Fresh off their nine point victory over Ozark to claim the Catholic Invitational title on Saturday, the Nixa Eagles needed a shot with 2.5 seconds remaining in the game to defeat the Class 2, No. 1 ranked Hartville Eagles 40-37 on Tuesday evening.
Expecting Hartville’s usual up-tempo, high scoring offensive attack, head coach Jay Osborne and the Nixa Eagles (ranked No. 7 in Class 5 MBCA/Mosports statewide rankings) got just the opposite as Hartville had other plans.
Scoring on their first possession after an offensive rebound and tip-in by Hartville senior Ryan Ward, Hartville would control the tempo and neither team would score again until after the halfway mark of the first quarter when Nixa guard Evan Bergmann hit a three from the corner.
“I credit Hartville with a great game plan,” Osborne said. “I did not expect them to hold the ball like they did. They did a good job of holding the ball and controlling the tempo, which isn’t typically their style, but their kids played well and they deserve credit for it.”
With Nixa up two heading into the fourth quarter, both teams finally started showing more of their typical offensive prowess.
Junior Deric Jones began the quarter with three of his eight points to give Hartville its first lead since midway through the second quarter.
With just under three minutes remaining, Hartville suddenly found itself up five after a drive and layup from Ward.
But Nixa would not quit.
With the Nixa Eagles slowly clawing their way back, Hartville missed four of their seven free throw opportunities within the final two and a half minutes that helped set up Nixa’s final possession with 15.5 seconds remaining and the game tied at 37 apiece.
Hoping to get Allen a chance at a close-range shot to end the game, Hartville sniffed out Nixa’s plan and forced the Eagles to beat them from the outside.
Seth Viebrock did just that.
Standing near the free throw line, Nixa’s Austin Bracker found Viebrock in the corner where he coolly hit his third three point shot of the game with only 2.5 seconds left, giving Nixa the hard-fought victory.
“We were just running a high double screen trying to get Seth loose and turn the corner to take a layup,” said Osborne. “They switched and did a nice job of defending it, but Austin did a nice job of putting it on the floor and, when they did a great job of rotating again, he kicked it out to a wide-open Viebrock who made a big shot for us.”
Even though it wasn’t a game many are familiar seeing from the Nixa Eagles, Osborne was proud of the way his team responded when it mattered the most.
“With three minutes left in the game, we are down five,” Osborne said. “Credit our basketball team for believing in themselves and each other. Sometimes in basketball it’s not always going to be pretty, and you have to find a way to be successful. This team is doing just that.”
While giving his team praise they deserve, Osborne also credited head coach Brett Reed and the Hartville Eagles for the way they played as well.
“[Hartville] has two or three ball handlers on the floor and anytime you have ball handlers, you can play with anybody,” Osborne said. “The way they defended us was a great game plan, and they forced us to shoot the ball outside, and we didn’t make many shots the first three quarters. Fortunately, we hit a couple of big ones late in the game but give them credit.”
With the win, Nixa improves to 12-1 on the season, while Hartville falls to 10-4.
Next up, Hartville hosts Norwood on Jan. 15, while the Nixa Eagles travel to Kickapoo on Jan. 22.
Nixa 6 10 7 17—40
Hartville 7 7 7 16—37
Nixa: Seth Viebreck 13, Chase Allen 8, Austin Bracker 6, Parker Dent 3, Christian Bundy 3, Evan Bergmann 3, Braeden Combs 2, Jacob Kleinsmith 1, Preston Flood 1
Hartville: Ryan Ward 15, Deric Jones 8, Grant Dedmon 7, Dune Piper 4, Wyatt Ward 3,
