It began near Eaglecrest Street in Nixa and damaged an auto repair shop where part of the roof was removed and a wall collapsed The tornado path was intermittent to the northeast crossing Highway 160 before lifting near a storage shed business said another EF-1 tornado was confirmed near Aurora and was on the ground for 2 miles The NWS is still conducting additional surveys to determine if there could have been tornadoes anywhere else More: Need help after Tuesday's storm? Here are resources in Greene County for home, tree damage While photos and videos on social media speculated about a tornado in north Springfield A shelf cloud is associated with a solid line of storms with the front edge of a strong storm system as was evident Tuesday it can look like it's coming down towards the ground "It does look kind of scary when you look straight up at it but it was only kind of a perspective thing that made the cloud look like it was coming down to the ground." There are still storms anticipated continuing into Thursday Nelson said while severe outcomes could give way to mostly high wind threats tornado threats are low and only expected east of Highway 65 she said it is not expected to be nearly as strong and severe as Tuesday as the environment to make such powerful winds materialize has been used up Marta Mieze covers local government at the News-Leader An unloaded handgun and a box of ammunition was discovered April 22 on the SCORE campus of Nixa High School which stands for Second Chance of Receiving an Education is an intervention program for students in grades 9-12 who have experienced difficulty in the traditional high school setting Nixa Public Schools sent a message to parents and staff in an effort to "dispel any rumors" and provide accurate details about the incident There were no threats or injuries reported school officials found an unloaded handgun an unloaded magazine and a box of ammunition The district wrote in the message: "We do not believe any students or staff were aware of the weapon’s presence at the time of the search." Officials also said they do not believe the student had "any intent" to use the weapon at school No details about the student including name the student was placed in the custody of law enforcement officials "We are continuing our investigation and will follow all appropriate disciplinary procedures in responding to this violation." A review of the student handbook for the SCORE program showed an initial weapons violation carries a 10-day out-of-school suspension and notification to the superintendent's office Nixa school board candidates were asked a mix of questions crafted by parents and teachers including steps they would take to improve transparency and accountability The four candidates on the April 8 ballot were asked how their ideas would be reflected in board practices and district leadership especially when it came to financial clarity communication around key decisions and public access to meetings The forum was hosted by the Nixa Parent Teacher Organization and the Nixa Teacher Association an accountant with two children in the district said transparency is the foundation of trust He said the key is to "maintain open and honest communication." He said sharing budget details and clearly outlining how funds are allocated are spent "There's some confusion on how funds are created and how buildings are paid for I think we need to be more transparent on that and provide a little bit more detail," he said Lindsay said the board also needs to explain the "why" behind policy changes "We need to be expanding meeting accessibility," he said suggesting a mix of in-person and virtual options at different times He said the board must begin "overcommunicating our goals" and look at where the district is achieving and where more work may be needed "No one should ever be confused on what the vision and the goal is for these public schools," he said Lindsay said feedback from the community should be addressed in timely and meaningful ways so "not just hearing but actually listening and responding." He wants to see the district conduct surveys go through self-assessment and external reviews "That is something we should do individually and also as a group." Bidinger has a background in retail buying She has a child in the district and a recent graduate "Transparency and accountability aren't just good governance they're how we build trust and support from our community members," she said "I believe that when decisions are made in the open with honest dialogue and clear communication our community feels more confident in the direction we're going as a district." Bidinger said she has encouraged the rest of the board to have more robust discussion during meetings "even on topics that are complex and contentious." "Our families and staff deserve to see not just what decisions are being made but how we make them and why we make them," she said I'd like the effort to add a 'first read' process for our policy revisions especially those suggested by the Missouri School Boards' Association." She wants the board to be more intentional about what items get placed on the "consent agenda," which are typically voted on without further discussion unless there is a specific request Bidinger said she also wants to add two board work sessions annually one in the spring focused on the budget and one in the fall focused on long-term priorities "Adding these to our sessions would create more space for the community to understand some of our major