CPHS Basketball: Girls place sixth at loaded Bixby Tournament

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In a tournament so loaded that the defending 5A State Champions only finished in seventh place, the Charles Page High School girls’ basketball team settled for sixth after going 1-2 this past weekend. Their two losses came to perennial Edmond powerhouses, and they won a consolation semifinal game against 5A No. 2 Piedmont.

On Thursday the girls were victimized by unfortunate seeding as they had to take on 6A No. 3 Edmond North (6-0), the defending tournament champions. Journey Armstead scored 14 points in the 47-29 loss, but was the only Lady Sandite in double digits. Laci Steele scored 20 for the Huskies, who won the battle at the boards and came away with more turnovers.

In consolation Sand Springs won 46-37 against the defending 5A champions from Piedmont (1-3) behind a 21-point effort from Armstead, and Darrian Jordan added another 11. The Sandites led 10-3 after the first quarter and 22-20 at the half. Armstead and Hailey Jackson had seven-rebounds apiece and Armstead added a team-best four assists.

On Saturday the girls came back from a 10-6 deficit in the first quarter to lead 21-15 at halftime and 30-28 late in the third against No. 16 Edmond Memorial (3-3). Lexi Hensley tied it up late in the third and Baylor Franz went three-for-three at the charity stripe after taking a foul on the buzzer-shot.

The Sandites never reclaimed the lead but were competitive throughout the final stanza and fell 46-41. Franz led all scorers with 21 points, and was the only Bulldog in double digits. Armstead led Sand Springs once again, this time with 15 points. 6’2” starter Layne Kirkendoll was unavailable for the tournament and the Bulldogs used their height advantage to out-rebound the Sandites 30 to 16.

The Lady Sandites (3-2) dropped from 9th to 12th in the Class 6A coaches’ poll on Monday. They are 1-0 in Frontier Valley Conference play and will look to remain undefeated when they travel to unranked Muskogee (1-3, 0-1) Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. for their last game of 2020. The girls have won six-straight meetings with the Roughers, dating back to 2016.

The varsity boys will not travel with the Lady Sandites on Tuesday due to quarantine protocols following a positive COVID-19 test within the team.

Tournament Results
QF: Bixby 87-27 OKC Storm
QF: Sapulpa 43-28 Edmond Memorial
QF: Putnam City 44-29 Piedmont
QF: Edmond North 47-29
SF: Sapulpa 63-55 Bixby
SF: Edmond North 56-25 Putnam City
Finals: Edmond North 60-54 Sapulpa
3rd Place: Bixby 62-45 Putnam City
Consolation: Edmond Memorial 51-43 OKC Storm.
Consolation: Sand Springs 47-37 Piedmont.
5th Place: Edmond Memorial 46-41 Sand Springs.
7th Place: Piedmont 68-33 OKC Storm.

Edmond North 47-29 CPHS
1Q: EDN 18-5.
2Q: EDN 7-5.
3Q: EDN 9-7.
4Q: EDN 13-12.
Free Throws: EDN 9-of-11, CPHS 8-of-9.
Field Goals: EDN 18-of-51, CPHS 9-of-39.
Offensive Rebounds: EDN 9, CPHS 4.
Defensive Rebounds: EDN 22, CPHS 19.
Total Rebounds: EDN 31, CPHS 23.
Steals: EDN 7, CPHS 4.
Blocks: EDN 2, CPHS 1.
Fouls: EDN 13, CPHS 13.

(Sand Springs)
Scoring: Armstead 14, Wilson 3, Cheney 3, Jordan 3, Tanner 3, Hampton 2, Jackson 1.
Offensive Rebounds: Jackson 2, Armstead 1, Wilson 1.
Defensive Rebounds: Cheney 5, Jordan 4, Armstead 4, Wilson 3, Jackson 2, Hampton 1.
Total Rebounds: Armstead 5, Cheney 5, Wilson 4, Jackson 4, Jordan 4, Hampton 1.
Steals: Wilson 4.
Assists: Wilson 1, Jackson 1.
Blocks: Jackson 1.
Fouls: Armstead 4, Wilson 3, Jackson 3, Jordan 2, Cheney 1.

