McPherson Stuns Baldwin with Buzzer-Beater to Advance to 4A Semifinals

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In a thrilling overtime battle at the Tony's Pizza Events Center in Salina, the defending 4A state champion McPherson Bullpups kept their title defense alive with a heart-stopping 60-59 victory over Baldwin in Thursday's quarterfinal matchup. Gabe Pyle emerged as the hero, racing coast-to-coast in the final seven seconds to sink a running floater as time expired, sending the McPherson faithful into jubilation and securing the program's record 41st Final Four appearance in state history.

The Bullpups displayed remarkable resilience after trailing by as many as nine points in the third quarter. Despite shooting struggles and rebounding difficulties for much of the contest, Coach Kurt Kinnamon's squad engineered a spirited fourth-quarter comeback, sparked by the dynamic play of cousins Gabe and Jett Pyle. Gabe finished with a team-high 23 points including five three-pointers, while Jett contributed 22 points through aggressive drives and frequent trips to the free-throw line. Ashton Malm added crucial rebounds and clutch free throws down the stretch.

Baldwin appeared poised for the upset behind the tremendous performance of junior standout Cooper Carr, who dominated with 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 steals. However, foul trouble proved costly for the Bulldogs, as Carr and two other starters fouled out during crunch time. Leo Schoenberger stepped up admirably in Carr's absence, forcing overtime with a game-tying layup in the final seconds of regulation and briefly giving Baldwin a 59-58 lead with seven seconds remaining in overtime.

The victory sets up a semifinal showdown with Ottawa as the Bullpups continue their quest for back-to-back state championships.

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