initiatives and the board's role in shaping them," she said McKnight is a real estate agent with Keller Williams whose wife Karen works for the district They have two children enrolled in Nixa schools He said accountability starts with the board being "willing to share our decisions" and how they were made and to listen and respond in a reasonable manner "We'll be willing to have tough discussions and not always agree yet support decisions that are made when we put students and staff first," he said McKnight said the hallmarks of transparency include accessible information thoughtful communication and practices that make board meetings documents and decisions available to the public he will advocate for "clear financial reporting" that helps the public understand how spending aligns with district priorities and student needs He also supports a system of "checks and balances" that will allow the board to evaluate the district's performance and share the results with the community an executive assistant at Walden University has worked as a substitute and an employee in Nixa schools She said the candidates appeared to be "on the same page" when it came to the importance of transparency and public awareness about the innerworkings of the district Fischer proposed a solution that she believes will give parents and taxpayers more information about what happens at school board meetings whether they want to learn about the current or prior decision-making to house all of our board information with a policy library board meeting details with clickable links to financial information that was discussed during the meeting as well as decisions that were made because there is a lot that happens in those meetings," she said Fischer said she would volunteer to maintain that platform "This would be a tremendous resource for our school community." The forum was filmed by Nixa High School journalism students and can be viewed on the Eagle Air YouTube site and at NixaJournalism.net Candidates were also asked about teacher retention and how they'd identify and address achievement gaps journalism advisor Beth Eggleston wrote: "Local journalism serves a vital function of providing our community with important information regarding upcoming elections and Nixa journalism students are happy to oblige who has filmed the past two school board forums." More: School choice, increased public scrutiny part of Ozark school board candidate forum Candidates running for office in April were required to file detailed campaign finance reports with the Missouri Ethics Commission by Monday Here are the details for the Nixa school board candidates: The family of Oakly White, a Nixa football offensive lineman coming off his senior season lost their home in a fire over the weekend The recent Southwest Baptist signee was able to evacuate his mother a friend and two dogs before the fire destroyed everything except a brick wall "I'm just trying to stay positive," White said The Nixa community is now rallying around the All-Central Ozark Conference East performer through clothing and monetary donations White's sister-in-law created a GoFundMe, which had raised over $8,000 as of Monday morning Accounts across the state shared a social media post by Nixa football coach John Perry White has already received donated clothes and housing from friends and neighbors Insurance will put him and his mother in a hotel and they'll continue to find somewhere for their dogs to stay "Coach Perry and the Nixa community have been supporting me We're going to use the money for clothes and stuff." Nixa's offensive line helped lead the Eagles to 3,710 total rushing yards and 58 touchdowns this past season White will continue his football career next season at Southwest Baptist in Bolivar so he tinkered with it before trying to go back to sleep White investigated the fire alarm the second time a friend who was spending the night and two dogs out of the house White said an initial investigation believes it was an electrical fire NIXA — Nixa basketball coach Brock Blansit had all his players for only three practices following the football team's run to a state runner-up finish but they had been more focused on scoring touchdowns and making critical stops when the game was on the line The early games weren't pretty. Despite a 7-0 start to the season, the Eagles still needed somewhat of a wake-up call to remind them that wearing "Nixa" across their chests didn't automatically mean they were going to come out on top in the end. That alarm went off during an early-morning quarterfinal game at the Blue and Gold Tournament It gave the Eagles the spark they needed heading into the rest of the season I feel like we just played our butts off," sophomore standout Adam McKnight said High-level effort became the name of Nixa's game The Eagles are now headed to their first semifinal appearance since 2022 after a 58-49 win over Rockhurst in Friday's Class 6 quarterfinal game at Nixa High School "This season has been a whirlwind," Blansit said "These guys have made me look really good at times They just do a great job of staying with it defensively Nixa often finds itself outsized by its opponent no matter who gets into the game on a particular night who has risen to the occasion multiple times this season who had to step in when McKnight got in early foul trouble Jaise Combs steps up when it's needed the most He hit the game-winner in the district championship against Kickapoo earlier in the week and the next shot he took was a made 