The Liberty Christian boys basketball team came within a few plays of winning a state championship this season, so it was hard for Head Coach Butch Clark to call the year anything but a success.

Clark, who is retiring after 11 years at Liberty Christian, called his final team his most balanced team.

The Eagles (24-8) finished second in the Missouri Christian Schools Athletic Association state tournament, losing in overtime for the second straight year.

“We pretty much maxed-out our potential,” Clark said. “We left a little bit on the table in retrospect, but if you would have asked me before the season, I don’t think our expectations would have been very high.”

The Eagles started the season 17-1, thanks in large part to senior guard Brenden Dickson, who scored double digits in nine of Liberty Christian’s first 18 games.

“Brenden really helped us out early in the season with a handful of big scoring nights,” Clark said. 

Dickson was one of seven Eagles who contributed regularly this season.

Junior guard Jake Pietzman led the team with 14.9 points and 7.3 rebounds.

Pietzman scored over 20 points on seven occasions this season, including 25 in the state championship game against Overland Park Christian.

Pietzman wasn’t the only player who helped the Eagles on the glass.

“Kaleb Bagby would come off the bench and grab six or seven boards, which was huge,” Clark said. 

Junior Kameron Bagby, a 6-foot-4 forward,  averaged 8.2 points and 6.9 rebounds this season. 

Clark said Bagby’s biggest task this summer is simple.

“He really needs to believe God made him 6-foot-4 for a reason,” Clark said with a laugh. “Sometimes he just likes to play outside, which is a shame. The times he got into the paint and decided to be a post player, he was really good.”

Freshman guard Andrew Voss contributed with 11.6 points, second-best on the team.

Clark said he was one of the more knowledgeable freshmen he had coached, and he expects big things from him in the future.

“I think when it’s all said and done, he’ll be one of the best guards we’ve had,” Clark said. “I predict Andrew will really work hard in the offseason and be a pretty good ballplayer next year.”

Assistant Coach Kenny Hart will take over for Clark next season, and the Eagles are expected to return everyone but Dickson and Kaleb Bagby.

Clark said he hopes the returning players can build on this season’s success next year.

“We shared the conference title, came close to winning the conference tournament and probably should have won the state tournament, too,” he said. “But a lot of what I think about next season has to do with how they prepare this summer. That’s the difference between good and great.”