Liberty, Mo. ? It wasn’t until Jacob Gilyard’s full court heave fell short at the final buzzer that Free State’s boys basketball players could let out a collective sigh of relief.

Despite leading by as many as 10 to start the fourth quarter, Free State was battle-tested throughout in the team’s season opener before coming away with a narrow 56-53 victory over Barstow (Mo.) at Liberty (Mo.) High on Saturday.

“I told the guys that there were moments that we looked good,” coach Sam Stroh said. “But there were moments we looked sloppy. But that’s expected in Game One. I thought overall, we executed and found a way to finish them off.”

At multiple stages, the Firebirds appeared poised to cruise to a victory, only to have the Knights (0-1, ranked No. 1 in Class 3) claw right back.

But Saturday’s competitive clash in the 810 Varsity Tipoff Classic may have just been the best possible outcome for a team still developing its identity. Last year, Free State began its season with a 80-37 rout over AC Prep, before falling in overtime in the sub-state title game to end its campaign.

“Last year I don’t think that helped us get any better in our first game,” senior Jacob Pavlyak said. “It was more just a win to get a win out of the way. But this was good to play a team like Barstow. That way we can have that competition and get used to that. Because that’s what we are going to see the rest of the year.”

This time around, the sixth-ranked Firebirds got their money’s worth in their 2016-17 debut.

Barstow fell just short in the Class 3 Missouri state title game last year. And even though the Knights lost a pair of Div. I players, they have a chance to make another postseason run on the shoulders of Richmond commit, Gilyard.

Stroh had a few different players attempt to disrupt the 5-foot-8 guard, who tallied 29 points on 25 shots from the floor. Pavlyak got the bulk of the defensive assignment, but junior Avant Edwards along with seniors Jay Dineen and Shannon Cordes each got their turn as well.

“The game plan was to make him earn what he got,” Stroh said. “I don’t know if we will see another point guard like him for the rest of the year.”

Free State jumped out to a 16-14 advantage in the opening quarter, but led by as many as five following a fast break dunk by senior Cameron Clark. Midway through the second quarter the lead increased to seven.

But then GIlyard took over in the closing minutes of the first half. Gilyard went on an 8-0 run by himself over the final three minutes, giving Barstow a 29-28 lead at the intermission. Pavlyak chalked the firs half up to early season jitters, though, he was quick to credit the opposition.

“He’s great, that’s one of the best players that I have ever guarded,” Pavlyak said. “I’m mostly impressed with his defense. He had at least 10 steals. That’s where he got most of his points. His defense was even better than his offense.”

However, with Firebirds left the early season jitters behind them in the first half and churned out an 18-point third quarter including a 12-1 run to open the half. Of those 12 points, six were recorded by Pavlyak, who ended up with 13 points, which would tie Cordes for a team-high.

On the defensive end, FSHS held Gilyard to just two total shots from the floor in the third period. The lead increased to double digits.

“I thought we did a better job in the second half containing Jacob,” Stroh said. “Basically wherever the ball was, he was around it. He found ways to get in the passing lane. We have to a better job seeing him.”

Barstow made one last run in the final period but this time Free State could stave off the comeback attempt.

The Firebirds benefited by their work on the free throw line. They knocked down 17 of their 22 attempts from the charity stripe, compared to the Knights’ 8-of-11 effort.

“We have been working on free throws in practice,” Pavlyak said. “We actually haven’t been very good in practice. That’s a surprise to me. The other day we all shot two free throws and I think we shot 50 percent as a team.”

Free State will play host to Blue Valley West at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Free State (56)

Garrett Luinstra 1-4 4-4 7, Sloan Thomsen 2-9 2-2 6, Jacob Pavlyak 5-6 1-2 13, Shannon Cordes 4-9 3-5 13, Cameron Clark 1-4 0-0 2, Simon McCaffrey 0-2 0-0 0, Jay Dineen 2-5 4-6 8, Jalan Robinson 2-4 3-3 7, Avant Edwards 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 17-44 17-22 56.

Barstow (53)

Jonah Horne 1-6 0-0 2, Jonathan Felton 0-1 0-2 0, Rigley Nuss 1-7 0-0 3, Spencer Walz 2-6 4-4 8, Jacob Gilyard 11-25 4-5 29, Matthew Bruce 0-1 0-0 0, Louis Christifano 3-4 0-0 9. Totals 18-46 8-11 53.

Free State 16 12 18 10 — 56

Barstow 14 15 7 17 — 53

Three-point goals: Barstow 7-16 (Nuss, Gilyard 3, Christifano 3); Free State 5-16 (Luinstra, Cordes 2, Pavlyak 2). Turnovers: Barstow 13, Free State 17. Fouled out: Walz.