In 1952, Cecil Hankins took over and led the Sandites to another district title but lost 27–9 to Ponca City on Thanksgiving morning in the first round of the playoffs. In 1954, Jerry Adair played QB on Hankins team. He lettered 9 times in 3 sports in his career at Sand Springs High School and turned down a position on the All-State football team in hopes that he would be offered a spot on the All-State basketball team, which he was. He went on to earn a spot in the Oklahoma State University Basketball Hall of Fame. He went on to play Major League Baseball for the Orioles.