By Chris Parker
Nixa boys basketball fended off a hot-shooting Republic Tiger squad in front of a packed home gym on Tuesday night to run its record to 21-0 on the season.
It wasn’t a typical Nixa game, but it was the result the Eagles have become used to this season.
“It was not very pretty. Republic guards as well as anybody in the area. I knew we wouldn’t shoot as many threes as we normally do. They just guard so well,” Nixa head coach Brock Blansit said. “Our guys just gritted it out.”
Nixa, which has been one of the area’s best three-point shooting teams this year, knocked down six three-pointers in the game to 13 for Republic.
The Eagles had to get it done on the defensive end and at the free throw line to get the win.
“I don’t know how many 3’s they made, but it was a lot. I thought there was about a six possession stretch there where we really got down and guarded and got some stops. I thought that was the difference in the game,” Blansit said.
Nixa jumped out on Republic early, but the Tigers battled back to cut Nixa’s lead to 14-9 after one quarter. Republic came alive in the second quarter outscoring Nixa 21-16 to tie the game at 30-30 at the half.
The teams played even in the third quarter with Nixa holding a one-point lead at 46-45 after three quarters.
In the fourth quarter, the free throw line was the difference with nine of Nixa’s 16 points in the frame coming on free throws.
The free throw line was big difference throughout the game. Nixa went 14-for-25 on free throws while Republic went 0-for-2.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
The win pushed Nixa’s record to 21-0, which is beyond what anybody could have expected coming into the season.
“I couldn’t have envisioned this,” Blansit said. “Just because we are undefeated now doesn’t mean that we are going to win our district or nothing, but we are having so much fun with these guys and they are all contributing. I can’t really explain it. I don’t know what is going on, but it is fun. I am glad to be a part of it.”
Nixa also remained in control of its own destiny in both the conference championship race and the battle for the No. 1 seed in Class 6 District 5.
“I am going to be honest, we talked about it (conference and district). We usually don’t talk about stuff like that. It puts us in the driver’s seat in the conference and puts us in the driver’s seat for a one seed (in district),” Blansit said. “It is not over, but obviously it puts us in the driver’s seat for the conference and a one seed.”
Nixa (21-0) travels to face Carthage (11-9) on Friday. Republic (19-2) will be at Webb City (15-5) on Friday.
Republic – 9-21-15-13 — 58
Nixa – 14-16-16-16 — 62
R: Aslan Ebisch 18, Brenley Hagewood 15, Gunner Ellison 8, Ahlante Askew 7, Jordan Douglas 6, Khamari Edwards 4
N: Kael Combs 28, Devon Kemp 14, Josh Peters 7, Garrett Hines 6, Corey Kemp 4, Jackson Cantwell 2 Noah Engelman 1
