By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
They’re not pure country or from a big city.
They’re simply Nixa kids, raised on Eagle Pride.
And they’re on the verge of a state basketball championship.
Nixa beat top-ranked Staley 53-43 on Thursday night at JQH Arena in the Class 6 boys’ Show-Me Showdown semifinals.
A year after losing to eventual state champion Kickapoo in sectionals, Nixa is one win away from keeping the Class 6 crown in Southwest Missouri.
“We thought we had a state championship-caliber team last year,” said Nixa coach Jay Osborne. “The team we lost to had a couple of move-ins who were really good. They were better than us. In hindsight, I think that prepared us for this moment.
“It’s our time. It’s Nixa’s time. I expect a great effort tomorrow against an outstanding team.”
Nixa plays for the Class 6 state championship on Friday afternoon. The Eagles face Christian Brothers College (CBC), a private school from St. Louis, at 4 p.m. at JQH Arena in Springfield.
CBC beat Chaminade 70-52 in the other Class 6 semifinal on Thursday.
“I’m super stoked,” said Nixa guard Kael Combs, who scored a game-high 19 against Staley. “We’ve been waiting for this since we were little kids. This means a ton to us.”
Said teammate Colin Ruffin: “Last year when we lost, we were heartbroken. We really wanted that, especially because of the (2021) seniors. We’ve held onto that feeling all summer and all offseason.”
Nixa has won two state championships in program history, most recently in 1999.
The Eagles have maintained a high standard ever since. Just in the last 10 years, Nixa has made two final fours and won seven district championships.
As Osborne pointed out, they’ve done it with Nixa originals.
“The one thing I’m most proud about in our basketball program and with this team is that we have no transfers, no recruits and no move-ins,” Osborne said. “These guys were all here in elementary and junior high. They watched our players before them come through and how hard they played.
“That’s probably as satisfying as anything: We don’t have any outside help. It’s Nixa kids. We’re proud to be here.”
Nixa’s guard tandem of Combs and Ruffin led the way against Staley, scoring 19 and 18, respectively.
They did it against a premier defensive team.
Entering this weekend, Staley hadn’t allowed more than 50 points in four postseason games.
For the season, Staley’s only allowed 60 or more points in one game – a mid-December loss to Class 5 school Webster Groves.
Nixa jumped out to a 13-6 lead after the first quarter, led 28-16 at halftime and maintained its lead the entire second half.
“We knew Staley would be physical coming into this game, with us being from a no-name type of town,” Combs said. “We knew we had to hit them in the mouth first.”
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
Nixa capitalized on Staley’s early and frequent foul troubles on Thursday.
The Eagles shot 23-for-32 overall from the free throw line. They attempted only 29 field goals in the contest, making 13.
On the other end, Nixa limited Staley to 15-for-43 shooting from the field. Kayden Fish led the Falcons (26-5 overall, No. 1-ranked Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Class 6 state poll) with 16 points.
“We tried to punch them in the mouth early,” Ruffin said. “We knew their Staley was going to come back on a run or two, and I felt like we executed well through it. We stayed together.”
Added Osborne: “I thought both teams guarded the heck out of everybody. It was just a defensive battle.”
Nixa (28-3 overall; No. 4-ranked MBCA Class 6 poll) preserved its lead throughout the second half despite repeated Staley runs. The Falcons drew within 45-41 with three minutes to play, but empty possessions and Nixa free throws down the stretch sealed the outcome.
“Staley hurt us inside, but you can’t take away everything from a good team like that,” Osborne said. “We bent and bent but didn’t break, which was key.”
A win Friday would mark Nixa’s first state basketball championship in MSHSAA’s largest classification.
Osborne recalled hearing a “Start the tractors” taunt from an opposing student section during Nixa’s state runner-up finish in 2012.
“I don’t know what that meant,” Osborne said. “These guys (Ruffin and Combs), they don’t know what tractors are. They think we’re a bunch of hicks from the sticks. We’re a growing, prosperous community. We have one of the best school districts in the state.”
Nixa 53, Staley 43
Staley 6 10 16 11 — 43
Nixa 13 15 12 13 — 53
Nixa (28-3 overall) – Kael Combs 19, Colin Ruffin 18, Jaret Nelson 8, Jackson Bell 3, Jordyn Turner 2, Colten Berry 2, Noah Engelman 1
Staley (26-5 overall) – Kayden Fish 16, Kyan Evans 12, Emmanuel Byrd 8, Asa Bridges 3, Jared Lee 2, Cameron Manyawu 2