3 to start Friday's game The ultra-athletic Flint brothers tend to make a big impact and it was Keivon Flint who took over offensively in the second half to leave the Eagles to a semifinal help on the defensive side and that's 100% what has gotten us to this point." Nixa will now face its toughest test of the season when it plays Oak Park in a state semifinal on Wednesday at noon at Mizzou Arena in Columbia The Northmen have been the state's top-ranked team for the majority of the season and feature lengthy guards with college basketball in their future But the Eagles have yet to back down from a challenge They'll surely give the Northmen all they have when they meet on the biggest stage We'll play Oak Park and that's another beast But I'm sure our guys will be excited and ready to play." COLUMBIA — After Nixa basketball kept top-ranked Oak Park within striking distance for much of the first half Nixa lost 61-50 to Oak Park in a Missouri Class 6 semifinal matchup on Wednesday afternoon at Mizzou Arena in Columbia The Eagles will conclude their season against Lafayette at 10 a.m This will be Nixa's first third-place game appearance since 2002 when it finished third in the state The Eagles have finished as state runner-ups in their last two appearances semifinal appearances Sophomore standout Adam McKnight turned in a solid performance for the Eagles showcasing a high-motor he's become known for in his first two years with the team He finished with 21 points and nine rebounds More: Why Nixa basketball is OK with playing in third-place game after Class 6 semifinal heartbreak scored nine of the second half's first 11 points to create the distance needed Nixa made one last push late in the fourth quarter going on a 6-0 run over a little more than a minute The Northmen were able to hold off the Eagles in the final minutes San Diego commit Corbin Allen finished the game with 21 points and 12 boards Oak Park will play Chaminade on Thursday at 4 p.m More: Missouri high school basketball playoffs: Class 4-6 championship schedule, streaming, tickets It's a five-point game with 41.7 seconds left They scored three straight before Ty Kellis split a pair of free throws A quick turnover then turns into an easy layup for Jaise Combs Another turnover turns into an Adam McKnight bucket Quick 6-0 run for the Eagles to bring this game within five with 2:34 left — A 6-2 run for the Eagles after Josh Kori started the quarter with a dunk He has all four of the Northmen's points in the fourth — Northmen end the half making 3 of their last 11 shots but get a shot to go at the buzzer to take a 40-30 lead into the fourth Adam McKnight is up to 16 points and six rebounds the Northmen have scored seven of the game's last 10 points — Adam McKnight is trying to keep the Eagles' head above water He has 14 points on 7-10 shooting with four rebounds Eagles down nine with 4:28 left in the quarter — Oak Park gets to the basket on its first three possessions and extends its lead to eight with 6:25 left in the third quarter — Half ends with the Eagles trailing by four considering the handful of turnovers when it looked like the Northmen could pull away — Turnover problems have plagued the Eagles in this quarter Northmen have now scored five straight with four minutes left in the half — The Eagles have turned the ball over on each of their first three possessions of the second quarter — Can't imagine Oak Park's been held to fewer than 10 points in many quarters this season Impressive defensive effort from the Eagles has this knotted up after one Adam McKnight and Randy Flint each have four points — Oak Park just snapped a 3:04 scoring drought when it split a pair of free throws — Adam McKnight gives the Eagles a one-point lead with 4:11 left in the quarter They've done a solid job of containing San Diego commit Corbin Allen early I'm sitting courtside for this Class 6 semifinal The winner will play Chaminade in tomorrow's 4 p.m Jaise Combs and Adam McKnight are in the starting lineup for the Eagles What time does Nixa basketball vs Oak Park play today?Date: Wednesday March 19Time: NoonNixa and Oak Park will play in a Class 6 state semifinal on Wednesday How can you stream Nixa basketball vs Oak Park today?Stream: MSHSAA.tv ($)The semifinals and championships will be streamed live on MSHSAA.tv for a fee Individual pay-per-view access for games is listed at $10.60 An access pass to all games for Classes 1-6 One incumbent is among the four candidates vying for two open seats on the Nixa school board this spring The first-time candidates are Ashtyn Fischer The two candidates with the most votes in the April 8 election will be sworn in mid-April to serve three-year and hires and evaluates the superintendent Here are the four candidates on the ballot: Career: "My professional background is in retail buying I stepped away from my career to focus on supporting my family and leveraging my expertise to serve in the community." my family chose Nixa for its exceptional schools and strong sense of community I’m now the proud parent of a 2024 Nixa graduate and a current sophomore." community service: "In addition to serving on the Nixa School Board I'm on the Advisory Board of First Priority of the Ozarks teach Elementary Sunday School and volunteer with Night Light International a ministry that works to restore lives affected by human trafficking." Why run this year: "Nixa is an exceptional school district that consistently meets the academic expectations of our community public education faces unprecedented