By KLINT SPILLER

The Hays Daily News

MANHATTAN -- Heading into sub-state, Osborne girls' basketball coach John Boden borrowed a passage from the book, "Our Boys: An Undefeated Season on the Plains with the Smith Center Redmen."

Boden told his players, "This is your book. This is your chapter. Write it how you want."

Boden said the eight seniors on his squad took it to heart and did just that, ending their season with a win in the Class 2A state third-place game at Bramlage Coliseum.

"I kind of stole one from coach Barta, but he is the best in Kansas," Boden said. "The kids really picked up on that. They wanted to finish strong and take that hardware home."

Osborne (20-6) entered the tournament as the No. 6 seed and played all of its games against higher seeded teams.

The Bulldogs upset No. 3 seed Spearville (20-4) 49-41, lost to No. 2 seed Hill City (23-2) 49-43 and ended their tournament run with a 59-56 win over No. 4 seed Berean Academy (21-5) on Saturday in Bramlage Coliseum.

"I think everybody at The Hays Daily thought I was crazy that we were going to come down there as the sixth-seeded team and get some hardware," Boden said.

Osborne senior Megan Burch said one of the team's goals was to play as many games as possible. Though her team wasn't in the championship game, her team was still playing in the championship round, so she said they achieved that goal.

"A lot of people thought we would never be here, and we proved them wrong," Burch said.

Berean Academy shot 46.7 percent from the field, while Osborne shot 44 percent.

Turnovers ended up being a key difference in the game.

Osborne forced 25 Berean Academy turnovers, while only committing 18, and back-to-back Berean Academy turnovers allowed Osborne to take the final lead of the game.

"I don't think our defense has been as good as it has been in the last three games," Boden said. "The seniors helped turn it up and just did an awesome job this year."

Osborne finished with three players in double figures.

Junior guard Jordyn Sturgeon had a double-double. She posted a team-high 12 points off 5-of-13 shooting and grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds.

"I could improve my shooting a little more, but I think I went out and gave it my all for my last game," Sturgeon said.

Burch and senior Katie Wolters added 10 points each. Burch also had a team-high four steals.

Berean Academy was led by 5-foot-11 senior forward Janelle Rust. Rust scored 22 points, shooting 8-of-17 from the floor.

"Before the game, I write everybody's name on the board and give them their assignment," Boden said. "I just kept scratching down Janelle Rust."

Osborne made 6-of-9 field goals in the first quarter and led 14-12.

In the second quarter, the Bulldogs were not quite as fortunate, making only 4-of-20, but Osborne pounded the boards, grabbing seven offense rebounds and giving themselves multiple attempts on each possession.

"I think we knew we had to do stuff to get the job done to win the game, so we went out and gave it our all," Sturgeon said.

Sturgeon had 10 of her 12 points and nine of her 10 rebounds in the first half and led the Bulldogs into halftime with a slim 27-26 lead.

After falling behind 35-31 in the third quarter, Osborne battled back and made five consecutive shots. Sturgeon made the final basket in the paint in the final seconds of the third quarter to take a 41-38 lead.

The teams battled back and forth in the fourth quarter, but back-to-back Berean Academy turnovers led to a put-back shot from senior forward Emily Girard and a fast-break bucket by senior guard Andrea Cady to give Osborne a 53-50 lead with 2:37 remaining.

After Berean Academy responded with a score, Osborne senior Paige Noel drove into the lane and was fouled as she banked a shot into the basket off the backboard to bring the lead back to three with 1:22 remaining.

From then on, Osborne was at the foul line. The Bulldogs only made 4-of-8 free throws in the final minute, but Berean Academy couldn't capitalize missing a pair of 3-pointers and committing a turnover.

"(Berean Academy is) a really good team," Burch said. "It could have gone either way easily. We just played our hardest, and knowing it was our last game, we didn't hold anything back."