AREA BASKETBALL: BARNSDALL, CANEY VALLEY, DEWEY, OKLAHOMA UNION, WESLEYAN CHRISTIAN
Dewey High School’s Matney Epperson (10) and Oklahoma Union’s Addie Elms (4) chase down a loose ball during basketball action on Tuesday. The Lady Bulldoggers defeated OKU 51-21.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
By Mike Tupa
Jan. 16, 2026
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS
GIRLS: Dewey 51, Oklahoma Union 21
Dewey dashed out to a 36-10 halftime lead and never looked back.
C.J. Jones dialed in 21 points, followed by Cassie Sneed with 12 for Dewey. Kaci Swan added five.
“Our kids played a good overall game,” said Dewey coach Michael Sanders, who saw his girls improve to 8-6. “Our offense was good and it’s always nice to get everybody on the bench in the game.”
The key to Dewey’s January revival is an increased emphasis on defense, Sanders said.
The chemistry between the older and younger players also is stronger and “we’re putting all aspects of our game together,” he said.
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Caney Valley High School’s Harper Watts (2) moves the ball during an earlier season game. The Lady Trojans are 11-1.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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GIRLS: Caney Valley Lady Trojans 57, Morris 17
The Lady Trojans’ defensive wringer flattened another foe, helping improve the team’s record to 11-1.
This was the sixth time Caney Valley has held an opponent to fewer than 25 points.
Keeping the defensive thresher sharp and well-sprung is a team objective.
“We’ve been trying to tighten up our defense … and trying to tighten whatever weaknesses we have defensively,” noted veteran Lady Trojan coach Deric Longan, who saw his team not give up a double-digit scoring quarter for another of several games.
On the offensive side, Harper Watts, Adesta Henry and Presley Smith each scored in double-figures.
Next up, Caney Valley hosts Dewey in what could be a fierce battle Friday.
Next week, Caney Valley will host its annual tournament, which features a boys’ bracket and a girls’ bracket.
Participating teams will be Caney Valley and its namesake from north of the border Caney Valley (Kan.), Barnsdall, Dewey, Foyil, Liberty, Riverfield and Cleveland.
CV: 14-22-14-7 — 57
Morris: 4-2-7-4 — 17
CV scorers
Harper Watts 12, Adesta Henry 10, Presley Smith 10, Abby Daigle 9, Jaycee Tant 8, Khloe Crawford 4, Faith Davis 2, Sydni Brown 2.
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BOYS: Caney Valley Trojans 51, Morris 46
What does the Caney Valley team and butter have in common?
Both are on a hot roll.
The Trojans (9-3) snapped back from a defeat last weekend to take down Morris for their eighth win in their last nine outings.
But Caney Valley coach Tug Brinker didn’t score his team’s performance exactly as a “10.”
“We did not play very well. … We missed a lot of easy shots. We were behind most of the first half.”
The Trojans rallied to lead at halftime, 24-22, and kept on keeping on.
“We got up by 11 in the fourth quarter,” Brinker said. “But Morris cut it to one point with 30 seconds left.”
One of the team’s standouts Zac Longan hit 4-of-4 free throws during that final half-minute to secure the win.
Earlier in the game Longan nailed multiple free throws. Bryor Bonde scored nine points and grabbed some key rebounds, Brinker said.
Caney Valley will play host Friday to Dewey.
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Dewey High School’s Gage Hawkins (10) goes to the basket during the Oologah tournament last week. The Bulldoggers defeated OKU 73-46 on Tuesday in Dewey.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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BOYS: Dewey 73, Oklahoma Union 46
Dewey boasted up to a dozen scorers to the delight of the home fans in its packed gym.
“We played a good team,” said Dewey head coach Lance Knight. “Oklahoma Union is so much better than when we played them the first time. … We came out and shot the ball well. It was kind of a group effort. … We moved the ball well.”
Dewey muscled out to a 17-8 lead in a competitive fires quarter.
Tra Hicks opened the scoring for Dewey and Austin Eastman dropped in a key three-pointer to cause early separation.
Zack Renfroe tallied multiple baskets for Dewey as did Colten Wickham for Oklahoma Union in the first eight minutes.
Dewey began to pull away in the second quarter, thanks largely to a pair of treys by Eastman and another by Karson Johnson.
Three-pointers fell like a rainstorm with Dewey hitting 14 of them.
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Barnsdall and Wesleyan Christian School players go after a loose ball during Tuesday’s game in Bartlesville. The Mustangs defeated Barnsdall 60-34.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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BOYS: WCS 60, Barnsdall 34
Mustang fans had plenty of reasons to exult at the Wesleyan Christian School Fieldhouse in Tuesday’s 10th win of the season.
“We did a really good job of attacking the rim on each drive,” summarized veteran Mustang head coach Steven Cooks.
Owen Hay harvested 16 points, followed by Wyatt Williams and James Wisdom with eight apiece.
Next up, WCS (10-4) plays host Friday to Owasso Prep.
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