Kersgieter shines as No. 5 Lady Sandites hammer 5A No. 4 Shawnee 60-28

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

1Q Shawnee 13-12
2Q Sand Springs 20-5
3Q Sand Springs 14-8
4Q Sand Springs 14-4

Scoring: (Sand Springs) Kersgieter 12, Johnson 12, Pennington 11, McGee 10, Mutiri 6, Regalado 6, Taber 2, Boaz 1. (Shawnee) Tramble 11, Bonner 4, Tarpey 4, Kasterke 4, Rice 3, Palmore 2.

(Sand Springs only)
Offensive Rebounds: Regalado 2, Taber 2, Johnson 1, McGee 1, Kersgieter 1, Mutiri 1
Defensive Rebounds: Kersgieter 4, Regalado 4, McGee 3, Johnson 2, Pennington 2, Mutiri 1, Taber 1, Bunch 1. 
Steals: Kersgieter 5, Johnson 5, McGee 2, Pennington 2, Mutiri 2, Taber 2
Assists: Kersgieter 4, Pennington 2, Johnson 1, Regalado 1, Grant 1
Fouls: Mutiri 3, Regalado 2, Pennington 2, Johnson 2, McGee 1, Kersgieter 1, Taber 1.

The No. 5 ranked Charles Page High School Girls Basketball team (4-0, 2-0) continued their undefeated start to the season with a lopsided semifinal victory in the Bishop Kelley Invitational semifinals over 5A No. 4 Shawnee (2-2). 

Sand Springs needed the first period to stretch their legs and were neck and neck throughout. The Sandites were down 11-7 when sophomore Isabella Regalado scored a three mere seconds after coming into the game. Sophomore starter Destiny Johnson sank a pair of free throws to take the brief lead, but a two-point basket from Kyla Tarpey gave the Lady Wolves a 13-12 lead after the first period. It would be their final lead of the game.

Sophomore Holly Kersgieter sank a two after a rebound and long pass from Johnson to start the second quarter, then rebounded and sent a long pass to Oklahoma State Softball-signed senior Sydney Pennington in a replay of the previous score. Kersgieter added another two off a steal and layup before the Wolves got back into the game with a free throw from Logan Bonner. 

Ohio State volleyball-committed junior Gloria Mutiri posted her second score of the night, followed by another Pennington basket and Kersgieter assist. Pennington drew a foul on the score and sank her free throw to make it 23-14, then followed it up with a midcourt steal and layup. 

Mutiri and senior Kierra McGee sank a series of free throws, then McGee hit a two on a steal and assist by Kersgieter to make it 30-14. Makyra Tramble hit a two shortly before the end of the half, Johnson responded with a goal of her own, but Ashley Kasterke got the final points of the half on a pair of free throws to make it 32-18.

Sand Springs opened the third quarter with an eight-point run, capped by a steal and layup from Johnson, before Tramble broke things up with a two. McGee responded with a two, then Kersgieter added a two and a pair of free throws to make it 46-20. Kasterke scored two of her own from the charity stripe and Makaila Palmore sank a two to make it 46-24 going into the final stanza.

Tramble started things off with a three, followed by a freebie from Kasey Rice, but those would be the last points of the game for the Lady Wolves. Johnson and McGee each sank a pair of free throws, Kersgieter and McGee hit twos, Bailey Boaz sank a freebie, Regalado hit a three, and Jacie Taber sank a two for a final score of 60-28.

This was the third straight game that the Lady Sandites would win by a 30-point margin. Sand Springs will return to action Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m. in the Championship round against No. 13 Norman North (3-0) in a battle of the undefeated. Norman North defeated 5A unranked Edison Prep (0-2) in the first round, then topped 5A No. 3 Claremore (3-1) in the semifinals.