Enid and Sapulpa defeat Bartlesville teams in district hoops battles
Bartlesville High School’s Sami Sheaffer (15) drives past a Sapulpa player during home action on February 4, 2025. The Lady Bruins fell, 52-49.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
Bartlesville High School’s EJ Belisle (10) goes to the basket during home action against Sapulpa on February 4, 2025. The Bruins fell, 52-50.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
By Mike Tupa
February 10, 2025
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
Despite going to battle at less than full-strength, the Bartlesville High School Lady Bruins nearly notched a key road last Friday.
But the Enid Pacers outlasted Bartlesville, 56-45, in District 6A-4 girls basketball action.
In the boys game, Enid went on a torrid second-half run to beat the Bartlesville Bruins, 78-37.
The Enid Plainsmen (10-9, 5-6) snapped a three-game losing streak and swept the season series against Bartlesville.
Following are more details for these games and Bartlesville games last week.
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Bartlesville High School’s Cadence Gray (11) grabs a rebound while teammate Adrianna Flick (20) looks on during home action against Sapulpa on February 4, 2025. The Lady Bruins fell, 52-49.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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GIRLS: Enid 56, Bartlesville 45
With illness taking its toll on Bartlesville, Enid (11-8, 4-7) split the season series with the Lady Bruins (11-9, 5-6).
As has been the case with other games this season, the Lady Bruins started out strong, fueled by early buckets by Kennedy Nubel and Kenzie Denny to take a 20-16 lead.
The score was tied at halftime, 22-22.
Adrianne Flick opened the third quarter scoring to put Bartlesville on top, 24-22.
But the Pacers then started slowly absorbing the momentum.
A 13-6 run by Enid resulted in its 35-28 lead.
Alayah Lunn and Denny produced crucial points in the third quarter to keep Bartlesville within a single digit, 41-33.
Bartlesville valiantly clawed to within five points, 45-40, on a Denny trey.
The Lady Bruins would get no closer. Lunn, Denny and Nubel scored in double-figures.
SAPULPA 52, BARTLESVILLE 49: A genuine heartbreaker. Lunn ripped two three-pointers in the fourth quarter to push Bartlesville to within a point, 50-49.
But the Lady Bruin offense shriveled up after that.
Led by Nubel (17 points) and Sami Sheaffer (16 points) Bartlesville had battled valiantly the entire game.
Sapulpa led at halftime, 25-21 and clung to a slim lead the entire second half.
This was Bartlesville’s second-highest point total in a loss.
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Bartlesville High School’s Nash Zervas comes down with a rebound during home action against Sapulpa on February 4, 2025. The Bruins fell, 52-50.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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BOYS: Enid 78, Bartlesville 37
Hunter Holmes and Trae Collins both displayed a promising shooting hand in the first quarter, but Enid still romped to a 22-12 lead.
Bartlesville just didn’t keep pace with an Enid squad that scored its season high and posted its last margin of victory for the campaign.
Collins would reach double-digit points for Bartlesville and Holmes would dial in multiple three-pointers.
Jordan Turner added a trey and Michael Kent produced a conventional three-point play.
The Bruins (3-16) came out of the game still seeking their first district win (0-11). They gave up a season high in points.
Bartlesville next travels Tuesday to Northwest Classen (9-11, 4-7) and plays host on Friday to district leader Broken Arrow (20-1, 11-0)
SAPULPA 52, BARTLESVILLE 50: Ouch. Bartlesville pulled within four points, 49-45, on a Kent three-pointer with less than a minute left.
A few seconds later, Collins nailed a three-pointer to make it a two-point game, 50-48. But Sapulpa hit two clutch free throws to make it a two-possession game and put it out of reach. The Bruins scored the final points on a Kent layup.
Nash Zervas pumped in 16 points and Collins added 12 to help power Bartlesville to its highest-scoring output of the season.
Holmes popped in a pair of threes and Hudson Eads made a triple to tie the game, 42-42, with less than five minutes left.
Bartlesville led at halftime, 21-20, thanks partly to two E.J. Belisle buckets.
The Bruins opened the third quarter with a 7-0 run but Sapulpa bolted back to lead, 35-33, going into the fourth period.