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Look at the box score from Kickapoo’s win over Branson on Tuesday and you’ll see that Zaide Lowery had a game-high 25 points.
But it’s the way Lowery did it that drew the praise of Chiefs coach Mitch McHenry.
Lowery, a junior and one of the area’s rising stars, showed he doesn’t need a high usage rate to impact the game.
“That’s probably the most quiet 25-point game we’ve had in a while,” McHenry said. “He had 25 points and he didn’t have to do it by shooting the ball every possession or having the ball in his hands a lot. We’ve actually had to get on him at times about being more aggressive.
“He’s figuring things out, though. He’s being asked to do a lot more for us this year than he has in the past – that goes for all of our guys.”
After a shaky start, Lowery and the new-look Chiefs came to life against Branson in the Blue Division quarterfinals at JQH Arena.
A big second quarter carried Kickapoo to a 73-47 victory.
Along with Lowery, first-year starters Brayden Shorter (11), Andrew Robinson (10) and Trae Oetting (9) combined for 30 points for Kickapoo. The Chiefs play Hartville in the Blue Division semifinals at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at JQH Arena.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
The Chiefs are two wins away from winning their tournament-best 13th Blue and Gold championship.
Early on, Kickapoo (7-2 overall) went basket-for-basket with Branson. The Chiefs led by only two, 16-14, after the first quarter.
“(Better defense) was the most important thing we needed to do,” Lowery said. “At the beginning, our transition defense wasn’t very good. We were jogging back. We picked it up and got it fixed.”
Sensing his team could use a boost, McHenry subbed in five new players at one point.
“It wasn’t really a punishment. I just thought we were dragging a little bit,” McHenry said. “We went with that longer rotation because you’re on a college court and you’re playing four games in a row.
“What I appreciate is that those (starters) got subbed out and they were on the bench talking to the (backups) who were on the court. They were staying engaged and that’s what you really appreciate.”
Kickapoo outscored Branson 25-9 in the second quarter and never looked back. The Chiefs took control with a 1-2-2 full-court press that led to steals and transition points.
During one sequence, Kickapoo’s point guard Oetting stole the ball and had a breakaway with Lowery trailing behind.
Oetting elected to take the easy layup. Lowery got his turn a bit later.
“I told Trae to throw it off the backboard. He goes, ‘We can’t take any chances right now,’” Lowery said, with a smile. “I said, ‘All right.’ A couple of plays later, Landon Keisker threw it up to me and we got the alley-oop dunk.”
Lowery showed glimpses of his potential last season on Kickapoo’s Class 6 state championship team, soaring for highlight-worthy dunks and blocks.
The 6’4” wing with jaw-dropping athleticism is taking on a different role this season for a Kickapoo team that has four new starters.
“He’s gotten better every year,” McHenry said. “He’s coachable. He’s a good teammate. When you have those intangibles, in a kid that keeps getting more athletic and skilled each year, that’s a pretty good package for a player. The sky’s the limit for him.”
The Chiefs also like what they’ve seen thus far from their varsity newcomers. Oetting’s replacing four-year starter and current Mizzou player Anton Brookshire at point guard.
Shorter, a 6’5” forward who scored 21 in Kickapoo’s win over Houston on Monday, is finally showing what he can do at the varsity level.
“With a normal team last year, he’s getting varsity playing time,” McHenry said of Shorter. “We didn’t have a normal team last year, so he had to wait his turn and be patient. He’s fearless and plays with a high motor. We never have to tell him to play harder or give more. And he’s really gifted shooting the ball.”
Kyle Scharbrough scored 18 and Ethan Jones added 17 points to lead Branson. The Pirates play Willard in the consolation round at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Hammons Student Center.
Kickapoo 73, Branson 47
Kickapoo 16 25 17 15 — 73
Branson 14 9 10 14 — 47
Kickapoo (7-2 overall) – Lowery 25, Shorter 11, Robinson 10, Oetting 9, Noel 7, Doennig 4, Jones 3, Keisker 2, Campbell 2
Branson (5-4 overall) – Scharbrough 18, Jones 17, Cooper 5, Gill 3, Ashford 2, Ascone 2
