Top-seeded Nixa trailed briefly midway through the fourth quarter before rallying back behind a stout defensive effort to earn a 46-43 win over second-seeded Kickapoo in the Class 6 District 5 championship game on Friday inside Kaminsky Gymnasium.
The Eagles (26-3) trailed by three near the halfway point of the fourth quarter before a quick 9-1 run had Nixa in the driver’s seat with 1:46 left to play. The Eagles took a three-point lead into the final seconds and their defense prevented the Chiefs (25-4) from anything resembling a quality look before the final horn sounded.
“I thought defensively, both teams were awesome,” Nixa coach Jay Osborne said. “We had a difficult time scoring and they had a hard time scoring. It was just two great basketball teams battling and we came out on top. We were lucky to win.”
GAME ACTION
Nixa, winners of two straight district titles, took a 33-30 lead into the fourth quarter before a dunk from Kickapoo’s Zaide Lowery and a 3-pointer from the wing by Brayden Shorter in transition tied the game at 37-37 with 5:16 left in regulation.
Shorter earned a steal after a Nixa timeout and Lowery knocked down a 3-ball from the wing to give the Chiefs a 40-37 lead.
Colin Ruffin buried a 3-pointer in response to tie the game back up and Kael Combs converted on the drive during the next Eagles’ possession to give Nixa a 42-40 lead near the midway point of the period. Jaret Nelson scored inside with 2:58 on the clock to give Nixa a 44-41 advantage. The Eagles pushed the lead to two possessions after a score on the drive by Jackson Bell on an inbounds play with 1:46 left to push the lead to 46-41.
Lowery found room with the drive with 40 seconds left to halt the Eagles’ 8-1 run, trimming the deficit to 46-43.
Landon Keisker earned a steal on the defensive end for the Chiefs, giving Kickapoo possession on its end of the floor with 24.7 seconds following a timeout.
Kickapoo passed the ball around the perimeter looking for a game-tying 3-pointer, but Nixa’s vaunted defense refused to allow the Chiefs a look at a high-quality shot. Ultimately, Kickapoo was forced to throw up a desperation heave in the final seconds, which was no good.
“The last 24 seconds, I think our defense was outstanding,” Osborne said. “That was two heavyweight fighters. We have a ton of respect for their players and coaches. They have had an outstanding season and we have had an outstanding season. It is just sad that one of us has to lose.
“In the fourth quarter, I thought our defense was outstanding. They got loose a couple of times but they have so many weapons. You have to give and take a little because you can’t shut them all down, but I am just really impressed with our kids. We didn’t play perfect—missed free throws, stupid turnovers—but we found a way to win. The sign of a good team is finding ways to win.”
SCORING LEADERS
Combs and Ruffin each had 13 points to lead Nixa in scoring. Nelson and Bell each closed with eight points in the win.
Lowery had a game-high 19 points to lead Kickapoo, while Traedgon Oetting finished with nine points in the loss.
UP NEXT
Nixa advances to the sectional round of the Class 6 state playoffs and matches up with Lee’s Summit West (14-13) at 7:45 p.m. on March 12 on the campus of Southwest Baptist University.
