by Don Abernathy (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
It took a little over a quarter for Nixa to break free from the grips of an icy start Tuesday night, as the Eagles turned up the heat defensively against visiting Kickapoo to erase an early deficit.
The lead changed hands nine times before Nixa turned up the defensive heat a final time in the fourth, scoring points off turnovers and pulling away with a 51-43 Central Ozark Conference victory before a packed house.
“We got out to a terrible start to start the game, so we started pressing (defensively) and I thought that got us going a little,” Nixa coach Brock Blansit said.
“I think Kickapoo had 25 points in the final three quarters. That’s impressive, because they’ve got a really good ball club and they shoot the ball well.”
The Chiefs took a three-point lead into the fourth quarter, after junior Reese Kimrey buried a deep 3 from the right wing with 1.8 left in the third period, but the lead was short-lived.
Nixa tied the game for the 10th and final time with 5:37 left in the game (37-all) when junior Randy Flint knocked down a 3 from the left wing, sparking a 14-1 run that would put the Eagles ahead for good.
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Flint scored a bucket from the right baseline and had a steal and layup to give Nixa a 48-38 lead with just under a minute left in the game.
“I knew he didn’t think I was going to jump the pass, I was kind of hiding behind, and as soon as it left his hand I went for it,” Flint said.
He was motivated by having to sit early in the game due to foul trouble.
“I was kind of mad in the second quarter because I couldn’t play, I had too many fouls,” Flint said.
“That definitely pushed me to go do something for this team.”
Flint had eight of his 12 points in the fourth quarter alone.
“Randy got going with his defense,” Blansit said. “He had several steals and layups, and he made some free throws.
“Our guys are buying in on the defensive end of the floor and that’s something we’ve got to have.”
Blansit singled out senior Lane Meltabarger for his offensive contribution in the win.
“I thought Meltabarger off the bench was unbelievable tonight,” Blansit said.
“We don’t win this game without his eight points.”
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Meltabarger had a pair of 3s, including a trey from the top of the key with a minute left in the third period to give Nixa a 32-30 lead.
“I knew they were going to leave me open, because I haven’t been shooting the ball well lately,” Meltabarger said.
“I’ve been working hard at practice. It felt great to get a couple to go down and get the crowd going.”
Kickapoo junior Elijah Nabors led all scorers with 14 points while Kimrey added 12 points and six boards. Senior Jackson Shorter had seven points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks in the loss for Kickapoo (18-3).
Flint and senior Jaise Combs led the Eagles (19-2) with 12 points each and sophomore Adam McKnight added 5 points and a team-high six rebounds.
