By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Looking to upset one of the state’s premier teams on Saturday, the Logan-Rogersville Wildcats didn’t make things easy on themselves.
The Wildcats shot 3-for-20 from 3-point range against Kickapoo. Logan-Rogersville also made just seven of 14 free throw attempts.
In the first half alone, Kickapoo (Class 6 No. 2 MBCA) grabbed 14 offensive rebounds.
“We did everything we could to get beat, stat-wise,” said Wildcats coach John Schaefer.
Thanks to a string of turnovers, missed Kickapoo shots and transition points, Logan-Rogersville pulled together in the second half and battled back from a 17-point deficit.
But the deficit proved too large.
The Wildcats missed a couple of chances to tie the game down the stretch as Kickapoo ultimately prevailed 69-62 in a non-conference showdown between state-ranked teams.
Trevon Brazile led four Chiefs in double figures with 21 points. Jonathan Dunn scored a game-high 24 for Logan-Rogersville.
In the big picture, Saturday’s matchup was a nothing-to-lose, postseason tune-up for both sides.
The loss snapped a nine-game winning streak for Logan-Rogersville (16-5 overall, Class 5 No. 6 MBCA). Kickapoo (17-2 overall) notched its 11th straight victory.
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Both teams are gunning for outright conference titles (Ozark Conference, Big 8) over the next two weeks as they prepare for their respective district tournaments.
“It really simulated what we feel would be a postseason game for us,” said Chiefs coach Mitch McHenry. “We were very pleased and happy to get into this environment against a quality opponent.”
Kickapoo caught fire in the third quarter and threatened to put the game away.
Treys from Isaac Haney and Anton Brookshire, along with a thunderous dunk by Brazile, ignited a 15-4 run.
Over the next few minutes, the game swung the other way.
Kickapoo’s 17-point lead shrunk to nine by the end of the quarter. Then five a few minutes into the fourth.
The Chiefs were feeling flummoxed.
“I was a bad teammate there for a second, I’m not going to lie,” said Chiefs guard Isaac Haney. “(Logan-Rogersville) cut the lead to (nine) and I looked at Coach McHenry and said, ‘We had (the lead) at nearly 20. What the heck happened?’ Logan-Rogersville is a heck of a team, that’s why they were able to battle back.”
With 1:30 remaining in the game, the Wildcats’ top shooter – Kanon Gipson – pulled up for a potential game-tying 3-pointer. The shot rolled in and out.
The Wildcats later missed a shot near the basket, off an in-bounds play, that would’ve cut Kickapoo’s lead to just one.
“We should have (put it away),” McHenry said. “If you just continue to do things right, you have a chance to build to a 20-point lead. But we didn’t do things right and then all of a sudden, the lead gets down to eight at the end of the third quarter because we didn’t finish the quarter and do things right.
“It’s a learning experience and our guys battled. I was proud of them. Ultimately, we’re just trying to get a win.”
Free throws saved Kickapoo. The Chiefs went 19-for-21 at the free throw line overall.
Haney had 13 points, 11 coming in the second half. Cam Liggins scored 15 and Anton Brookshire added 14 points.
“They’re tough to guard,” Schaefer said of Kickapoo. “If you play to (stop) the 3-pointer, then they’re going to drive it down your throat, which they did. If you help out, then they’ll throw it out for a 3.
“We tried to mix (our defense) up. We tried to make some of their other guys shoot and eliminate Haney’s and Anton’s 3-point looks.”
When they weren’t scoring, Haney and Brookshire were setting up Brazile for highlight-worthy dunks.
“There’s so much trust there between us,” Haney said. “I feel like if I just put it there, (Brazile) is going to go get it. I have no problem turning it loose wherever and letting him go get it. As long as he continues to do that, I’m going to throw it.”
Kickapoo plays three games next week, starting with a visit to Springfield Central on Tuesday.
Logan-Rogersville plays at Hollister on Monday.
Kickapoo 69, Logan-Rogersville 62
Kickapoo 19 11 23 16 — 69
Logan-Rogersville 10 16 18 18 — 62
Kickapoo (17-2 overall) – Brazile 21, Liggins 15, Brookshire 14, Haney 13, Doenning 4, Lowery 2
Logan-Rogersville (16-5 overall) – Dunn 24, Gipson 18, Bergmann 14, O’Neal 6