(Edmond North)
Scoring: Steele 20, E. Papahronis 11, Melton 5, Casaus 3, Heathcock 3, T. Papahronis 3, Robinson 2.
Fouls: E. Papahronis 4, Casaus 2, T. Papahronis 2, Steele 2, Melton 1, Robinson 1, Heathcock 1.

CPHS 46-37 Piedmont
1Q: CPHS 10-3.
2Q: Piedmont 17-12.
3Q: CPHS 15-12.
4Q: CPHS 9-5.
Free Throws: CPHS 16-of-24, Piedmont 6-of-9.
Field Goals: CPHS 13-of-41, Piedmont 13-of-39.
Offensive Rebounds: CPHS 7, Piedmont 8.
Defensive Rebounds: CPHS 19, Piedmont 16.
Total Rebounds: CPHS 26, Piedmont 24.
Blocks: CPHS 1.
Fouls: CPHS 11, Piedmont 20.

(Sand Springs)
Scoring: Armstead 21, Jordan 11, Wilson 9, Jackson 5.
Offensive Rebounds: Wilson 2, Jackson 2, Cheney 1, Jordan 1, Hampton 1.
Defensive Rebounds: Armstead 7, Jackson 5, Jordan 3, Wilson 3, Cheney 1.
Total Rebounds: Armstead 7, Jackson 7, Wilson 5, Jordan 5, Cheney 2, Hampton 1.
Steals: Wilson 3, Armstead 1, Jackson 1, Jordan 1. Hampton 1.
Assists: Armstead 4, Jackson 2, Wilson 1.
Blocks: Jackson 1.
Fouls: Armstead 4, Jordan 4, Wilson 1, Cheney 1, Hampton 1.

Edmond Memorial 46-41 CPHS
1Q: EDM 10-8.
2Q: CPHS 13-5.
3Q: EDM 18-9.
4Q: EDM 13-11.
Free Throws: EDM 14-of-19, CPHS 13-of-21.
Field Goals: EDM 15-of-40, CPHS 12-of-34.
Offensive Rebounds: EDM 11, CPHS 4.
Defensive Rebounds: EDM 19, CPHS 12.
Total Rebounds: EDM 30, CPHS 16.
Steals: EDM 7, CPHS 7.
Fouls: EDM 16, CPHS 14.

(Sand Springs)
Scoring: Armstead 15, Jackson 7, Hampton 6, Jordan 5, Cheney 3, Tanner 3, Wilson 2.
Offensive Rebounds: Wilson 3, Jackson 1.
Defensive Rebounds: Armstead 4, Jackson 3, Cheney 2, Jordan 2, Tanner 1.
Total Rebounds: Armstead 4, Jackson 4, Wilson 3, Cheney 2, Jordan 2, Tanner 1.
Steals: Jackson 4, Armstead 2, Cheney 1.
Assists: Jackson 1.
Fouls: Jordan 5, Wilson 4, Armstead 2, Cheney 1, Hampton 1, Tanner 1.

(Edmond Memorial)
Scoring: Franz 21, Johnson 8, Langenberg 6, Hensley 6, Hjelmstad 2, Hall 2, Hamlin 1.
Fouls: Franz 4, Hensley 3, Langenberg 3, Hall 3, Johnson 2, Hamlin 1.

CPHS Football: Sandites survive Deer Creek 34-29 in first-round playoff

In the first ever meeting between the Charles Page and Edmond Deer Creek high school football teams, the Class 6A-II No. 7 ranked Sandites (7-4) secured a 34-29 win over the No. 9 Antlers (4-6) Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium. It marked their first playoff victory since 2016, and gave them their first seven-win season since that year as well.

The game almost didn’t happen after contact tracing from the Antlers’ previous game resulted in enough quarantines that they were forced to cancel. The Oklahoma City County Health Department reversed its initial decision, however, and cleared the team to play - resulting in a one-day postponement.

Sand Springs, however, was short 27 players due to contact tracing, which helped the Antlers to keep the game fairly close. Despite never taking the lead, Deer Creek scored ten unanswered points in the fourth quarter after trailing by as much as 17 early in the game.

