Balanced scoring and ice-cold free throw shooting carried St. Joseph-Ogden past Bismarck-Henning 53-40 in Thursday's regional final.
BISMARCK - St. Joseph-Ogden turned a dominant first half and clutch free throw shooting into a 53-40 regional championship victory over Bismarck-Henning on Thursday night, despite a 26-point effort from the Blue Devils' Gentry Elson.
Nine Spartans contributed to the scoring as SJO built an 11-point halftime lead and never looked back. Kayla Osterbur paced the balanced attack with 13 points and nine rebounds, while Atleigh Miller added 12 points. Kaitlyn Beyers sparked the offense off the bench with nine points, including three first-half three-pointers that helped limit Bismarck-Henning to just 15 points before the break.
The Spartans sealed the victory at the free throw line, converting 18 of 25 attempts. Osterbur went 7-for-9 from the stripe in the second half, while Ashlyn Miller was a perfect 4-for-4 down the stretch. Their efficiency at the line offset Elson's 19-point second-half surge as the Blue Devils increased their aggression in the paint.
Addison Brooks and Ashlyn Miller each contributed six points in the winning effort for SJO (20-10), which captured its first consecutive regional title after defeating Prairie Central 43-29 two years ago.
The Spartans advance to the Pontiac sectional on Tuesday, where they will face Manteno (26-6) in a first-ever meeting between the programs.
TAGS: SJO girls basketball regional championship 2025, St. Joseph-Ogden Spartans beat Bismarck-Henning, Kayla Osterbur 13 points nine rebounds, Illinois high school basketball sectional bracket
