Game Report: Sand Springs vs. Edmond Memorial

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If the OSSAA did preseason rankings, there's a good chance that Edmond Memorial would have been somewhere near the top of the 6A rankings going into this match-up. There's also a chance that Sand Springs wouldn't have been too high. Just being honest. I think everybody involved in the game would have said the same thing. Oklahoma State Head Coach Jacie Hoyt and Arkansas Head Coach Mike Neighbors, who were in attendance, probably would have said the same thing going in. Sand Springs was missing some key players and Edmond Memorial is loaded with D-I talent. But... that's why you play the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Sandites jumped out to a 25-12 halftime lead and I tweeted out that Sand Springs' [player_tooltip player_id='781793' first='Sakauri' last='Wilson'] was beating the Bulldogs by seven at the half. She had scored 19 at the half and ended the game with 26. Memorial made a bit of a comeback, but in the end, just could not get any shots to fall all night long. Sand Springs and new head coach Joshua Berry defended home court with an opening night 41-33 victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Star of the Game:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["781793"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":814389,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The u0022Star of the Gameu0022 was obvious from the outset. Her 13 first quarter points got the Sandites out to a hot start and they never trailed. I said yesterday in the team preview for Sand Springs that everything ran through Kauri and that was no lie. She was the majority of the offense on Tuesday night with several teammates hurt and no matter what the Bulldogs did defensively, they could not contain her. The SWOSU commit hit four three-pointers and was 8-of-10 from the free throw line on a night that saw her show off her fearlessness and outstanding drive. Wilson was phenomenal and is undoubtedly going to be a tremendous college player.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65679a3f0108d"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Standouts:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["751199"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":814385,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Tianna was an integral part of what the Sandites did defensively to slow down the Bulldogs and she played a wonderful game. The freshman stood out in her first high school game with some big time coaches in the house. Though she u0022onlyu0022 scored one point from a free throw, the coaches and scouts know that she was just as valuable to the big picture as Wilson was. She racked up the rebounds and blocks with her long arms and outstanding hops. She played physically at both ends and absolutely disrupted the Memorial offense. They never got into a rhythm and Tianna was a big part of that. Butler is a big-time prospect and I am so excited to see her development over the next several years.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["238726"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Addy was the best player for Memorial on Tuesday night and it wasn't even close. She was the one doing all of the little things for the Bulldogs and she never stopped. Johnson is a soccer commit to UTSA and the toughness it takes to play soccer at the D-I level was on full display as she repeatedly put herself in harms way, diving on the floor, stepping in front of driving players. It was clear to see that Addy wanted it. More than that, while Sand Springs and their defense worked very hard to get Edmond Memorial out of rhythm and limit their passing, Johnson continued to work within her coach's game plan. She ended the night with six points, four in the fourth quarter.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":814397,"_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Patience Pearce","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"12122","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Sand Springs","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Patience was a standout at the scrimmages last week for her work-ethic and against Edmond Memorial her ability to defend multiple positions was key in helping the Sandites stave off a second-half comeback. With [player_tooltip player_id='781793' first='Sakauri' last='Wilson'] doing almost all of the scoring, it was up to everyone else to play their part and that is exactly what Patience did. She is a tall, strong player who showed very good quickness and lateral movement. I was surprised when she stepped out to the top of the arc and did a really good job of guarding some of the best prospects in the state. She hit both of her free throws in her limited offensive action, but Pearce is a tremendous defensive stopper and could be a nice fit for a college coach who values hard work above all.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["309983"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_player_featured_image":814402,"_player_evaluations_3_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"It would be a shame to not write about the player that all of the D-I coaches were most likely there to see last night. Though none of her shots were falling, there were flashes of what makes Janiyah one of the best players in the country. The ease with which she rises up and hits her midrange jumper is unlike many other players in the state and it's easy to see why coaches from schools like Duke, Tennessee, and every in-state D-I are vying for her signature. She is extremely athletic and though she may have had an off night, she ended up with 11 points and probably double-digit rebounds. Most people would take that any night.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["315217"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_player_featured_image":814387,"_player_evaluations_4_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"I would also be remiss if I didn't talk about the other top prospect in the game who had an off night. The recipient of most of the foul calls from [player_tooltip player_id='781793' first='Sakauri' last='Wilson']'s vicious drives into the paint, Avery was not able to stay on the court too long in the first half. She ended up with eight points, but like Williams, she showed flashes of the ability that has her in the conversation of nationally ranked basketball prospects. Hjelmstad is tall and long and can jump out of the gym. Her shooting has improved drastically and over the last year or so her recruitment has absolutely blown up with recent visits to Duke, Utah, and Oklahoma State.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65679a3f01304"} /-->