“We had a bunch of kids out,” said first-year Head Coach Bobby Klinck. “We had three of our starting D-line out so we had to adjust some kids and move some guys inside and move a linebacker down. Gabe Brown did an unbelievable job and was just unselfish with doing that for us.”

Sand Springs took the lead on their second possession and never relinquished it. Ty Pennington scored on a two-yard touchdown run, but was stopped short on the PAT run. On their next possession Blake Jones took a handoff from the 9-yard line and fumbled it at the one, where it rolled into the end zone and was recovered by Ryan Shoemaker for the score. Zach Heinen’s PAT kick made it 13-0 to end the first quarter.

The Antlers came charging back in the second period, however, and turned an 11-play 67-yard drive into a 31-yard field goal from Logan Ward. Sand Springs responded with an eight-play 80-yard drive capped by a 36-yard touchdown pass from Pennington to Jacob Blevins for the 20-3 lead.

Sand Springs forced a three-and-out and was driving the field again, threatening from the Antler 38-yard line when Reed Eden forced and recovered a fumble to set up a two-play 43-yard drive. Brett Pense threw a 19-yard scoring pass to Ward, then Ward took a wildcat snap on the two-point play and pitched it to Taylor Tomlin who connected with Pense to make it 20-11.

Sand Springs once again drove the field and got as close as the three-yard line, but Cyrus Scheihing sacked Pennington to drain the clock and avert the score.

Jones made up for his earlier fumble with a 14-yard scoring run on the opening drive of the second half, but Deer Creek was quick to respond. Pense hit Hunter Holley on a go-route for a 68-yard score, then ran in the two-point play to make it 27-19.

Jones picked up a first-down on a seven-yard run to enter the red zone, but was injured on the play and didn’t reenter the game. Pennington scored the Sandites’ final touchdown on an 18-yard scamper and Heinen’s kick made it 34-19.

Then came the Antlers. Eden strip-sacked Pennington on third-and-17 and Andre Bruner scooped up the fumble and returned it two yards for the score. Deer Creek defense came up strong again with a three-and-out, then the offense marched 55 yards and Ward kicked a 25-yard field goal with 5:49 on the clock and three timeouts remaining.

Sand Springs picked up two first downs before stalling out at midfield, and the Antlers had one last shot to rally for the upset. Pense had a run for no gain, then threw two deep incompletions before Landon Hendricks sacked him for the turnover on downs. Tyyee Atkison picked up a first down at the Antler 8-yard line and the Sandites assumed victory formation for the win.

“It’s playoff football,” said Klinck. “That’s a well-coached football team. We’ve got to learn to put people away, but we’ll take it. It’s kind of a different type of playoff win, but any time you can keep advancing into the playoffs it’s a good deal. These kids handled it great.”

Pennington had yet another career night on the ground, running 27 times for 174 yards and two scores, and was 14-of-26 passing for 166 yards and another touchdown. Blevins was his top receiver with five catches for 102 yards and the score. Jones finished the night with 10 carries for 72 yards and a touchdown.

Pense was 17-of-36 passing for 227 yards and two touchdowns and Will Hinton led the Antlers on the ground with 14 carries for 59 yards. Berkley Dalton was the top receiver with six catches for 65 yards.

Sandite Football will return to action Friday at 7:30 p.m. at No. 2 Stillwater (8-0) in their first playoff quarterfinal appearance since 2017. The last time they played the Pioneers was 2015 when the Sandites dominated 49-14 in a first-round playoff road game. Since then the Pioneers have become a powerhouse, losing only twice in three years, both times in the State Championship finals.

CPHS Football: Playoff game vs. Deer Creek rescheduled for Saturday at 2:00 p.m.

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If there’s one thing that’s consistent in 2020, nothing is for sure and plans can change on a moment’s notice.

The Charles Page High School football team was supposed to host Edmond Deer Creek Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the first round of the OSSAA Class 6A-II playoffs, but on Wednesday it was announced that the game had been canceled and Sand Springs would advance to play Stillwater in the quarterfinals. By Thursday afternoon the game was back on, but was moved to Saturday at 2:00 p.m.

The initial cancelation occurred because a player on the U.S. Grant football team tested positive for COVID-19 shortly after the Generals’ game against Deer Creek last Friday. The Oklahoma County Health Department used game footage to do contract tracing and initially told Deer Creek that a large number of their players would have to quarantine, but by Thursday the health department had reversed course and cleared the Antlers to play.

