Nixa has a home losing streak for the first time in six years.
The Eagles bowed to Columbia Hickman 69-61 Saturday, after dropping their home-opener last month to Springfield Central.
Forward Josh Peters relates the home losses are the hardest to take.
“It's annoying to lose at home,” said Peters, who had a team-high 15 points. “You’ve got everyone here, your family and people from school watching. It's not fun.”
Hickman not only handed Nixa a rare loss at home, but surely accomplished a sweep few teams can claim by winning at Ozark one night and winning at Nixa the next day.
Eagles coach Brock Blansit and a few of his players, including Peters, attended Hickman’s 61-54 win at Ozark on Friday. They felt they got the best from the Kewpies (9-1), ranked No. 8 in Class 6.
“Last night, it kind of looked like they had just had a three-hour bus ride,” Blansit said. “Boy, they were sure excited to play today. They guarded us well. Hickman played very well. They had a ton of energy.”
“Last night, they looked a lot slower and not really into the game,” Peters said. “But we knew they would come out with energy today to play us.”
Nixa didn’t respond to Hickman’s challenge nearly as well as the Eagles would have liked. At both ends of the court, Blansit could point to his team’s faults.
"The game was lost on the defensive end,” he said. “Defensively, I didn't think we played very well. We really struggled keeping the ball in front of us. They got to the rim way too easily. We've got to do a better job if we want to be a really good team."
Nixa couldn’t keep pace with Hickman offensively. Minus guards Keivon and Randy Flint, the Eagles endured their worst game of the season handling the ball.
“We had 16 turnovers, I actually think there were a couple more than that,” Blansit said. “We have not turned the ball over (like that) this season. It's something we've done a very good job of. We're averaging about eight (turnovers) a game. You're not going to beat good teams with 16-18 turnovers.”
“It was definitely noticeable,” Peters said of Nixa’s poor ball-handling. “We’d be running up the court and there would be a turnover and we'd have to run back. It was hard to get in the flow of the game with so many turnovers.”
The Eagles continued what has been a disturbing trend by having another sub-par game shooting 3-pointers. They were 6-of-21 from beyond the arc and made just one of their final nine 3-point attempts.
“I think with our 3-pointers, we're not getting the shots we normally got last year,” said Peters, who along with Garrett Hines both shot 49 percent on their 3s last season. “That’s obviously affecting me and Garrett a ton. We have to make our own shot (this season). We hope they start falling soon. (Blansit) tells us to keep shooting the ball every single game. He knows they will fall.”
Blansit indeed remains faithful in his 3-point shooters.
“Shooting the ball has been something we're fighting a little bit,” he said. “We've got good shooters. But we’re struggling putting the ball in the hole right now. It's not for lack of effort. They'll work at it. We'll start making some shots and when we do, we'll be tough.”
Forward Adam McKnight was on his way to a double-double before being sidelined with an injury on a fall to the floor with 4:50 remaining. He finished with 12 points and nine rebounds, including five offensive boards.
Center Jackson Cantwell contributed eight points and five rebounds.
“(McKnight) was a big loss,” Blansit said. “He kind of got going right before he got hurt. We've got plenty of other guys who can play. I don't have a problem playing any of them.
“We’ve got to find a way to get Jackson the ball more,” he added. “He’s not getting enough touches. When he catches the ball in (the paint), a lot of good things happen. He either scores or he kicks it out to someone for an open 3.”
There’s no guarantee Nixa (9-4) will pick up its first home win anytime soon. The Eagles are idle next week, before hosting Parkview (8-4) on Jan. 15.
“If you think Hickman is good, wait until (we) play Parkview,” Blansit said. “They are athletic, they've got size and can really guard. Our schedule does not get any easier.
“We don't have time to feel sorry for ourselves and lick our wounds,” he added. “We've got to get back in the gym and get better. I know our guys will do that.”
