career Stats

Games Played

104 Kersgieter
103 Johnson
103 Regalado
91 Taber
37 Presnell
25 Bunch
20 Solis

Games Started

102 Kersgieter
100 Johnson
61 Regalado
39 Taber
26 Presnell

Total Points Scored
1406 Kersgieter
1315 Johnson
695 Regalado
294 Taber
90 Presnell
26 Bunch
15 Solis

Field Goal %

52.6 Bunch
49.7 Johnson
47.0 Kersgieter
45.5 Taber
32.9 Presnell
32.0 Regalado
25.0 Solis

Three-Point %

42.9 Bunch
36.5 Kersgieter
31.4 Regalado
30.8 Taber
24.0 Johnson

Two-Point %

58.3 Bunch
53.9 Johnson
50.4 Kersgieter
48.0 Taber
34.0 Regalado
30.8 Solis

Free-Throw %

100.0 Solis
75.7 Kersgieter
68.6 Johnson
68.3 Regalado
66.7 Bunch
65.5 Taber

Offensive Rebounds (Avg)

2.3 Kersgeiter
1.3 Taber
1.2 Johnson
1.1 Regalado
0.5 Solis
0.4 Presnell
0.2 Bunch

Defensive Rebounds (Avg)

4.3 Kersgieter
3.1 Regalado
2.7 Johnson
2.3 Taber
1.3 Presnell
0.6 Solis
0.5 Bunch

Total Rebounds (Avg)

6.6 Kersgieter
4.2 Regalado
3.9 Johnson
3.6 Taber
1.7 Presnell
1.1 Solis
0.7 Bunch

Assists (Avg)

1.3 Kersgieter
1.1 Johnson
0.9 Taber
0.4 Regalado
0.2 Presnell

Steals (Avg)

2.2 Johnson
2.0 Kersgieter
1.3 Taber
0.9 Regalado
0.8 Presnell
0.4 Solis
0.2 Bunch

Blocks (Avg)

0.5 Johnson
0.4 Kersgieter
0.4 Regalado
0.1 Taber
0.1 Solis

Fouls (Avg)

3.0 Taber
2.5 Johnson
2.2 Regalado
1.9 Kersgieter
1.7 Presnell
0.4 Bunch
0.1 Solis

Points Avg

13.5 Kersgieter
12.8 Johnson
6.7 Regalado
3.2 Taber
2.4 Presnell
1.0 Bunch
0.8 Solis

CPHS Basketball: Sandites fall 59-52 to Norman in State Quarterfinals

Class 6A No. 6 ranked Charles Page High School girls’ basketball team (21-5) ended their season Thursday afternoon at Memorial Veterans Arena, falling 59-52 to No. 12 Norman High School (21-7).

The Sandites won the first quarter handily, but Norman won the next three and held the lead for the duration of the fourth to advance to the State Semifinals.

6’2” Norman sophomore Kendra Gillispie led all scorers with 29 points and was unstoppable in the paint. Kamiyah Lyons also scored double digits with twelve points for the Tigers.

University of Tulsa-signed senior Destiny Johnson led the Sandites with 24 points, followed by Kansas-signee Holly Kersgieter with a double-double, recording 22 points and eleven rebounds.

Gillispie gave the Tigers a pair of two-point leads early in the game, but Johnson immediately responded to both and Madison Burris put her team out front at 6-4 to kick off an eight-point run. Gillispie broke up the streak, but Kersgieter quickly responded, scoring through a foul for three.

Kelbie Washington netted the first Norman three-pointer late in the first period. The Sandite maintained a 17-10 advantage at the buzzer, but the Tigers came roaring back with a twelve-point run for the 21-17 lead. Lyons made a three-point play followed by traditional threes from Lyons and Christina Shadid and a layup by Gillispie.

Kersgieter and Gillispie traded baskets till 25-23, Padilla hit a free throw, then Kersgieter added her first three-pointer for a 27-25 advantage. Gillispie and Johnson exchanged layups, then Washington scored on a steal to make it 29-29 at the half.

Gillispie led all scorers at the half with seventeen points, but Kersgieter and Johnson were nipping at her heels with thirteen points apiece.

Norman began to pull away in the third period. The teams traded baskets and the lead for the first half of the stanza, but the Tigers went on a five-point run to end the period 42-36.

Kersgieter scored three to start the fourth but Gillispie scored a pair of twos to increase their lead. Regalado came out at the 5:20 mark after her fourth foul. Taber sank a three, Gillispie scored three with a foul, then Kersgieter drove the lane for two to make it 49-44.

The Sandites entered the final three minutes with eight fouls to the Tigers’ three, and free throws would prove costly. Kersgieter and Johnson scored six in a row to cut it to 49-48 before Gillispie broke it up.

Norman went on a four-point run, Kersgieter scored two, then Norman rattled off four more to secure the win.

The game brought an end to the high school careers of Johnson, Taber, Kersgieter, Ashlee Bunch, Regalado, and Daniela Solis. Johnson, Kersgieter, and Regalado will continue to play ball at the collegiate level, with Regalado attending Northeastern State University. Taber will also take her talents to the NCAA, but as a pitcher for the Missouri State softball team. The Senior Class of 2019 made it to the State Tournament three-straight years with three Regional titles and three Area titles.

Norman will play the winner of No. 2 Shawnee (25-1) vs. No. 14 Edmond Santa Fe (18-8) Friday at 9:00 a.m. at the ORU Mabee Center.

