It’s quicker to mention the years the Lady Chiefs have not made it to the Final Four over the past decade. The list of players leading them there reads like a Who’s Who of Ozarks area stars. Kickapoo’s Leslie Hanchey has coached them all and she knows exactly where Mikayla Pilley sits among the all-time greats.
“Towards the top, in my opinion,” said Hanchey. “This is my 17th year. I’ve coached a lot of great players.”
The all-state senior prefers to lead by example. “I’m not the most comfortable leader,” Mikayla said. “I wouldn’t say I’m outspoken much.”
Except maybe to her coach. “[She] likes to kind of be ornery and give me a little flack,” said Hanchey. “Likes to talk back to me. We go back and forth with a lot of banter. It’s all in good spirit.”
“Ah, ok, ok, it goes both ways but it comes from love,” said Mikayla, with a laugh. “I love that lady more than anything in the world.”
The example she’s set has helped deliver back-to-back Final Four appearances. “Hardest working player I’ve ever coached,” said Hanchey. “She steps up every single time. She never shies away from the big moments. Never shies away from wanting the ball in her hands. It’s just a testament to when you put hours in the gym it’s always going to carry over to big games.”
Mikayla hasn’t decided what her major will be when she plays at Fort Hays State next season. She and her coach have had some banter about that as well. “I always give her a hard time,” said Hanchey. “Tell her she should be a kindergarten teacher. But she tells me I’m crazy.”
“Don’t listen to what she has to say,” Mikayla said with a laugh. “Coach is such a jokester.”
And to Mikayla, what it means to wear this jersey one last time in Columbia is no laughing matter.
“I wouldn’t want to be at any other program no matter what,” said Mikayla. “I love being on that wall for all-state. A lot of great players have come through this program and hopefully I leave a name for myself here.”
Just ask around. They’ll tell you she already has.