Good news for Sand Springs and Deer Creek. Not so much for U.S. Grant, however, who had to cancel their non-playoff makeup game against Putnam City West. Those two teams, who finished bottom of their districts, had intended to play a game they were billing the “OKC Metro Bowl.” Then again, they do have the freedom to reschedule it for any point up to December 5th if the two teams can put together a full lineup.

When Sand Springs got word that their game was canceled, they immediately went into prep mode for Stillwater, who will play the winner of Sand Springs vs. Deer Creek next week. The Pioneers got a bye in round one. Because the Antlers missed practice yesterday, and Sand Springs was preparing for the Pioneers, they decided to push this weekend’s game back to Saturday to give the teams an extra day of preparation.

So, barring yet another last minute change, the No. 7 ranked Sandites (6-4) will get to host their first playoff game since 2013 on Saturday, and it will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools. Knock on wood. Sand Springs will be making its first playoff appearance since 2017, and the No. 9 ranked Antlers (4-5) will make their first playoff appearance since 2015.

Sand Springs is one of only three schools in Class 6A-II to play a full ten games this season. Almost every other school had COVID-related cancellations. Because of this, a new play-in round was added to the postseason, and schools could opt in regardless of their record.

With a 4-3 district record, Sand Springs would have qualified for the playoffs even in a regular season. But they would be traveling to undefeated No. 2 Stillwater (8-0) for a game in which they would be at least a 20-point underdog. Instead, Stillwater will get a first-round bye and Sand Springs will host Deer Creek, who went 3-4 for fifth in their district.

Sand Springs started the season 4-1 before suffering three-straight losses to Booker T. Washington, Bixby, and Choctaw. They finished strong with a 21-14 win over Bartlesville, and steamrolled Putnam City West 51-13 after taking a 44-0 lead in the first half.

Deer Creek is also peaking at the right time. They went 2-1 in non-district play, just like Sand Springs, but lost four games in a row once district action started. However, in-between those four losses, they had a cancelation against Northwest Classen, who they were the odds-on favorite to beat. Two weeks ago they got a big 20-18 win over Lawton, then they stormed past U.S. Grant 51-6 in the regular season finale.

Sand Springs ranks 8th in offense, 10th in defense, and 9th in margin of victory in Class 6A-II. Deer Creek ranks 12th in offense, 14th in defense, and 13th in margin of victory.

The Sandites are in their first season under Head Coach Bobby Klinck, who holds a 19-16 record in his career. The Antlers are led by Wade Standley, who is 17-22 in his four seasons with the program, and is 64-61 in his career. Both coaches have led their past teams to District titles and State Championship finals appearances.

This will also be a big weekend for the little league Sandites. The 7th Grade team will be playing Union Saturday at 6:00 p.m. at Lincoln Christian High School in the Indian Nations Football Conference Championship, and the 6th Grade Sandites will be playing Metro Christian Saturday at 5:00 p.m. in the Championship game at Glenpool High School.

The Sandites

Junior quarterback Ty Pennington is 118-of-231 passing for 1903 yards and 13 touchdowns with only four interceptions. He also has 148 carries for a team-best 494 yards and 11 more touchdowns.

Blake Jones has 87 carries for 410 yards and six touchdowns, Jamon Sisco has 35 carries for 119 yards, and Tyyee Atkison has 28 carries for 106 yards and a touchdown.

Keaton Campbell is the top receiver with 46 catches for 601 yards and seven scores. Sisco has 29 catches for 574 yards and three scores, and Jacob Blevins has 21 catches for 504 yards and two scores.

Zach Heinen remains perfect kicking PATs this season at 26-of-26, and he is 2-of-3 on field goals with a long of 36. Heinen averages 33 yards per punt, and Greg Reed averages 45 yards per kick.

Sango Whitehorn (78), Landon Hendricks (77), Brooks Dudley (69), and Drake Fain (68) lead the team in total tackles. Hendricks (18.5), Whitehorn (18), and Lane Webster (14) lead the team in tackles for loss. Hendricks (5), Whitehorn (4.5), and Webster (2) lead the team in sacks.

