No. 1 seed Nixa held off upset-minded host No. 8 seed Ozark for a 57-55 win in the Class 6 District 5 quarterfinal round on Wednesday.
Nixa carried a 10-6 lead after one quarter and 22-15 at the half. The Eagles expanded the lead to 45-35 after three quarters.
Then Ozark made a charge. The Tigers trailed by 10, 49-39 with four minutes left in the game. By the time there was 60 seconds left in the contest, Ozark had cut the lead down to one at 51-50. Nixa scored its final six points at the free throw line to hold the lead and win the game.
Free throw shooting was the difference for Nixa going 9-for-12 from the free throw line in the deciding frame. All scoring for Nixa except one three-pointer by Garrett Hines came from the free throw line in the final eight minutes.
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Kael Combs led Nixa and all scorers with 25 points. Corey Kemp added in 15 points with Hines scoring 10. Josh Peters rounded out the Nixa scoring with seven points.
Ethan Sutherland (14 points), Ryan Engel (12 points) and Hudson Roberts (11 points) all scored in double figures for Ozark.
Nixa advances to face No. 4 seed Joplin in the Class 6 District 5 semifinals at 6 pm on Friday.
Ozark – 6-9-20-20 — 55
Nixa – 10-12-23-12 — 57
O: Ethan Sutherland 14, Ryan Engel 12, Hudson Roberts 11, Jace Whatley 7, Garrett Ballard 6
N: Kael Combs 25, Corey Kemp 15, Garrett Hines 10, Josh Peters 7
