In state tournament, Barstow comes up short on last shot against Pembroke

By Max Goodwin

For the second straight game in the Missouri State Class 4 boys basketball tournament, Pembroke Hill ended the season of a south Kansas City area team. This time it was Barstow who fell to Pembroke, again by just one point, 42-41.

Senior Emmett Pearce got off the last shot for Barstow, a runner from just inside halfcourt that missed. Barstow finished the season with an 11-13 overall record. Barstow was coming off a previous season in 2020-21 when the Knights made it to the final four of the Class 4 state tournament.

Pembroke will advance to the quarterfinal round despite two close calls, including the District 14 championship game against Center that Pembroke appeared to have lost after a turnover with just 1.4 seconds left. But a technical foul called on fans that went against Center gave Pembroke two free throws. They made both and now here they are in the quarterfinals. 

With Pembroke leading 42-40 and 5 seconds left in the game, Barstow was fouled on a three-point shot and sent to the free throw line. Barstow made only the second of three shots and then fouled to stop the clock, sending Pembroke to the line down one, 42-41. Pembroke missed, Barstow rebounded and called timeout to set up its final shot.

That’s when Pearce caught the ball, turned, and dribbled through the Pembroke defense to find an open shot just beyond half court.

Pembroke will face Richmond High School at Blue Springs High School, Saturday at 2:45 p.m., for the quarterfinal round of the Missouri Class 4 state tournament.