By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Nixa basketball enjoyed a banner year in 2022.
The Eagles finished with a 24-5 record and an undefeated Central Ozarks Conference run before falling to Kickapoo in the Class 6 District 5 final.
Head coach Jennifer Perryman will look to find replacements for 85 percent of Nixa’s scoring due to the departure of graduated seniors Ali Kamies, Macie Conway and Rhi Gibbons.
Kamies and Conway will continue their respective basketball careers at Rockhurst University this season, while Gibbons will play for Drury.
“We fell short in the district championship against a very good Kickapoo team,” Perryman said. “Although it was a great game, the sting of that loss has been a source of motivation in the off season.”
Norah Clark will look to step into a prominent role and lead the Eagles this season.
The 5-foot-11 senior averaged 9.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.4 steals as a junior.
“Norah has the most varsity experience on the team,” Perryman said. “She has an incredible basketball IQ, and I have really seen her leadership blossom on the volleyball court this fall. I am really looking to see that transfer to basketball season.”
Clark will be joined in the returning lineup by Lilly Mahy and Jacy Bray.
Mahy, a 5-foot-9 junior, averaged 4.5 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.3 steals last season.
“Lilly is one of the most respected kids in our program,” Perryman said. “She is one of the best teammates I have ever seen on the court. She is very vocal in a positive way and in her point guard role, does a great job of being a coach on the floor.”
Bray, a 5-foot-7 junior, finished the 2022 campaign averaging 1.0 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists.
“I have watched Jacy turn into an amazing leader this fall and I am so excited to see how she mixes that with her effort and competitiveness,” Perryman said. “We look for her to be that spark on both ends of the floor.”
5-foot-7 junior Sadie Conway is currently rehabbing a knee injury but is expected back during the season. She averaged 4.0 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists as a sophomore.
“When Sadie returns from her knee injury, we look for her to step right back in her role from last season,” Perryman said. “She has always been a positive leader for us.”
Senior Chloe Krans, a fifth returnee, underwent surgery on her leg in the offseason and is out indefinitely.
While injuries could hamper development early on, Perryman is confident her team will find its and be prepared to contend for a postseason run.
“I think this group is extremely coachable, very athletic and their work ethic is unmatched,” Perryman said. “That, combined with the talent we have, will make for a great season. With the bulk of our varsity being newcomers, it will take a little bit to find the right chemistry and combinations on the floor but it will include several players.”
Nixa will also look to get a boost from a strong junior varsity pool eager to compete for varsity minutes.
“Our JV was undefeated last season and we look for several of those kids to step in and contribute a lot of minutes on our varsity team,” Perryman said. “We could play anywhere from 7-15 kids on our varsity bench. A lot of it will be game to game and depend on recovery time for injuries.”
“We always have high expectations here in Nixa and I’m thankful for kids who have the desire to exceed those year after year,” Perryman said. “I think we have a great shot to compete for any title we play for. From what I have seen in the offseason, this will be a fun group to coach and a very very competitive group on the floor. We are going to need to gain experience quickly as we are somewhat inexperienced as a whole.”
Following a Nov. 16 home jamboree with Glendale and Sparta, Nixa tips off its season Nov. 22 at Columbia Battle.
