By Michael Cignoli (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
REPUBLIC — The hungry dog hunts the hardest.
Those six words were the go-to saying of one of Jay Osborne’s former assistant coaches, and they’ve stuck with the Nixa boys basketball coach throughout the years.
At a time of the season when coaches might be tempted to ramp up their practices to ensure players are ready for their district tournaments, Osborne and his staff have chosen to go the other direction. They’ve cut back practice times and given players days off in an attempt to make the Eagles hungry when they finally have the opportunity to get back into the gym.
It’s safe to say the plan is working.
Playing for just the second time in 13 days, Nixa scored 28 of the game’s first 35 points and cruised to a dominating 76-58 victory over Republic on Thursday night in a matchup of the Central Ozark Conference’s top two teams. The Eagles (20-3, 6-0) took control of the COC title race by handing Republic (20-3, 6-1) its first conference loss of the season.
“I think we’re hungry,” Osborne said. “I think we’re on a mission. I think our kids have something to accomplish. They’re looking up at the goals that we’ve set and they see a lot of them in sight, so we’re starting to surge. I think we’re just playing unselfish. It’s just about people buying into each other, enjoying each other and trying to make each other better.”
Those goals include the obvious ones like conferences and district titles, but Osborne said the main focus has been on getting the Eagles to focus on improving the players around them. If they do that every day, the other goals become exponentially more attainable.
“I think we’re starting to do that,” Osborne said. “Whether it’s subconsciously or consciously, we’re making our teammates better. Like tonight, I thought defensively we did a great job.”
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
The Eagles are 13-2 in the calendar year, with both losses against Kickapoo. But they’ve been playing exceptionally well since the Chiefs beat them to win Nixa’s tournament last month. Thursday was their fifth straight win; they won the other four by at least 29 points each.
“We all talk in a group chat and we’re like ‘You know, Districts are right around the corner. We’ve got to get going,’” said Nixa sophomore Kael Combs, who led the Eagles with 20 points on Thursday. “We can’t take any more losses. It’s just going to slow us down. To get these wins and have confidence going into the district is going to be a big key.”
Not only were the Eagles hungry for a chance to play — inclement winter weather has wreaked havoc on their practice and game schedules as of late — they’re out for revenge.
They would love another shot at Kickapoo, which would only happen if both schools were to advance to the state sectionals.
“That first loss, we were mad about it, but that second loss — they kind of disrespected us a little bit,” Combs said. “I don’t think our seniors have ever beat them in their whole high school career. So we kind of got mad a little bit after that. You know, got it rolling.”
Nixa’s only other loss of the season came to Hartville in the Blue Division Championship game of the Blue and Gold Tournament. They’ve also beaten Parkview three times, Webb City twice and scored wins over Greenwood, Blair Oaks, archrival Ozark and now Republic.
“We’ve played some really good talented teams, athletic teams,” Osborne said. “I think our schedule helps us in these games right here, preps us for that. We’re starting to play well.”
Combs was one of four players who scored in double-digits for the Eagles, who led 20-7 after the first quarter, 37-19 at the half and 59-39 heading into the fourth quarter.
Colin Ruffin and Jaret Nelson had 17 apiece for Nixa, while Jason Jones added 10 as the Tigers were unable to answer Nixa’s balanced scoring attack.
“If I would let some of our guys and turn them loose, we have a couple of guys tonight — or any given night — could score in the 30s,” Osborne said. “With us, it’s distributing the ball, finding open shooters and establishing the inside game.”
Republic’s Drew McMillin led all scorers with 31 points, including 16 of his team’s 19 in the first half. He was also a perfect 10-for-10 from the free-throw line, all in the first two quarters.
Giving one of the region’s top shooters so many free throws was about the only thing that Osborne didn’t like about the evening.
The Eagles held Ahlante Askew to just five points before he fouled out midway through the fourth quarter, and no other TIger hit double-digits. Will Fronabarger had nine.
“I thought our first half was just awesome,” Osborne said. “I thought we started the game extremely well. We got the lead, which was important, but they’re a hard team to play because they’re so patient.”
If the Eagles stay patient — and keep playing like this — they may just get the rematch with Kickapoo they so desire.
“I want that revenge so bad,” Combs said. “I haven’t beat them myself. They talk a lot on the Internet, stuff like that. Just to beat them and end their season then, it would be really good for us.”