Brycen Peterman leads the team with two interceptions, and Fain, Dylan Sallis, Bryson Chase, Caden Harris, Dudley, and Micah Calico all have one pick apiece.

Hendricks leads the team in fumble recoveries with five, followed by Peterman with four. Chase, Darren Hawkins, Brody Rutledge, Trevor Stone, Dominic Ornelas, Braylon Flores, Conner Light, and Fain all have one apiece.

The Antlers

Junior quarterback Brett Pense is 94-of-198 passing this season for 1,210 yards and 10 touchdowns, with 13 interceptions. He also has 67 carries for 81 yards and two more scores on the ground.

Berkley Dalton leads the receiving corps with 14 catches for 299 yards and two touchdowns, followed by Logan Ward with 18 catches for 252 yards and four touchdowns. Taylor Tomlin has 18 receptions for 187 yards and two scores, and Hunter Holley has nine catches for 176 yards and a score.

Will Hinton leads the team on the ground with 107 carries for 765 yards and five touchdowns, followed by Michael Holley with 45 carries for 214 yards and a score.

Reed Eden, Andre Bruner, Eli Dunn, Asher Blue, and Joseph Davies lead the team in tackles per loss. Blue, Davies, and Denver Hanna have two sacks apiece. Jevion Jones has a team-best two interceptions, and Johnny Osborne has a team-best two fumble recoveries.

Ward handles the team’s kicking duties and is 16-of-18 on PATs this year. He is 4-of-5 on field goals with a long of 42, and he averages 30 yards per punt.

Around The State

No. 15 Northwest Classen (1-4) started the year with a win but canceled five-straight games due to COVID before losing to U.S. Grant. They forfeited their last three games for non-COVID reasons, which disqualified them from postseason competition. They still have the option to schedule a non-playoff game at any point prior to the conclusion of the postseason, if they can find a willing opponent.

No. 1 Bixby, No. 2 Stillwater, and No. 4 Choctaw all received byes in the first round. Stillwater has lost only two games in three seasons, both to Bixby, both in the State Championship finals. Choctaw is riding a four-game win streak, and their only in-state loss was to Bixby when they held the Spartans to a season-low scoring performance of 24-13. Bixby has won 33-consecutive games over three seasons, and is coming off a nationally-televised 70-21 win over Booker T. Washington on ESPN.

No. 5 Putnam City North (7-2) will host No. 12 Bartlesville (3-7), No. 8 Del City (3-5) will host No. 11 Ponca City (3-5), No. 3 Midwest City (6-2) will host No. 13 Muskogee (0-6), and No. 6 Booker T. Washington (6-3) will host No. 10 Lawton (4-4).

CPHS Football: First round playoff vs. Deer Creek canceled, Sandites advance to Stillwater

The first-ever meeting between Charles Page High School and Edmond Deer Creek will have to wait for a future season. The Class 6A-II No. 9 ranked Antlers (4-5) have decided to cancel their first-round matchup against the No. 7 Sandites (6-4) due to COVID-19 concerns.

Deer Creek only had a post-season opportunity to begin with due to a COVID-19-related ruling by the OSSAA that anyone could join the playoffs, regardless of their record, due to the number of district cancelations this season. In a normal year, the Sandites would have been on the road to No. 2 Stillwater (8-0) in their first round game, but when Deer Creek opted in it gave the Sandites a home game.

Now, the Stillwater-Sand Springs matchup will happen next Friday, without the opportunity for Sand Springs to host its first playoff game since 2013. The cancelation could prove to be a blessing in disguise for the Sandites, who would have been shorthanded due to quarantines.

The district as a whole is facing significant uptick in COVID-related quarantines, and as of Friday’s weekly report, 15% of Charles Page High School students and faculty are currently stuck at home. Beginning tomorrow, the district’s secondary schools will be going to Distance Learning for the next two weeks.

Sandite Football players will now have ten days to isolate and ensure that they’ll be available for this huge matchup against the back-to-back State Runners-Up. The Pioneers lead the series 30-12-1 overall, but the schools are tied 1-1 in the postseason. In their last meeting the Sandites rolled to a 49-14 victory on the road in 2015.

