By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Kickapoo Chiefs were never going to settle for a district championship.
They were never going to be satisfied with third place.
Since preseason practices, Kickapoo had its sights set on the ultimate prize: A state championship.
“I don’t think (not winning state) ever went through our minds,” said Kickapoo guard Isaac Haney. “Nixa’s a great team, but I didn’t lace up my shoes thinking that was the last game (in sectionals). The Chaminade game (on Friday), I didn’t lace them up thinking we’d be playing for third the next day.
“Neither did the guys next to me. Knowing that we had what it took to win and just going out and playing with confidence… I don’t think we ever thought we were going to be a disappointment.”
Saturday night, Kickapoo delivered on all those hopes and expectations.
The Chiefs defeated Liberty 71-62 at JQH Arena in the Class 6 Show-Me Showdown championship game.
The Chiefs were final four qualifiers a year ago but never got a chance to play for the championship.
The Class 4 and 5 state champions were canceled due to the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic.
“To be able to come through with the guys, it’s a great feeling,” said Kickapoo guard Anton Brookshire Jr. “We’re super excited it about and can’t wait to go home and celebrate with our family and friends.
“Right now, we’re still trying to take it in. I think we’re just realizing that we won state.”
As the final buzzer sounded, Brookshire thought back to last year. During Kickapoo’s postseason run, his mother died of pneumonia.
“I got a little emotional because I haven’t been here before,” Brookshire said. “To get to this point and know all the hard work has paid off, but also knowing my mom is super proud of me. I got a little emotion with that. I know she’s up there (in heaven), smiling.”
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With the win, Kickapoo earned its third state title in program history and first since 2006.
“I’m proud and happy for our guys,” said Chiefs coach Mitch McHenry. “I get to coach for a long time. Their playing career is very short when you look at the big picture. I have no clue if I’m going to get this opportunity again, but I’m going to have more opportunities of coaching.
“For (them), it’s four quick years in high school. For them to be able to do this and just be able to think back to this memory for the rest of their lives is something special.”
Brookshire led Kickapoo with 21 points along with six rebounds and three assists. Brookshire, a Mizzou commit, is a four-year starter who leaves a big mark on Kickapoo’s program.
He led the Chiefs to three straight district titles and back-to-back final fours, culminating with Saturday’s title win.
“I have to thank the coaching staff for believing in me since freshman year and pushing me to be the player I am today,” Brookshire said. “And my teammates. My teammates, man. Without them, I wouldn’t be able to do the stuff I did. They gave me the green light to do certain things sometimes and motivated me when I’m not hitting my shots or things aren’t going right.”
Brookshire finishes with 1,874 career points. That puts him No. 1 on Kickapoo’s all-time list, No. 4 in Springfield Public Schools history and No. 7 in Springfield history.
“It’s a great story,” McHenry said. “He should go down as one of the greats obviously in Southwest Missouri, but he should (also) go down as one of the greats in the state of Missouri. For what he was able to do for his four years and what he was able to do leading our program as a sophomore, junior and senior and the runs we were able to make as our point guard.
“I’m excited to watch him the next four years at Mizzou.”
Haney finished with 20 points in the game and 3,141 for his career. He goes out ranked No. 4 on Missouri’s all-time scoring list.
Haney won a Class 1 state championship at Dora last season then moved to Springfield and joined the Chiefs. Haney credited Brookshire, his longtime teammate on the AAU circuit, for helping him adjust to his new high school team.
“He did an amazing job not only bringing me in and showing me what to do, but also keeping me confident,” said Haney, who will play for Missouri State next season. “Coming in, I trIED to be a super nice kid and not step on anyone’s toes, but my game is kind of stepping on people’s toes – and sometimes cutting their head off.
“Anton’s thing was, ‘Hey, you have to continue to do what you do.’ I couldn’t be more thankful for him helping me be Isaac Haney.”
Kickapoo controlled the game from start to finish against Liberty. The Chiefs went up 57-37 late in third on a Brookshire 3-pointer.
With a frantic rally, Liberty got as close as 67-62 in the final minute.
“It wouldn’t be fitting if we didn’t make it interesting to finish our year like we did,” McHenry said, with a smile, referencing Kickapoo’s inconsistency in closing games this season.
Kickapoo shot 24-for-47 from the field overall on Saturday and 18-for-20 at the free throw line.
The Chiefs were 20-for-23 at the free throw line in Friday’s win over Chaminade.
Kickapoo finishes 28-2 overall. The Chiefs began the season knowing a state championship wasn’t just a hope, but an expectation.
“I think a lot of people thought that it was easy,” McHenry said. “Many people don’t realize that just how much work our kids put in. They don’t realize they’re going to practice then going to an individual workout throughout the year. They don’t ever put a basketball down.”
The Chiefs had a lot of roster turnover from the 2020 final four-qualifying team as well. Along with Haney, Kickapoo added another transfer in senior forward Trevon Brazile. He previously attended Parkview and will join Brookshire at Mizzou next season.
“It shows how humble each one of these guys are that they will get outside of themselves and play as a team,” Haney said. “The (turning) moment was when we all decided winning was the most important thing.”
Kickapoo 71, Liberty 62
Liberty 13 14 13 22 — 62
Kickapoo 18 19 20 14 — 71
Liberty (26-4 overall) – Bennett Stirtz 28, Javion Byers 10, Luke Stubbs 9, Javin Shaw 8, Karson Milbrandt 4, Kellen Goodwin 3
Kickapoo (28-2 overall) – Anton Brookshire Jr. 21, Isaac Haney 20, Cameron Liggins 14, Trevon Brazile 10, Zaide Lowery 4, Harrison Doennig 2
