Nixa’s bid for a Class 6 state championship came up short with a 61-50 loss to Oak Park in the Class 6 state semifinal round on Wednesday in Columbia.
The Eagles battled the No. 1 ranked team in the state through the first half trailing by just four, 20-16, at the break.
Out of the half, Oak Park came out hot with a 9-2 run to take an 11-point lead at 29-18 with 5:48 left in the third quarter.
Nixa was able to chip the deficit down to six at 31-25 win 2:45 left in the quarter but trailed by 10, 40-30, heading to the fourth.
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Oak Park scored to start the fourth quarter to build its largest lead of the game at 42-30.
Nixa had a response.
The Eagles threw down a 13-6 run to get within five at 48-43 with 2:49 left, but that was as close as Nixa would get.
Turnovers were big in the game with Nixa turning it over on 23.3% of their possessions leading to 15 points for Oak Park. Oak Park turned it over on 15.5% of its possessions leading to eight points for Nixa.
Adam McKnight led Nixa with 21 points and nine rebounds. Oak Park got 21 points and 12 rebounds from Corbin Allen.
Nixa (27-3) faces Lafayette (Wildwood) (17-14) at 10 am on Thursday morning in the Class 6 third place game. Oak Park (30-1) plays Chaminade (20-10) in the championship game at 6 pm.
