The expectancy of Nixa coaches following a post-game celebration is the floor is cleared once senior guard Jordyn Turner joins the Eagles for their post-game meeting.
Turner indeed is popular with his friends, family and fans, making it a bit tougher for him than most to get away. He took time to oblige a Steph Curry jersey-wearing, wide-eyed youngster with an autograph Tuesday after Nixa’s win at Ozark.
“I think it’s pretty cool,” Turner said of fulfilling an autograph request. “They look up to us and we try to have a good influence on them.”
Turner was an awe-struck Eagles fan himself 10 years ago fascinated with Nixa 3-point king Austin Ruder.
“I came to the games when Ruder played and they got second in State (in the 2011-12 season),” Turner said. “I wasn’t interested in autographs. I wasn’t that type of kid. But he was definitely one I looked up to.”
Today, Turner is actually looking down on Ruder in regard to their shooting accuracy from downtown.
Some of Ruder’s school records may not be challenged for a long while. His 273 career 3-pointers are 44 more than anyone else. Over his career, he was a 38-percent 3-point shooter and his peak percentage was .394 in the 2011-12 season.
We’re two months into this season and Turner has made as many 3-pointers as he’s missed and is shooting 55 percent from the field overall. He entered this week 37-of-74 from 3-point land and added five treys to his total Tuesday.
“He’s making shots,” coach Jay Osborne said.
“He’s definitely a shooter,” guard Colin Ruffin added. “He’s always been a shooter during his career and he’s playing well now. He’s hot. He doesn’t miss often.”
Turner could challenge Dawson Mills’ single-season school record 3-point percentage of .534. Mills made 62-of-116 3-point tries in the 2014-15 season. Seth Viebrook’s .494 3-point percentage (41-of-83) in the 2015-16 season ranks second in the Eagles’ annals.
Only eight Eagles have ever shot 3-pointers at a 40-percent rate or better (minimum 75 attempts) in a season.
Turner, who made 23-of-58 3-point attempts last season, embraces his role as a long-range bomber.
“On this team, I’m the shooter I guess you could say,” he said. “Defense isn’t my thing, but I come out and I think I’m shooting well.”
Turner values Ruffin’s role as Nixa’s playmaker. They’ve been backcourt mates about as long as they can remember.
“Every time Colin drives, I’ll slide to a corner and he’ll pass it to me or he’ll take a bucket,” Turner said. “We’ve got that kind of chemistry.”
In the corners or at the wings, Turner is obviously near the edge of the court. To that end, he often found himself directly in front of Ozark’s student section Tuesday. He didn’t allow himself to be intimidated.
“I heard a lot of things tonight,” Turner said. “When (opposing fans) are talking to us, I block it out and just play ball.
“This feels better than a home win,” he added. “When you’re taking over a game at someone’s place, it feels really good.”
