Sandites Maul Muskogee 75-59 in Regional Consolation Finals

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For the first time since 2021, the Charles Page High School boys basketball team is headed to the Area playoffs after a 75-59 victory over Muskogee Saturday night at the UMAC.

“It feels great after all the things we’ve been through over the past two years,” said junior forward Blake Johnson.

“We’ve had rough years, maybe not the best talent, but this year we’ve had the talent. We know what we can do. We have coach Savage coaching us hard. We knew we’ve just got to buy in and we can get to where we want.”

The path to Area was even tougher this year thanks to a new postseason format. After beating Southmoore 73-52 on Thursday, in years past the Sandites would have already clinched an Area appearance even though they lost 61-55 to Choctaw in the Regional Championship game on Friday. But this year the OSSAA added a Regional consolation bracket, making the road to State even tougher.

“We’re excited,” said head coach Eric Savage. “We thought all along that we could get to this point and we’ve been striving to take that next step. We’re thrilled to still have the opportunity.”

The No. 13 ranked Sandites (17-9) stormed out to a 17-2 lead against the Roughers (10-16) before Muskogee went on a run of its own and cut it to 22-12 at the end of the first quarter.

Muskogee actually won the second quarter, ending the half on an 11-3 run to make it 34-28 at the buzzer.

“They’re a prideful team,” said Savage. “They kept playing hard and jumping into press and getting up in us. We didn’t adjust to it too well, but we kept our composure and were able to settle down.”

Sand Springs went to its bench early, with 10 different players seeing action in the first half.

“We knew we’d have to go to our bench with the way Muskogee plays you,” said Savage. “Any depth that you can have and support offensively or defensively off the bench this time of year is huge.”

The teams traded blows early in the third quarter but the Sandites finally started to pull away down the stretch, closing on a 10-2 run and never again let Muskogee back within 10 points.

“I thought we really controlled the second half for the most part and didn’t get sped up as much as we did there in the second quarter,” said Savage.

Deke Thompson led all scorers with 23 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals, and 5 assists. The junior Jenks transfer has been a big part of this year’s success in both the regular season and postseason, averaging 19.2 points per game.

“He’s an overall leader of the team,” said Savage. “He was good driving the ball, passing off, and breaking the press tonight. He’s just a welcome player that’s heightened our level of play.”

Khalil Allen was also consistent force throughout the game for Sand Springs, shooting 7-of-8 for 14 points, 10 of which came in the second half.

Allen, Johnson, and Evans have formed a three-headed monster in the paint this year and combined for 24 points and 15 rebounds against Muskogee.

“Energy matches energy,” said Allen. “We just go out there and go strong.”

“One thing we’re really good at is we coach each other,” added Johnson. “We see each other, we see our mistakes…we sharpen each other.”

Sand Springs opened the postseason with a win over Southmoore (11-13) behind 15 points from Allen, 14 from Kason Evans, 13 from Thompson, and 11 from Kooper Kelly.

In the next game, however, the Sandites couldn’t quite complete the comeback against Choctaw after falling behind by 14 points in the third quarter. Thompson scored 19 points and Allen added 14 in the loss.

Sand Springs will return to action Friday at a time and location to be decided in a rematch with Southmoore. The Sabercats clawed their way to a regional consolation title after winning 88-36 against U.S. Grant and 74-65 against Bixby.

“I’d rather not have to play somebody for the second time in two weeks, but we’re happy to be playing,” said Savage.

CPHS 75 MHS 59

1Q: CPHS 22-12.
2Q: MHS 16-12.
3Q: CPHS 18-11.
4Q: CPHS 23-20.
Free Throws: CPHS 13-of-20, MHS 13-of-20.
Field Goals: CPHS 29-of-55, MHS 20-of-39.
Offensive Rebounds: CPHS 14, MHS 4.
Defensive Rebounds: CPHS 17, MHS 8.
Total Rebounds: CPHS 31, MHS 12.
Steals: CPHS 12, MHS 8.
Blocks: CPHS 1, MHS 1.
Fouls: CPHS 18, MHS 22.

Sand Springs Stats

Points: Thompson 23, Kelly 14, Allen 14, Johnson 6, Mitchell 5, Shope 5, Evans 4, K. Smith 3, T. Smith 1.
Offensive Rebounds: Johnson 4, Thompson 3, Allen 3, Evans 2, Mitchell 1, K. Smith 1.
Defensive Rebounds: Johnson 4, Shope 3, Roper 2, Kelly 2, Thompson 2, Allen 1, Evans 1, T. Smith 1, Fueshko 1.
Total Rebounds: Johnson 8, Thompson 5, Allen 4, Evans 3, Shope 3, Roper 2, Kelly 2, Mitchell 1, K. Smith 1, Fueshko 1, T. Smith 1.
Steals: Thompson 3, Roper 2, Mitchell 2, Allen 2, Evans 1, K. Smith 1, Fueshko 1.
Assists: Thompson 5, Roper 2, Allen 2, Fueshko 2, Mitchell 1, Evans 1, Johnson 1.
Blocks: Johnson 1.
Fouls: Evans 4, Roper 3, Allen 2, Thompson 2, K. Smith 2, Johnson 2, Mitchell 1, Kelly 1, Shope 1.

Muskogee Stats

Points: James 16, Thornton 13, Wilkerson 12, Webber 9, #10 5, Payne 2, Harvey 2.
Fouls: Thornton 4, Webber 4, James 4, Payne 3, Wilkerson 3, Beasley 3, Shinault 1.