By Chris Parker
Kickapoo made a big third quarter comeback against Bartlett (TN) in the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions third place game, but it would come up just short in a 41-36 loss.
Bartlett jumped out quickly on Kickapoo in the game opening with a 13-0 run. Kickapoo played Bartlett even the rest of the way trailing 26-13 at the half.
Bartlett’s advantage in the paint was evident throughout and a big difference in the first half. The Panthers scored 24 of their 41 points in the paint with another nine coming from the free throw line. They attempted just nine three-point shots in the game, which was a far cry from the 32 3-point attempts in the first two games combined.
“We tried to get it in the paint as much as possible whether it is a pass or drive,” Bartlett head coach Dion Real said. “That is a strong point we have that we have not utilized for much of this season.”
Out of the break, Kickapoo came alive.
The Chiefs scored the first 12 points of the third quarter to cut Bartlett’s lead to one before the Panthers scored the final basket of the frame to take a 28-25 lead into the fourth quarter.
“We go four-for-eight and we have four assists in the third quarter. That is the difference. All four of our makes were assisted passes. Our offense was so much better,” Kickapoo head coach Mitch McHenry said. “We scored 12 points in the third quarter and had 13 points in the whole first half. That is the difference.”
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Teamwork both on the court and on the bench were paramount in the quarter.
“It was awesome. All the JV guys and all of us came together. We were talking through everything. We were all on the same page. We were trusting each other,” Kickapoo senior Landon Keisker said. “When we come together we are pretty hard to beat and basketball becomes a lot more fun. It was a good environment.”
Bartlett was able to hold Kickapoo off in the fourth quarter with late free throws to seal the game and claim the 41-36 win in the seventh-place game.
“I thought we showed toughness in the fourth to regroup and finish the game off,” Real said. “We had a close to terrible third quarter. We couldn’t get anything going. I was very proud of them for staying the course, bouncing back and finishing.”
For Kickapoo, the loss wasn’t what they wanted, but the Chiefs learned valuable lessons throughout the three days.
“Whether we are playing Waynesville on Tuesday to continue our conference run or the No. 4 team in the nation, the process is the same as an athlete. That is one of the things we stressed with them after our effort yesterday is the process doesn’t change as an athlete,” McHenry said. “If we are going to make a run with the desires and hopes that we have for this season then there is going to be some stuff that hits the fan and some adversity we have to face, and we faced a lot of it (adversity) this weekend. Sometimes we did well and sometimes we didn’t handle it well. A lot of times, good teams, that ends their season; not being able to handle adversity. I don’t want it for this group. They deserve more and better than to not be together and their season end because of that.”
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The experience won’t just serve the Chiefs this season but has provided a lifetime of memories for the players and coaches from both teams.
“It is just awesome to go out there and look at all the people and know that you are playing in the biggest tournament in the nation,” Kickapoo senior Brayden Shorter said. “It is just amazing. It is flabbergasting.”
Shorter led Kickapoo with a game-high 14 points.
“I think I have been to almost every TOC since I could walk. To be able to play (here) and play against the competition (and) top 10 recruits is pretty special and pretty awesome,” Kickapoo senior Landon Keisker said.
“This atmosphere was a lot of energy and people showed that they love the game of basketball,” Bartlett’s Javar Daniel said.
“It is really good being in this open area being able to have people who love the game come together and watch you play. I have never had someone ask me for my autograph in my life. That was something different I never thought of happening, especially not in high school,” Bartlett’s Matthew Stokes said.
“It is a great preparation. It is something we have been talking about; use it to fuel us going down the stretch here. If we are fortunate enough to get there (the state tournament) we have experienced something like it, and hopefully we can bring back a state championship,” Real said.
