These kids are winners.
That thought keeps running through my head as I think about Burlingame’s 52-49 win against Centralia in Friday night’s sub-state game at Clay Center.
The Bearcats trailed virtually the entire night, couldn’t grab a rebound against the always burly and physical Panthers to save their lives and missed a half dozen free throws in the final minute. But, somehow, some way, they survive to live another day.
Never underestimate the power of a winning culture. For decades, that didn’t exist in Burlingame. For years, you’d look at a football schedule and try to find a win. These days, the expectation is to not only get into the playoffs, but also make a run.
In basketball, this group of seniors has won 76 games in four seasons and lost only 14. You do the math. That’s impressive. These kids have won several Lyon County League championships, played in two state tournaments and have a shot at a third tomorrow afternoon.
In the previous century, Burlingame played in two state basketball tournaments. This group accomplished that in back-to-back seasons.
The Bearcats weren’t playing a Centralia team that ranks among the best in that school’s daunting history (multiple state titles in football and basketball), but the Panthers are among a handful of small schools that set the standard in Kansas.
When Centralia takes the court, they expect to win. Again, there’s real power in that. And the Panthers, a limited, but tough team, took it to Burlingame for most of the first half, leading by as much as eight points early in the second quarter.
Trailing 28-20, the Bearcats clawed their way back behind seniors Montana Giffin and Trevin Lewis, who combined for 19 points in the first half. Giffin kick-started a run at the end of the second quarter with a jumper, Lewis hammered down his second dunk of the game and Seth Greenwood scored on a fast break to pull Burlingame within 29-25.
Centralia maintained a lead deep into the third quarter behind a dominating performance in the paint. Time and time again, the Panthers crashed the boards for offensive rebounds. When they missed on the second attempt, they were usually fouled and made enough free throws to stay in front.
Daegan Steinlage, who finished with 18 points and 15 rebounds, kept possessions alive with five offensive rebounds in the third quarter alone. Fortunately for Burlingame, the Panthers went ice cold after a fast start from the field, missing 25 of 29 shots in the second half.
That allowed the Bearcats to hang around and pull ahead at the end of the third quarter on a three-point play by Giffin for Burlingame’s first lead, at 37-36, since the opening moments of the game.
The teams traded the lead several times and were tied at 43-43 when Burlingame took the lead for good on a drive by GIffin in the final quarter. Steinlage missed a pair of free throws on the next possession, and Kade Kline calmly drained a pair of his own on a one-and-one for a 47-43 edge with 1:26 remaining.
The Bearcats appeared to have the game in hand in the closing seconds, but they missed six free throws in the final period, setting up a wild finish.
After Giffin hit the second toss on a double bonus, the Bearcats fouled Kamble Haverkamp with 5 seconds left. Haverkamp missed the first attempt and intentionally missed the second, grabbed the rebound and kicked it to the left wing, where Colby Arnold had a wide-open 3-pointer for the tie.
Burlingame’s crowd gasped as the ball traveled through the air for seemingly an hour before ricocheting off the side of the rim and out of bounds as the buzzer sounded. Survive and advance. That’s all that matters this time of year.
The reward for winning? A game against Hanover, who contends for a championship every year and has for two decades now.
The Wildcats’ have built a winning culture that Burlingame is trying to match. This group of seniors, along with the previous three classes, laid the foundation. It’s up to the underclassmen to build on it.
BURLINGAME 52, CENTRALIA 49
Centralia (15-9) 16 13 7 13 — 49
Burlingame (18-3) 10 15 12 15 — 52
Centralia: Steinlage 7-19 3-8 18, K. Haverkamp 3-10 4-10 11, Hauffer 3-6 0-0 7, Arnold 1-10 3-4 6, Quigley 1-6 3-3 5, VanDorn 1-2 0-0 2, Talley 0-2 0-0 0, I. Haverkamp 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 16-56 13-25 49.
Burlingame: Giffin 8-12 5-12 23, Lewis 6-10 0-1 13, Greenwood 3-8 0-1 6, Kline 1-3 4-4 6, Quaney 1-3 1-2 3, Briggs 0-0 1-2 1, Masters 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 19-38 11-22 52.
Three-pointers — Centralia 4-23 (Arnold 1-6, Steinlage 1-5, K. Haverkamp 1-5, Hauffer 1-3, Quigley 0-2, Talley 0-2). Burlingame 3-9 (Giffin 2-2, Lewis 1-2, Greenwood 0-3, Kline 0-1, Masters 0-1).