SPRINGFIELD — Nixa’s Colin Ruffin related it was simply spontaneous and by chance that he and teammate Kael Combs ended up at Kickapoo’s center-court circle for a post-game celebration photo Tuesday.
Ruffin and Combs were all smiles for the camera and rightfully so following the Eagles’ long-awaited 65-60 overtime win. After the photo was taken, Ruffin gave a little stomp with his right foot on the Chiefs’ logo.
“We were just trying to find a spot away from everybody, but yeah that was a good spot to go to,” Ruffin said.
The free-throw line, of all places, was also a good place for Nixa to go to. Making 11-of-13 free throws over the fourth quarter and overtime went a long ways toward helping the Eagles stomp out a losing streak against Kickapoo that had stretched to 12 games.
Fans had to feel good for forward Jaret Nelson.
Nelson had a chance to seal a Nixa win against Milton (Georgia) at the Tournament Of Championships last week, but missed two free throws with :05 remaining and Milton won with a 3-pointer at the buzzer. He bounced back by making 3-of-4 free throws in the clutch while scoring 11 points Tuesday.
“To miss both of those in the Milton game, it sticks with you. Similar situation tonight and I was thinking, ‘I can’t miss,’” Nelson said. “Free throws are something I work on all the time. I don’t know if some people think I don’t work on my free throws. My friends give me a little bit of crap about it. It is what it is. It’s just something I’m not good at.
“I shoot free throws every day,” he added. “I work on my post moves and free throws. I really don’t work on anything else.”
Nelson cited hot-shooting guard Jordyn Turner for tutelage he has provided him.
“I’ve worked on my free-throw shooting with Turner and I’ve moved my feet closer and centered myself up a little better,” Nelson said.
Nixa won two of three TOC games for the first time in program history, despite 39-of-70 free-throw shooting. The Eagles finished 12-of-16 at the foul line Tuesday.
“Can’t complain about that,” coach Jay Osborne said. “We didn’t talk much about our free-throw shooting (beforehand). We weren’t going to dwell on it. It’s like a good hitter going through a slump. We’ve got good shooters. We know we’ll make them.”
Ruffin missed his first free throw against Kickapoo, but went on to make seven straight. He was 4-for-4 on free throws in overtime to cap his 24-point night.
“I’m glad everyone made their free throws,” said Ruffin, who had 17 points in the second half. “Shout out to my team for working on them.”
Nixa (13-2) put itself in position to clinch from the charity stripe, thanks to a Turner 3-point goal that opened the extra period, flawless ball-handling and hands-off defense.
Turner finished with a handful of treys.
“We played very well in overtime,” Osborne said. “We did a lot of good things. We got defensive stops when we needed them.”
Perhaps most impressive, the Eagles were whistled for only seven fouls all night. They had four fouls in the second half and one of them was a technical foul called on Turner.
Kickapoo (12-3) shot just eight free throws.
The best athletes on the floor somewhat negated each other. Combs limited Kickapoo D-I recruit Zaide Lowery to eight points. Lowery also deserves credit for his defense, as he held Combs to seven. Neither star scored over the final 12 minutes.
“(Lowery) and Kael, it was kind of a stalemate,” Osborne said.
With Ruffin handling the ball most of the time, Nixa worked the final 1:30 off the clock to set up for a final shot to try to win at the end of regulation. The Eagles went on to hold the ball for :55 during one possession in overtime.
“This is a good solid win,” Osborne said. “It will go a long way toward District seeds. This makes a statement. They’ve got it going on over here, a good program, good players and they’re well-coached. It’s nice to get a win over here.”
Prior to losing 12 straight to Kickapoo dating back to the 2014-2015 season, Nixa had won won 11 of 13 versus the Chiefs going back to the 2008-2009 season.
“How many other people have played them 10 times in the last four years? No one else will play them, we’ll play them,” Osborne said. “We played them three times last year. Who else played them three times? Nobody.”
Nelson felt the Eagles are relieved to end their losing streak to Kickapoo, but added they will feel much better if they can also get the best of the Chiefs at Districts. Kickapoo has ended Nixa’s season the past three years.
“Everybody’s happy. But I feel there’s a certain vibe that it’s not over,” Nelson said. “We’ll still probably have to play them again. That means we’re going to have to beat them again. So, the job’s not really finished.”
NIXA (65) — Ruffin 7 7-8 24, Turner 5 0-0 15, Combs 3 0-0 7, Engelman 2 0-1 4, Nelson 4 3-4 11, Berry 1 0-1 2, Bell 0 2-2 2.
KICKAPOO (60) — Lowery 3 2-4 8, Oetting 4 0-2 11, Robinson 3 2-2 11, Noel 1 0-0 2, Doening 6 0-0 14, Shorter 6 0-0 14.
Nixa 18 10 21 6 10 - 65
Kickapoo 12 18 18 7 5 - 60
3-point goals - Turner 5, Ruffin 3, Oetting 3, Robinson 3, Doening 2, Shorter 2, Combs.
