‘We’re champs’: With the help of Abby Ogle, Baldwin defeats Andale in state title game

EMPORIA–Even when it seemed like Abby Ogle might not have been able to go much longer, she kept pushing.

Ogle left the court twice in the fourth quarter of Baldwin’s biggest game of the season: the Class 4A-DII state championship against Andale. She left the first time after she fell on a drive to the basket and bumped her head with an Andale player’s knee. The second time, it was because of a cut on her arm.

But Baldwin couldn’t afford to lose her. Just like Friday night in the semifinal against Hugoton, Ogle was the Bulldogs’ hottest scorer.

She produced more than half of Baldwin’s points in the second half, but the Bulldogs still had to fight off a surging Indians team that was within three points in the closing minutes after falling behind by as many as 12.

“My thinking was, the second time (Ogle left), we had three timeouts to wait for her to get back,” said Baldwin girls basketball coach Bob Martin with a laugh. “If we had to use them all, we would have used them all.”

But it never came to that for Martin.

Ogle returned to action after both incidents and helped Baldwin seal a gritty, 58-57 win over Andale to win the state championship.

“It’s just awesome that we made it,” said Ogle, who finished with a game-high 22 points. “This is what we’ve been working for the entire year, and we finally got it. It’s just really exciting.”

Ogle, a senior on the team, said nothing would have kept her from returning to the final game of her high school career.

“It scared me,” Ogle said on having to leave the game twice. “I was like, ‘I can’t go out right now, because I’m the one bringing the ball down the court, and I’m helping us get it in (the basket).'”

When her team needed her in the most crucial, final possession of the game for the Bulldogs, Ogle delivered.

With less than 25 seconds to play and Baldwin clinging to a 57-54 lead, Ogle brought the ball up the court and dribbled in circles around three Andale players before she passed to an open McKinley Markley, who was fouled with 3.8 seconds left.

The Bulldogs (24-1) ultimately put the game out of reach after Markley made her second free throw.

Andale senior Rachel Bergkamp nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer on the next possession, but Baldwin was already celebrating.

“We’re all very excited,” said Baldwin junior Kate Ogle. “(It felt like) we cried more than the other team because we were sad to let our seniors go, but more excited to come out with the win.”

Kate’s sister Abby is a member of the senior class that includes Reilly Stewart, Kailee Johnson, Alexia Nelson and Markley.

Although Abby can say she finished her high school career a state champion, the win also came with plenty of emotions.

“It’s bittersweet, but it’s also really sweet,” Abby said. “I’m never going to be able to play with these girls again, unless we end up at the same college or something. Like my sister, I’ve been playing with her since we were like 4, and now we’re done.”

One Bulldog that will greatly miss the senior Ogle is junior Carly Lindenmeyer, who scored eight points against the Indians.

“Abby’s just wonderful,” Lindenmeyer said. “She’s a wonderful player, a wonderful friend. Her heart is bigger than anyone I know. She might not start out strong right away, but you know she’s going to come in and she’s going to fight. She’s the heart of our team and she’s our inspiration.”

After Ogle was held to six points in the first half, she scored 16 of Baldwin’s 28 second-half points. It was an effort that left a lasting mark on her career at Baldwin.

“When I got out of my own head and started playing my game, I did what I do best,” Ogle said.

And with the help of Ogle’s performance, Baldwin secured its first title since 1996.

“It was an emotional game the whole night,” Martin said. “Both teams were really competing. It was a pretty physical game, and fortunately we were able to get it done. We’re champs.”

Andale (57)

Katelyn Fairchild 4-6 2-3 11, Bria Gutschenritter 5-7 5-8 15, Maggie Knoblauch 1-10 3-4 5, Macie Eck 1-5 0-0 2, Morgan Geist 2-4 0-8 4, Rachel Bergkamp 3-7 0-0 8, Tyler Winter 0-4 4-4 4, Morgan Bruna 0-0 1-2 1, Sophie Easter 2-7 1-2 7. Totals 18-50 16-31 57.

Baldwin (58)

Reilly Stewart 1-8 0-0 3, Carly Lindenmeyer 3-7 2-4 8, Abby Ogle 9-16 4-6 22, Kayla Kurtz 2-5 3-4 7, Kate Ogle 2-8 3-4 7, Macey Frost 0-0 0-0 0, McKinley Markley 2-3 4-6 9, Rian Gere 1-3 0-0 2, Kailee Johnson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-50 16-24 58.

Andale 10 16 8 23–57

Baldwin 12 18 12 16–58

3-point goals: Andale 5-17 (Bergkamp 2, Easter 2, Fairchild); Baldwin 2-14 (Stewart, Markley). Fouled out: Fairchild, Knoblauch, Frost. Turnovers: Andale 15, Baldwin 16.