CPHS Football: Sandites to host Edmond Deer Creek Friday in Playoffs

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The Class 6A-II No. 7 ranked Charles Page High School football team (6-4) has a series of firsts in store for Friday. They will make their first playoff appearance since 2017, they will host a playoff game for the first time since 2013, and they will meet No. 9 Edmond Deer Creek (4-5) for the first time in school history.

Sand Springs is one of only three schools in Class 6A-II to play a full ten games this season. Almost every other school had COVID-related cancellations. Because of this, a new play-in round was added to the postseason, and schools could opt in regardless of their record.

With a 4-3 district record, Sand Springs would have qualified for the playoffs even in a regular season. But they would be traveling to undefeated No. 2 Stillwater (8-0) for a game in which they would be at least a 20-point underdog. Instead, Stillwater will get a first-round bye and Sand Springs will host Deer Creek, who went 3-4 for fifth in their district.

Sand Springs started the season 4-1 before suffering three-straight losses to Booker T. Washington, Bixby, and Choctaw. They finished strong with a 21-14 win over Bartlesville, and steamrolled Putnam City West 51-13 after taking a 44-0 lead in the first half.

Deer Creek is also peaking at the right time. They went 2-1 in non-district play, just like Sand Springs, but lost four games in a row once district action started. However, in-between those four losses, they had a cancelation against Northwest Classen, who they were the odds-on favorite to beat. Two weeks ago they got a big 20-18 win over Lawton, then they stormed past U.S. Grant 51-6 in the regular season finale.

Sand Springs ranks 8th in offense, 10th in defense, and 9th in margin of victory in Class 6A-II. Deer Creek ranks 12th in offense, 14th in defense, and 13th in margin of victory.

The Sandites are in their first season under Head Coach Bobby Klinck, who holds a 19-16 record in his career. The Antlers are led by Wade Standley, who is 17-22 in his four seasons with the program, and is 64-61 in his career. Both coaches have led their past teams to District titles and State Championship finals appearances.

The Sandites

Junior quarterback Ty Pennington is 118-of-231 passing for 1903 yards and 13 touchdowns with only four interceptions. He also has 148 carries for a team-best 494 yards and 11 more touchdowns.

Blake Jones has 87 carries for 410 yards and six touchdowns, Jamon Sisco has 35 carries for 119 yards, and Tyyee Atkison has 28 carries for 106 yards and a touchdown.

Keaton Campbell is the top receiver with 46 catches for 601 yards and seven scores. Sisco has 29 catches for 574 yards and three scores, and Jacob Blevins has 21 catches for 504 yards and two scores.

Zach Heinen remains perfect kicking PATs this season at 26-of-26, and he is 2-of-3 on field goals with a long of 36. Heinen averages 33 yards per punt, and Greg Reed averages 45 yards per kick.

Sango Whitehorn (78), Landon Hendricks (77), Brooks Dudley (69), and Drake Fain (68) lead the team in total tackles. Hendricks (18.5), Whitehorn (18), and Lane Webster (14) lead the team in tackles for loss. Hendricks (5), Whitehorn (4.5), and Webster (2) lead the team in sacks.

Brycen Peterman leads the team with two interceptions, and Fain, Dylan Sallis, Bryson Chase, Caden Harris, Dudley, and Micah Calico all have one pick apiece.

Hendricks leads the team in fumble recoveries with five, followed by Peterman with four. Chase, Darren Hawkins, Brody Rutledge, Trevor Stone, Dominic Ornelas, Braylon Flores, Conner Light, and Fain all have one apiece.

The Antlers

Junior quarterback Brett Pense is 94-of-198 passing this season for 1,210 yards and 10 touchdowns, with 13 interceptions. He also has 67 carries for 81 yards and two more scores on the ground.

Berkley Dalton leads the receiving corps with 14 catches for 299 yards and two touchdowns, followed by Logan Ward with 18 catches for 252 yards and four touchdowns. Taylor Tomlin has 18 receptions for 187 yards and two scores, and Hunter Holley has nine catches for 176 yards and a score.

Will Hinton leads the team on the ground with 107 carries for 765 yards and five touchdowns, followed by Michael Holley with 45 carries for 214 yards and a score.

