Kickapoo girls basketball’s bid for the program’s seventh state championship came up 10 points short in 53-43 loss to Incarnate Word in an emotional Class 6 state championship game.
Incarnate Word was playing without their head coach Dan Rolfes who suffered a medical emergency after the team’s semifinal win over Rock Bridge.
IWA Athletics Director and Head Basketball Coach Dan Rolfes suffered a medical emergency while leaving the Mizzou Arena. Coach Rolfes is surrounded by immediate family and is receiving excellent care. IWA and the Rolfes family ask for your prayers. More information will be shared…
— IWA_Athletics (@Athletics_IWA) March 16, 2024
Incarnate Word was strong from the start taking a 12-5 lead after one quarter and a 20-12 lead at the half. Kickapoo did not make a field goal until the 7:01 mark of the second quarter.
Kickapoo trailed by as many as 19 in the game, but was able to cut the lead down to 10 several times game but could not get any closer.
The Lady Chiefs shot 14-for-45 (31.1%) from the field in the game and 0-for-4 from three. Mikayla Pilley and Josie Salazar led the scoring for Kickapoo with 13 points each.
The loss marks the end of the careers for three Kickapoo seniors including Kya Johnson, Raigan Smith and Ariana Mosley.
Hear from both the Kickapoo and Incarnate Word coaches in the videos below.
