Players watch as Shea Rush’s final shot is off the mark (screenshot via Twitter@Missourisports)
Barstow’s Shea Rush intentionally missed his second free throw attempt with 2.5 seconds remaining in the 2016 Class 3 Boys Final in the MSHSAA Show-Me Showdown. Rush got his own rebound, but his final shot hit the back iron and Father Tolton-Columbia held on for a 62-60 win in front of an estimated 10,000 fans at Mizzou Arena on Saturday afternoon.
The Trailblazers won their first state championship, while Barstow played in the game for the third straight year with one title (2015) to their name.
Michael Porter Jr., the number three rated junior in the country, and Jeriah Horne, headed to Nebraska next year, put on a show. Between the two, they combined for 70 of the game’s 122 points and 36 of the game’s 70 rebounds.
Watch the final 2.5 seconds
Barstow’s Horne led all scorers with 39 points and was 4-of-6 from three point range. It appeared as though the Knights’ plan was to hit outside shots and avoid going inside on the 6’9 Porter Jr. and 6’10 Jontay Porter. The rest of the Barstow team went 1-of-15 from three point range.
Porter Jr. had a handful of dunks and finished with 31 points and 19 rebounds.
Tolton led by as many as 11 in the final minute of the third quarter, but both Porters fouled out. Tolton also had trouble against Barstow’s defense as the Trailblazers turned the ball over 17 times.