Reed Eden, Andre Bruner, Eli Dunn, Asher Blue, and Joseph Davies lead the team in tackles per loss. Blue, Davies, and Denver Hanna have two sacks apiece. Jevion Jones has a team-best two interceptions, and Johnny Osborne has a team-best two fumble recoveries.

Ward handles the team’s kicking duties and is 16-of-18 on PATs this year. He is 4-of-5 on field goals with a long of 42, and he averages 30 yards per punt.

Around The State

No. 14 U.S. Grant (2-6) and No. 16 Putnam City West (0-8) have both opted out of the playoffs and will be playing each other in what is being dubbed the OKC Metro Bowl. The two teams are in rebuilding years, with rosters less than half as deep as most of their opponents. Rather than ending the year with what would likely be lopsided defeats, they have decided to give their seniors a winnable game to go out on, and a trophy has been created to commemorate the event.

No. 15 Northwest Classen (1-4) started the year with a win but canceled five-straight games due to COVID before losing to U.S. Grant. They forfeited their last three games for non-COVID reasons, which disqualified them from postseason competition. They still have the option to schedule a non-playoff game at any point prior to the conclusion of the postseason, if they can find a willing opponent.

No. 1 Bixby, No. 2 Stillwater, and No. 4 Choctaw all received byes in the first round. Stillwater has lost only two games in three seasons, both to Bixby, both in the State Championship finals. Choctaw is riding a four-game win streak, and their only in-state loss was to Bixby when they held the Spartans to a season-low scoring performance of 24-13. Bixby has won 33-consecutive games over three seasons, and is coming off a nationally-televised 70-21 win over Booker T. Washington on ESPN.

No. 5 Putnam City North (7-2) will host No. 12 Bartlesville (3-7), No. 8 Del City (3-5) will host No. 11 Ponca City (3-5), No. 3 Midwest City (6-2) will host No. 13 Muskogee (0-6), and No. 6 Booker T. Washington (6-3) will host No. 10 Lawton (4-4).

CPHS Softball: Sandites place second at Bixby Tournament, upset State Champs

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The Charles Page High School varsity softball team (18-4) made it to the Bixby Tournament Finals Saturday evening at Bentley Fields, besting Collinsville (10-13) and Edmond Memorial (18-1) before falling to Coweta (21-2). Their win against Edmond Memorial snapped a 28-game win streak for the defending State Champions, but Coweta was riding a dominant streak of their own and made it 19-straight against the Sandites. 

Sand Springs beat Collinsville 10-1 and Raegan Rector (1-0) picked up her first win in the pitcher’s circle with six hits, one walk, and two strikeouts. Madalyn Aunko got the loss with 11 hits, four walks, and three strikeouts. Madison Lee scored four runs and JoLee McNally scored four RBI on two hits, including a double. 

The Sandites built a 6-0 lead against Edmond Memorial before giving up five runs in the bottom of the sixth. The Bulldogs had two runners in scoring position but Lee snagged a ground ball and made the play to first to end the game. Aliyah Taff (11-4, 28-15) threw nine hits, four walks, and one strikeout for the win. The Sandites tallied eight hits, including a grand slam from Jaden Jordan and an RBI triple from McNally.

The Sandite took a 5-3 lead against Coweta before once again giving up five runs in the sixth. Nataley Crawford (6-0, 9-2) got the start in the circle and tossed nine hits with one strikeout, but Taff took the loss with five hits and three strikeouts. Coweta’s Tarun Robinson threw seven hits, three walks, and two strikeouts for the win. 

Jordan and Avery Tanner scored on passed balls in the bottom of the second, but the Tigers loaded the bases in the third with a trio of singles and Braedyn Sheofee scored all three of them with a double. McNally scored on a wild pitch to tie it back up and Olivia Alexander gave her team the lead with an RBI double, followed by an RBI single from Lee. Taff struck out the side in the fifth but the Tigers hit their stride in the sixth with a double and three singles, capped by a two-run homer from Kayley Lott. 

Sandite softball will return to action Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. with a district home game against Muskogee (0-11, 0-8), who they previously beat 16-6 in August. The Sandites are 5-2 in district action.