By Chris Parker
Kickapoo turned in a masterful defensive performance to beat Troy Buchanan 53-33 in the Class 6 semifinals.
“I thought we played at a really high level on the defensive end of the floor. I thought we were dialed in with what they were trying to do and what they were trying to accomplish. I thought we made things really tough for them for all four quarters,” Kickapoo head coach Mitch McHenry said. “We really didn’t let up defensively. We have never had a team that has made it here that has not been very good defensively. We have been playing at a very high level on that side of the ball for our last four or five games.”
Troy came into the game scoring 61.7 points per game with a season-low of 45 points.
The Chiefs were locked in defensively from the tip. They allowed Troy to make just one field goal in the first quarter on the way to a 9-2 advantage after eight minutes. Kickapoo held Troy without a field goal for the first three minutes of the second quarter and carried that same seven-point advantage into the half up 21-14.
In the third quarter, the defensive excellence continued.
Troy hit field goals on back-to-back possessions with 4:49 and 4:17 left in the third quarter, but that was it for the Trojans’ scoring in the frame.
“We talk about building a wall and not being put in a scramble situation where we have to scramble around on defense. I thought we did a great job of keeping them on the perimeter and not letting them get to the paint or the basket,” McHenry said.
Kickapoo led 31-18 after three quarters.
The other place Kickapoo was dominant was on the boards. The Chiefs out-rebounded Troy 34-17 including pulling down offensive rebounds on 10 of 23 missed shots.
“Against that team we have a size advantage. They (Troy) play really hard and bigger than what they are. For us to double them up in rebounds that is the difference in the game right there,” McHenry said.
Kickapoo took care of business in the fourth quarter extending its lead to as many as 22 before winning 53-33 to advance to Saturday’s state title game.
“It is a dream come true,” Kickapoo senior Brayden Shorter said. “I have told Trae (Oetting) I don’t believe it is real. We have worked so hard for this. We deserve it.”
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Kickapoo was led by 19 points from Shorter. Oetting was just behind him with 16 points. Harrison Doennig pulled down 10 rebounds and scored eight points.
The Chiefs will play for their second state title in three years.
“There are not many people that get this opportunity, and we’ve had this opportunity twice in the last three years and that is pretty special,” McHenry said. “We have talked a bunch this week about this is a whole new group that is walking into another state championship game even though we were there two years ago. I am happy for our kids.”
Kickapoo will face a familiar foe in Staley. The Falcons beat Kickapoo 73-42 on Jan. 13 in the consolation semifinals of the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions.
That game proved to be a turning point in Kickapoo’s season.
“In that game (against Staley) I thought we got away from what pride ourselves on and what we pride our program on. We showed some things that were uncharacteristic in that game,” McHenry said. “We coach them hard. There are high expectations. They have responded and been coachable all year long. We are going to put ourselves in a position to fight and compete and give us a shot tomorrow against a really good team.”
Since that the loss to Staley, Kickapoo has gone 13-3. In those 16 games, Kickapoo has held all but one opponent at least 5.4 points per game below their season average. Over their last four games, Kickapoo has held opponents an average of 16.9 points below their season-long scoring averages. In the semifinal, Kickapoo held Troy 28.7 points below its average.
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“I definitely think it (the game against Staley) was a turning point,” Oetting said. “I think a lot has changed mentally for us. Practices have been more focused and more intentional. I definitely think that helped us out a lot.”
Kickapoo (23-8) will face Staley (29-2) for the Class 6 state championship at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Great Southern Bank Arena.
“We have played a hard schedule down the stretch in this playoff time and in March,” McHenry said. “We have not had many bad quarters in the last five games. We are going to have to have that consistency and fight tomorrow. We all know us and Staley have already played each other. We are familiar with each other. We are very excited for the opportunity to play for a state championship and another opportunity to play Staley tomorrow.”
