Player, coach connections have played huge factor in Bryce Kemper’s 500 wins with Mid-Buchanan and King City basketball

By: Brett Kennedy

(FAUCETT, MO) – Mid Buchanan High School basketball has been a dominant force in the KCI conference and in the entire state of Missouri for over the last two decades. A massive part of that has been through the guidance of head coach Bryce Kemper. The old ball coach just passed his 500th career coaching victory from his time at Mid Buchanan and King City before that.

“It’s a little humbling. You just kind of are taken back by it and you just think back to all the players that you had, all the memories that you had,” said Kemper. “I knew coming into the year we would probably hit it at some point this year. Didn’t didn’t anticipate getting off to the start we probably got off to, but we knew we were going to probably hit it. “My wife, she’s on that stuff, so there wasn’t sneaking that by anyone this time.”

“It’s amazing. He’s had a lot of great players throughout the program. I’m just happy to be a part of it with my teammates and especially Coach Kemper,” said Mid-Buchanan senior Raife Smith.

The longevity and proven success of Kemper’s career has his players bought into his system and his coaching philosophy. Year in and year out.

“Always motivational, always giving us tips and help us, even outside of basketball,” said junior Ian Campbell. “He’s always there for us, always giving us rides. It really helps you develop as a player.”

“Attitude and effort. You turn the ball over, move on to the next play. You foul, move on to the next play. If you got a lot of effort, he’s going to do the same for coaching,” said Smith. “He’s going to put you in the right spots to win, he’s someone that doesn’t bring you down. If he gets on to you, it’s a good thing. It definitely is going to improve you as a player and improve you as a better man in the future.”

Kemper’s secret to accumulating 500 wins?

“Old and having some good players, I really do. I’ve been blessed with some really good talent. Anytime somebody hits a milestone like that, they didn’t do it by themselves, and I’ve had some great coaches,” said Kemper. “I’ve had buy-in from the coaches, the parents, the players, and every one of those former players had a piece of one of these, and that’s what’s kind of cool about it.”

For Kemper. It’s not just about the victories. What keeps him coming back year after year is all about the lifelong connections he’s built with his players.

“The relationships, going to weddings and going and seeing your former players have kids, that’s kind of the cool part about all that,” said Kemper. “So, the wins are fun and everything, but having those memories and talking about them later on is probably the coolest part.”

Kemper’s Dragons next host Maryville in Faucett on Monday, February 2nd at 7:30 pm.