Back in the early 2000s, Sara (Bos) Barnhart helped put the Billings High School girls basketball program on the map, and then went on to help the Drury Lady Panthers enjoy success.
Now her efforts are being recognized by the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in its upcoming Basketball Tipoff Luncheon presented by Mercy. Barnhart is among the Filbert Five, a group of former high school, college and professional basketball players. The Filbert Five is named in honor of the late Gary Filbert, a Missouri high school and college basketball coach who, in 2011, was bestowed the Hall’s highest honor, the Missouri Sports Legend award.
The luncheon is at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 10 at the University Plaza Convention Center in Springfield. For tickets, call 417-889-3100.
“I had a great high school experience and enjoyed my time at Drury University very much,” Barnhart said. “I couldn’t have asked for better coaches along the way: Vicki Spivy, Nyla Milleson, Trish Marsh and Carly Deer-Stubblefield. I am so thankful to have gotten to play basketball in southwest Missouri, the powerhouse of women’s basketball.”
When Barnhart graduated from Billings High School in 2005, she was the school record holder in almost every category, including points scored (2,016). The 6-foot-1 center was a four-year starter, a two-time first team All-State selection, an All-Ozarks pick as a senior and the Southwest Central League MVP. She also was all-conference first team all four years. Additionally, Barnhart was a nominee for both the McDonald’s High School All-America and Miss Show-Me Basketball. Billings, which won three district championships in her time there, has since retired her jersey.
Barnhart went on to NCAA Division II powerhouse Drury. The team reached the Elite Eight during her freshman year. She also started 32 games as a junior on the Lady Panthers 2008 team that reached the D-II Tournament regional semifinal and finished 28-4.
“My most memorable moment would have to be going to the Elite Eight my freshman year in college. I remember the game to clinch our spot so well because, in the last 10 seconds, I stole the ball — I was a freshman, mind you — and I easily could have went in for a lay-up, but decided to use my better judgment to pull it out and wait for the time to expire,” Barnhart said. “After cutting down the nets and celebrating, we went into the locker room, where Nyla Milleson planted a huge kiss on my cheek thanking me for pulling the ball back out and not going in for the lay-up.”
The Basketball Tipoff Luncheon includes the induction of Parkview High School’s Jolly Green Giants of 1964 to 1966; Missouri State’s 1952 and 1953 NAIA national championship men’s basketball teams; former Lady Bears standout Karen Rapier; and high school/college coach Gary Stanfield.
The Filbert Five men’s team features Chris Harville (Rogersville/Missouri State), Steven Hill (Branson/Arkansas), Sam Singh (Ozark/Bradley), Mark Sparks (Neosho/Mizzou/Drury) and Kevin Williams (Nevada/Mizzou).
The Filbert Five women’s team consists of Laura Granzow Buetow (Kickapoo/Denver/Canisius), Sara Bos Barnhart (Billings/Drury), Alyson Young Hooten (Rogersville/Avila), Anita Rank Oplotnik (Lincoln/Missouri Southern) and Terianne Wolford Brown (Nixa/Mizzou).
Tickets for the luncheon are $40. A table of eight is $400 and includes associate sponsorship recognition in the printed program. A head table ticket is $100. For tickets, call the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame at 417-889-3100.