Bench comes up big as Stillwater wins

By Ryan Stewart Stillwater NewsPress

STILLWATER — One name, two players and two clutch performances led the Stillwater Pioneers to a much-needed victory on Friday night.

Junior guard Alex Holt and junior forward Alex Budke provided the necessary spark in Stillwater’s 48-45 victory against Sand Springs in Stillwater.

What makes the collaborative performance of the Alexes all the more impressive is they had to come off the bench to do it.

“Alex Holt and Alex Budke, the two Alexes came up huge for us (Friday),” SHS coach Michael Davis said. “They were great. We wouldn’t have won this game without them and that’s what they’re supposed to do. They’re supposed to come off the bench and give us what the guys out there aren’t giving us. They played their roles to a T.”

Holt provided 11 points off the bench, all in the second half to help the Pioneers overcome a late deficit to earn an important victory in keeping their conference title hopes alive. Budke scored seven points but it was his second-half performance on the defensive end that earned him the most praise from his coach.

Budke had the unenviable task of guarding the Sandites leading scorer Nicholas Tate, who finished with 19 points, but 12 came in the first half before Budke was handed the responsibility of shutting him down. Im the second half, Tate made only one field goal.

“Budke had a little extra role (Friday) because he had to guard Tate and he did a heck of a job on him in the second half, other than him making a couple free throws he really didn’t score,” Davis said.

Budke said drawing the toughest defensive assignment is something that he’s not only used to, it’s something he enjoys.

“They put me on (Tate) to shut him down and that’s what I like to do,” Budke said. “I get to guard great players in our conference and it’s just fun to get that challenge.”

Junior point guard Jordan Pound led the Pioneers with 12 points and tallied double-digit assists. Holt finished with 11 points and Budke had seven with Josiah Woodard contributing six, Jevan Barnett five and Austin Brinker with three rounding out the scoring on the night for the Pioneers.

Holt said the job he and Budke did off the bench did a lot for their confidence while they try to get the rest of the team healthy for a strong push to finish out the season.

“It helped a lot,” Holt said. “And we still have a couple people hurt so when they get back we’ll be even better and have an even better bench, which will be great.

“Our motivation is to win every game from now on in our conference and try to beat Enid and Ponca because they got us the first time around and try to get co-champions or champions.”



Stillwater        12   20  33  48

Sand Springs   12   21  34  45

STILLWATER: Pound 5 0-1 12, Holt 3 4-5 11, Budke 3 1-2 7, Woodard 3 0-0 6, Bennett 2 1-2 5, Brinker 1 1-3 3, Josh Pierre 1 0-0 3. Totals: 18 7-13 48.

SAND SPRINGS: Tate 6 7-8 19, Goggin 4 1-2 9, Barnett 1 4-4 6, Adams 2 0-2 5, Loveless 1 0-0 3, Millikin 0 3-4 3. Totals: 14 15-20 45.

3-pointers: Stillwater 4 (Pound 2, Holt, Pierre); Sand Springs 2 (Loveless, Adams). Total fouls: Stillwater 16, Sand Springs 15.

Fouled out: None.

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