By Denise Tucker (For Ozarks SportsZone.com)
For the second straight year, the Nixa Eagles captured a championship in the Blue and Gold Tournament – this time, taking home the Blue Division title with a 59-48 victory over the Republic Tigers on Friday night at Great Southern Bank Arena.
“It feels amazing,” said Nixa senior guard Devon Kemp, who led the Eagles with 14 points. “It’s definitely a once-in-a-lifetime thing that can happen. But I hope they can come back next year and win it, too, and keep it going; keep it rolling.”
As expected, the Central Ozark Conference rivals battled back and forth throughout the game, with 10 lead changes over the first three quarters. The game was tied 24-24 at halftime before Nixa took a two-point lead heading into the fourth quarter (38-36) on a 3-pointer by Jaise Combs.
Republic struck first on a Davin Parks basket to tie it at 38, before Combs answered with another deep 3 from the wing for a 41-38 Nixa lead. A Jordan Douglas 3-pointer for Republic (41-41) was quickly responded to with a turnaround bucket from Josh Peters to again give the Eagles the lead (43-41).
Following a baseline jumper by Republic’s Brenley Hagewood, Randy Flint found Adam McKnight on a high-low play, and the Eagles were off on a 9-0 run and a 52-43 advantage. But the biggest blow was the 3-pointer from the wing by junior reserve Bryce Foster to extend Nixa’s lead (49-43) during that run.
“Republic is really, really good and we knew coming in that we would have to play extremely well,” Nixa head coach Brock Blansit said. “I thought, defensively, we were really good tonight, and I thought Bryce Foster hit the biggest shot of the game for us to put us up six, midway through the fourth, coming off the bench. I thought we had some guys step up defensively, and a lot of guys contributed and that’s how it’s been for our team this year so far. So, we’re really happy with the win.”
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
The Eagles often play 10-11 players, and it took all of them to overcome the Tigers in the championship bout Friday night.
“They just know when their number is called, they’ve got to be ready to go,” Blansit said of his players. “So far this year, the guys have really done that, and I was really happy with the way they played.”
And Foster’s shot was definitely the turning point in the game, Republic head coach Tim Brown said.
“It was a tie game and (Nixa) hit two big 3s,” Brown said. “They had a kid step up and hit one; I think it was the only one he made on the night, to make it a six-point game. Even at a two-possession game, we got a good look and we just didn’t make it. (Foster’s shot) was just enough separation they needed and we kind of went on a scoring drought there late. I felt like we got really good shots, we just didn’t make them. It’s a make-or-miss game sometimes and they made their big shots, and we didn’t.”
Republic also was chasing its second-straight Blue and Gold Tournament championship, having won the Blue Division title last season.
“We’re still finding our identity,” Brown said. “I told them that I didn’t think we played anywhere close to our best basketball this week. And to be able to not play your best basketball and have a chance to win a Blue and Gold title, says a lot about our group and what we can be.”
With its title, Nixa moves into the No. 2 spot on the Blue and Gold Tournament championships list with its 12th crown, just one behind Kickapoo.
“There’s been a lot of coaches and teams come through at Nixa and to get us up to No. 2 on the all-time list is pretty awesome,” Blansit said. “Hopefully next year, we can tie it. We’ll see.”
In the meantime, Kemp said his team will enjoy this one before getting back to the grind of the regular season.
“We’re definitely going to celebrate this one,” Kemp said. “Then, we’ve got (Columbia) Hickman next Saturday, so we’ve got a pretty big one there and then we turn around and play Parkview. So, we’ve got some tough competition, but this (win) will definitely help us.”
(1) NIXA 59, (2) REPUBLIC 48
Blue and Gold Tournament
Blue Championship
REPUBLIC 13-11-12-12—48
NIXA 9-15-14-21—59
(2) REPUBLIC (8-4) – James Rexroat 3, Aslan Ebisch 1, CJ Uhl 3, Brenley Hagewood 20, Jordan Douglas 15, Davin Parks 6.
(1) NIXA (9-3) – Josh Peters 10, Garrett Hines 2, Jackson Cantwell 6, Devon Kemp 14. Adam McKnight 12, Jaise Combs 9, Randy Flint 2, Bryce Foster 4.
Third place: Willard 56, Fair Grove 53 (OT)
Fifth place: Rogersville 46, Hartville 38
Consolation: Bolivar 52, Lebanon 41
