ZAPPING SAPULPA: BHS Bruins surge past host; Lady Bruins suffer setback

One just knew it was a matter of time Tuesday night before the Bartlesville High Bruin basketball guys - fighting exhaustion from playing their fourth game in six nights - pulled away from the Sapulpa High Chieftains.

For three quarters, Sapulpa clung close to the Bruins like metal rust.

But, when the fourth quarter started, the Bruins unshackled their uneven performance from some moments of uninspired play and roared emotionally like a thunder clap, "Enough is enough! Sand Springs shouldn't be hanging around."

During the final eight minutes, Bartlesville's offense blasted the nets with nearly 25 points on the way to a 59-44 win.

In the girls' game, however, the short-handed Lady Bruins displayed some of the inevitable fatigue of playing four games in six nights against some of the state's best talent.

Bartlesville fought valiantly in the first quarter, but Sapulpa - considered by many the No. 1 team in the state on any level - took control and won, 77-35.

Next up, Bartlesville plays host Friday to Booker T. Washington.

Following are summaries of Tuesday's contests.

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GIRLS: Sand Springs, 77-35

Kenzie Denny and Mikka Chambers scored 12 and 10 points, respectively to lead Bartlesville (7-13) in its gritty effort.

For the first time in four games, Bartlesville went to its bench, calling on senior Karlee Joseph to play several minutes. She responded by contributing four points and several rebounds.

Otherwise, Chambers, Grace McPhail, Denny, Emma Zimmerman and Alayah Lunn have played every single minute during that stretch.

Two season starters and a new reserve this year haven't seen action during the four games. but several games remain.

Bartlesville kept it close early, including McPhail scoring to tie the game, 4-4, and Lunn nailing a two-pointer to trim Sapulpa's lead to 9-6.

Mataya Hall and Stailee Heard, meanwhile, fueled the early Sapulpa offense.

Late in the first quarter, Lunn put in a trey to make it a five-point game, 14-9.

But, Sapulpa pushed the lead to 11 points by the end of the first period, 23-12, and never looked back.

Bartlesville turned in a solid effort offensively in the fourth period with Chambers and Joseph both scoring deuces and Denny erupting for eight points.

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BOYS: Bartlesville, 59-44

David Castillo and Michael Sanders III dropped in 23 and 15 points, respectively, to lead the Bruins. Riley Duong added nine points - giving him 20 in two nights - and Aadhi Ayyappan dialed in seven points.

Jack Wahl stirred the cords with his first three-pointer and Caleb Rogers scored two.

Kylen Edwards tallied 15 for Sapulpa.

Bartlesville (7-12) had crushed Sapulpa (5-14) in their first meet, 85-65, back in December.

But, the Bruins struggled Tuesday in scraping away Sapulpa.

The Chieftains tied the Bruins by the end of the first quarter, 11-11.

Castillo scored to open the second period, but Sapulpa snapped back into the lead, 14-13.

By halftime, Bartlesville led by one point, 20-19. The teams continued to trade points throughout the third period; the Bruins led by only two at the end of the third period, 35-33.

"This wasn't a game we wanted to be interesting," Bruin head coach Clent Stewart said.

He praised his team for putting it together, especially Castillo in "finishing at the rim or finding guys for open shots, Riley for three or Mike for a basket."

It grew more gray for Bartlesville when Sapulpa deadlocked the score at 35-35 and 37-37.

Then the Bruins took off - three free throws by Castillo off a deep foul, a three-pointer by Duong, two free throws by Smith and a deuce by Castillo.

Just like that - within what seemed like a rub of the eyes - Bartlesville had blitzed to 47-37 lead.

And, it continued. Wahl dropped in a three-pointer and Castillo made two more free throws to complete the Bruins'15-0 run.

In the fading seconds, Smith cashed in on a three-point play off an assist from Castillo and Ayyappan rang up a two-pointer.

Stewart praised the contributions of Wahl during Bartlesville's four-game stretch the past six days, in which they won three times.

Wahl developing into his full capability, Stewart added.

He also made a comment about the importance of defeating his alma mater Tulsa Union, after coming up short the previous eight seasons.

"I thought we had opportunities in the last to win and we let them slip by," Stewart said. "I'm so proud of our guys to be able to stick together."

Not only was it his first time to beat Union as the Bartlesville coach, but he noted it was also the first win against Union for his seniors.

"It was cool to share that experience," Stewart summarized.

Although he hasn't yet talked to his mentor Rudy Garcia, Union's coach, since the game, Stewart said he received a gracious and touching text from Garcia's wife.

Bartlesville eyes three more regular season games prior to opening the Class 6A regionals. There is some speculation is the Bruins will start the postseason at Owasso or Booker T. Washington.

This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Bartlesville High basketball teams battle at Sapulpa