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Kansas High School Pulls Huge Upset On Epic Buzzer-Beater After Refusing To Play Basketball

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McPherson Ottawa High School Basketball Kansas Buzzer-Beater Shot Clock
KMCP Radio — Kansas

Our latest installment of ‘high school basketball needs a shot clock’ brings us to the state of Kansas. McPherson pulled a major upset over top-ranked Ottawa on an epic buzzer-beater in double overtime after refusing to shoot or dribble for more than 10 minutes.

The Bullpups stood completely still.

This kind of thing has become an epidemic in high school basketball over the last few years as the unusual and infuriating strategy continues to prove effective. Although I have the utmost respect for any team that chooses to abide by the rules and are willing to exploit a loophole through legal means, it is time to figure out a solution to prevent such shenanigans. We, as a nation, need a shot clock.

For those who don’t know, a large number of the 50 states do not have a shot clock for high school hoops. They are expensive to install, in addition to the cost of an extra official, and there are a lot of coaches who do not believe that it would increase the quality of the product. Good teams would have more opportunities to score on bad teams, which will lead to a greater margin of defeat.

On the flip side of that argument is what happened in Kansas between McPherson and Ottawa during the 4A State Semifinals. Neither team scored a single point for more than 15 minutes. That includes the end regulation, overtime and the majority of double overtime.

The No. 4-ranked Bullpups and No. 1-ranked Cyclones were tied at 46 after the third quarter.

McPherson decided to park the bus not long thereafter. Without a shot clock, teams are not required to shoot, so it held the ball near half-court for most of the fourth quarter. The goal was to ensure it would get the final shot and it did. Both teams missed at the buzzer to send the game to overtime.

Neither team attempted a shot until the closing moments of overtime when the Cyclones missed again.

Overtime was more of the same. The game was tied at 50 with 4:59 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. It was also tied at 50 at the start of double overtime. It was still tied at 50 with 12.1 seconds remaining in double overtime and the Bullpups had the ball. What happened next was electric.

Gabe Pyle hit his second buzzer-beater in as many days to lift McPherson over undefeated Ottawa!

Here’s how it looked on the local broadcast:

Here’s how it sounded on local radio:

The Bullpups defeated the Cyclones by a final score of 52-50 after two overtime periods. The game was tied at 50 with more than five minutes left in regulation. That is way too long without a made basket.

Although some of the issue stemmed from missed shots by both teams in overtimes one and two, it was yet another example of why we need a nationwide shot clock. McPherson held the ball late. There is no rule that requires a shot.

This same thing happened last week, twice, in different states. A high school basketball team in Illinois held the ball for the majority of the first half. A high school team in Louisiana held the ball for more than three minutes after halftime. All during playoff games.

I respect all three schools for exploiting a legal loophole. Their opponents could’ve played harder defense. Both of those things are true. However, this whole thing could be solved with a shot clock.

Grayson Weir BroBible editor avatar
Senior Editor at BroBible covering all five major sports and every niche sport imaginable, found primarily in the college space. I don't drink coffee, I wake up jacked.
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