Pink Division semifinals: High-energy Nixa rides wave into title game
Between its length, depth and a yeoman's defensive approach, Nixa has the means to flummox much of its opposition.
Just ask defending Class 5 state champion West Plains, which fell to the high-octane Eagles for the second time in two weeks Thursday.
University of Tennessee Martin-bound forward Norah Clark had 14 points to lead third-seeded Nixa past the No. 2 seed Zizzers 61-47 in the Pink Division semifinals at the O'Reilly Event Center.
The Eagles (10-1), who haven't won the Pink and White Lady Classic title since 2002, will face Arkansas power Greenwood in Friday's 4 p.m. championship round.
After downing West Plains 49-39 at home on Dec. 19, Nixa, ranked fifth in the latest Class 6 statewide poll, expected a sharper challenge in the rematch.
Instead, Nixa kept the the Zizzers (8-2) at arm's length most of the contest, including a 45-25 third-quarter cushion.
The versatile Clark scored 10 of her 14 points in the second half and was tasked with guarding West Plains standout Allysa Joyner, holding the junior to a single digits scoring.
Laila Grant, a 6-foot 2 sophomore, and sharp-shooting junior Lill Mahy each scored eight points to round the Eagles' balanced scoring effort.
West Plains was led by Kaylea Dixon (14 points) and Olivia Lawson (13 points).
"Our team feeds off our energy, and that's something we talk about all the time. Positive energy," said Clark, a 6-foot senior "A big reason we're good is because we're so unselfish, we want each other to do well."
Most of Nixa's nine-player rotation often reaches the scoring column, a big reason 10th-year coach Jennifer Perryman thinks the Eagles can be a force when in counts − the postseason
"We're extremely deep," said Perryman, who has been with the program for 19 years. "We can run them in and out, nobody cares who scores or what their assignments are. They just want to win."
The Eagles lost several key pieces from last year's 25-4 squad to graduation, but the return of Clark, a handful of experience role players and talented crop of underclassmen have shown early promise.
"This year we are younger, but people are stepping up," Clark said.
Nixa is one of the best big-school girls basketball programs in Missouri without a recent string of state tournament trophies due to its brawny district.
The Eagles, who haven't brought home hardware from state since 2009, have been eliminated by state power Kickapoo the past three seasons.
Last season Nixa believed it had the means to break through before falling to the Lady Chiefs 55-52 in the district title game.
"We've been motivated ever since," Perryman said. "We really wanted to challenge ourselves with a tough December schedule this year to help us get ready (for district play)."
Greenwood, the defending Arkansas Class 5A state champions, downed Rock Bridge 50-34 in the other Pink Division semifinal.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Nixa defeats West Plains in Pink and White tournament