NHS 59 CPHS 52
1Q: CPHS 17-10.
2Q: NHS 19-12.
3Q: NHS 13-7.
4Q: NHS 17-16.
Free Throws: NHS 12-of-18, CPHS 13-of-17.
Field Goals: NHS 21-of-56, CPHS 18-of-47.
Offensive Rebounds: NHS 8, CPHS 10.
Defensive Rebounds: NHS 17, CPHS 21.
Total Rebounds: NHS 25, CPHS 31.
Steals: NHS 8, CPHS 4.
Blocks: NHS 1, CPHS 3.
Fouls: NHS 11, CPHS 20.

(Sand Springs Stats)
Scoring: Johnson 24, Kersgieter 22, Taber 3, Burris 2, Padilla 1.
Offensive Rebounds: Regalado 4, Johnson 2, Kersgieter 2, Burris 2.
Defensive Rebounds: Kersgieter 9, Padilla 4, Regalado 3, Taber 2, Johnson 1, Burris 1, Jordan 1.
Total Rebounds: Kersgieter 11, Regalado 7, Padilla 4, Johnson 3, Burris 3, Taber 2, Jordan 1.
Assists: Kersgieter 1, Burris 1, Padilla 1, Taber 1.
Steals: Kersgieter 2, Regalado 1, Burris 1.
Blocks: Kersgieter 2, Johnson 1.
Fouls: Johnson 4, Kersgieter 4, Regalado 4, Burris 4, Padilla 2, Taber 2.

(Norman Scoring): Gillispie 29, Lyons 12, Washington 7, Shadid 3, Parks 3, Mattingly 3, Perry 2.

CPHS Tennis: Sandites place 15th at Jenks

The Charles Page High School boys’ tennis team kicked off the season with a fifteenth place finish at the Jenks Invitational.

Logan Bateman placed twelfth in No. 1 Singles with a consolation win over Henryetta’s Grant Holder. Colby Williams defeated Adam Bodick (Ponca City) and Cory Knox (Henryetta) for thirteenth place in No. 2 Singles.

The doubles teams both took fifteenth place. Aries Howard and Tanner Burgess defeated the Stillwater duo in No. 1 Doubles. Dylan Warren and Hayden Ashcroft received a default from Union in No. 2 Doubles.

Head Coach Drew White was pleased with his team’s performance, calling it a huge improvement from last year.

The Lady Sandites didn’t get to compete due to a Jenks scheduling error, but will kick off the season Saturday morning at Union. The Boys will play at Union on Friday.

CPHS Soccer: Sandites start season 2-0, Saldana and Franco score braces

The Charles Page High School boys’ soccer team is 2-0 to start the season, and has yet to surrender a goal. The Sandites pummeled Coweta 8-0 in their season debut, and defeated Tahlequah 4-0 in a sub-freezing home opener.

Jack Bratcher, Miguel Munoz, Kaiden Cox, Gustavo Saldana, and Angel Esparza scored one goal apiece Friday against Coweta (0-2) and Gustavo Franco had a brace. They also benefited from an own-goal by the Tigers.

On Friday the boys took a 3-0 lead in the first half against Tahlequah (1-1) but slowed down in the second. Gustavo Saldana scored the first goal just five minutes into the match and Fernando Saldana scored on a header ten minutes later.

Cox, Luke Jeffus, Kaleb Brooks, and Jack Bratcher all had close shots on goal in the first half, and Jeffus put his team up 3-0 in the 36th minute. Fernando Saldana scored his second goal in the 50th minute and the teams remained scoreless for the last half hour of regulation.

The Sandites will travel to East Central (2-0) Tuesday at 8:00 p.m.

The JV boys are 1-0-1, beating Coweta 4-0 and going scoreless for a 0-0 tie against Tahlequah.

CPHS Soccer: Lady Sandites tame two Tiger teams, start season 2-0

The Charles Page High School girls’ soccer team kicked off the season with a pair of wins this past week. The Lady Sandites (2-0) defeated the Coweta Tigers (0-2) on the road and the Tahlequah Tigers (1-1) in their home opener.

On Friday they were missing four starters and had to rely on their younger players to grind out a 1-0 win in overtime penalty kicks.

First-year Head Coach Matthew Watkins was excited with the way his players performed, particularly his underclassmen. “Freshman Karsen Lynch battled throughout the game in midfield,” said Watkins, “constantly supplying support to the battered back line, and creating combination plays to move the ball forward.”

He also praised sophomore forward Elizabeth Horn and sophomore goalie Ali Day. “Lizzy Horn was outstanding in her first returning game as a Sandite since injury last season. Her tireless efforts wore down Coweta’s back line.”

Horn, Lynch, Elizabeth Watts, and Josie Gelsthorpe all netted PKs in overtime.

On Tuesday the Lady Sandites won their home opener 3-0. While Tahlequah played solid defense, their forwards were only able to get off a handful of shots and most of the match was spent on the Tiger side of the field.

Arial Esparza scored the opening goal in the 13th minute of the match and Baylee Metcalfe gave her team a 2-0 advantage before the half. Lynch scored the third goal in the 75th minute.

Sand Springs will return to action Thursday at the Edison Green and White Tournament in Tulsa.

The JV girls are 2-1-2 on the season. They went scoreless for 0-0 ties against both Coweta and Tahlequah. At the Mannford JV Tournament they lost 6-0 to Union, but defeated Tulsa Rogers 2-0 and Drumright 2-1.