“I think right before the Kickapoo game, they were singing the national anthem, and it took everything in me not to cry because I thought I had the thought that he could lose. This could be his last game,” said Courtney Combs, the father of Nixa senior Jaise Combs.
But Jaise’s high school basketball career isn’t over yet. He will play in the state semifinals Wednesday, and potentially for a state title on Thursday.
“I’ve been waiting for this for a very long time,” Jaise said. “I’m just proud of myself and our team for just even getting here. We’re just grateful to even be here.”
The Nixa leading scorer (avg 15.6 pts/game) is not the only family member with a big week ahead.
“As a kid you dream about being able to play in March Madness,” said Drake sophomore and Jaise’s brother, Kael Combs.
Kael and his Drake Bulldogs won the Missouri Valley Conference. They start play in the big dance against Mizzou *also* on Thursday.
“Of course Mizzou, being where I’m from. I think we have seven players from Missouri.” Kael said. “So it was just, everything it was crazy.”
“It’s kind of coincidence we’re actually playing at Mizzou and he’s playing Mizzou,” Jaise said. “It’s kinda crazy,”
With a possible Nixa state championship at 4 P.M. and tip-off for Drake at 6:35 P.M. on the same day, the big question is: Where will the rest of the Combs family be?
“Oh we’ll be in Columbia,” Courtney said.
“I’ve told everybody to go to Jaise’s game just ’cause it’s his senior year,” Kael said.
“We’re really proud of both of them,” said Kael and Jaise’s mom Andrea Clark. “I wish the timing was a little different with the games happening the same day but we’re thrilled.”
It’s called March Madness for a reason and the Combs family is getting the full experience.
