Kickapoo was playing as well as anyone heading into the state semifinals in March.
Star point guard Anton Brookshire was on a tear. He led the Chiefs to a district title, a sectional win and a victory over the defending state champions to advance to the final four.
"I feel like we had a great chance at winning the whole thing," Brookshire said.
But the Chiefs never got that opportunity. Everything shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Knowing he was so close to claiming that state title served as motivation for Brookshire, a Mizzou signee, over the summer.