By Bruce Campbell, Staff Writer
Enid News and Eagle
LAWTON — Enid’s boys may have two things to celebrate tonight when the Plainsmen host Sand Springs at 8 at the Mabee Center in the second half of a girls-boys basketball doubleheader.
One, tonight’s game will be the team’s first home game since Jan. 5, a stretch of 12 straight road games. Two, a victory over the Sandites would clinch a share of the Centennial Conference championship.
The Plainsmen (13-8, 5-1) beat the Sandites (5-14, 1-5) 51-39 on Dec. 8 despite playing the game without leading scorer Chris Fitzgerald.
“We’re ready to come back to Enid and get the home fans behind us,’’ said EHS assistant coach Billy Karr.
The Plainsmen are riding the momentum of a 74-72 overtime win over Lawton Eisenhower on Saturday.
Fitzpatrick had 27 points but his big play was getting a steal in the last 30 seconds of regulation to send the game into overtime.
“He’s done that in about four games,’’ Karr said.
“When we need the big steal or big play, he knows where to be and he knows where the pass is going to be.’’
Enid trailed the Eagles 18-7 after the first period and did not take a lead until the overtime.
“That says a lot of the kids’ character,’’ Karr said about the comeback.
Fitzpatrick leads the Plainsmen with a 24.9 average, followed by Alex Patterson (10.4), Gibson Rose (8.2), Clint Gamble (6.3) and Zach Siewert (2.6).
Rose had a season-high 20 points, including five 3-pointers, against Lawton Eisenhower.
The Enid girls (12-9, 3-3) are riding the momentum of a 39-38 win over Lawton Eisenhower on a buzzer beater by Rani Melvin. Enid came back from a 13-4 first-quarter deficit.
“That was a huge win,’’ said Pacers assistant Robb Mills.
The Pacers are trying to avenge a 45-29 loss to the Lady Sandites on Dec. 8. Sand Springs is 13-6 overall and 4-2 in conference.
“I think our girls are ready for it,’’ Mills said.
“That game was early in the season and we weren’t playing our best basketball. We have gotten a lot of experience against a matchup zone (which Sand Springs runs). We like playing against it.’’
Courtney Chelf leads the Pacers with a 12.4 average, followed by Melvin (7.6), Haley Rasp (6.6) Regan Crowl (4.9), Jayci Wehrenberg (4.2) and Bayli Jones (2.1).
Crowl’s status is not certain after she was injured against Lawton Eisenhower.