challenges from the ongoing teacher resignation crisis to unfunded state mandates I’m running to help Nixa address these challenges and continue supporting the district’s unique needs and values." how will you make an impact: "I'll prioritize maintaining local control to ensure that policies and decisions reflect Nixa’s values while keeping the focus on essential academics that support core educational goals." Website: https://bridgetfornps.com Career: "I am an Executive Assistant at Walden University." District connection: "I have lived in Nixa for 14 years Both of my children have been Nixa students their entire academic careers .. I worked as a substitute in various buildings throughout the district as both a classroom and clerical sub I then transitioned to a full-time role at Nixa Junior High in the counselor's office I left my professional role with the district in 2022 but remain an active parent and volunteer." I led a local organization called Abundant Blessings I was able to steer the organization through a season of tremendous growth providing thousands of local foster children and children in low income houses with clothing I also enjoy volunteering for Care to Learn I got to oversee the distribution of Care to Learn resources within the building I enjoy packing weekend food bags for the students at Century One of my favorite volunteer opportunities every year is the Back to School Bash I love welcoming the families back from year to year and seeing the kids as they grow." Why run this year: "I spent a great deal of time researching issues within the district and what I truly miss being a part of the Nixa Public Schools community and after researching the roles and responsibilities of school board members I felt that this would be a great way for me to make an impact." how will you make an impact: "I see two key areas where I could make a huge difference: Communication and legislation I think that the community is bombarded with information so it is hard to catch peoples' attention and really dig into the 'why' and 'how' behind specific issues and decisions This prompts a lot of misinformation or assumption I hope to be able to provide extra transparency and maybe even 'overcommunication' to ensure the school community understands how and why decisions are made I have learned over the past year that a significant number of the decisions made for our district are influenced by legislation and red tape at the state level I hope to be able to meet with our legislators and bring forth the issues most important to our students Email: AshtynFischer4NixaSchools@gmail.com Website: www.ashtynfischer4nixaschools.com Facebook: "Ashtyn Fischer for Nixa School Board" District connection: "I am a proud father of two daughters in Nixa my family intentionally chose to move to Nixa driven by the exceptional quality of its schools." community service: "I have served on the board of the Nixa Education Foundation and various other non-profit and for-profit organizations I am most passionate about my service in my local church with youth and men's ministry." I was raised with a strong understanding of the importance of serving others in the community and the church Nixa is an excellent school district and I am committed to actively listen and contribute thoughtful insights that support and strengthen important work underway." how will you make an impact: "I would promote transparency in communication I will advocate for clear and open dialogue while ensuring careful oversight of the district's budget to align with our shared vision for success I would also strengthen our parent collaboration by fostering stronger connections between families and educators." Website: www.jonathanlindsay4nixaschoolboard.com Career: "I work as a real estate agent with Keller Williams and have been working in real estate and building homes for the past seven years Prior to that I had worked as the basketball manager at the Fieldhouse Sports Center as well as in the steel construction business." District connection: "My family and I have physically lived in Nixa for the past 12 years but our connection to Nixa started several years prior to that has worked for the district the past 25 years as an athletic trainer high school activities/athletics director and her current role as Executive Director of Special Services We will be celebrating our 19th wedding anniversary this summer who attend Nixa schools and have since preschool Our kids are very involved in athletics and we love to support our Nixa Eagles Our family is a member of the PTO and Nixa Athletic Booster Club community service: "For over 20 years I served the southwest Missouri area as a basketball and football official at the high school level and also officiated some college basketball It allowed me a wonderful opportunity to interact with young athletes and give back to sports that brought so much to my life I was a member of the Southwest Missouri Basketball Officials Association and served as a board member for 12 years with eight years as president within that organization before hanging up my whistle to do more coaching and spend time with family I have been a coach of both basketball and football through the Nixa Youth Sports programs and even spent a year volunteering as a soccer coach with the Nixa Parks and Recreation I coached our son’s travel basketball team through their youth years where they earned national rankings as a team." Why run this year: "Nixa Public Schools has been a part of my family’s life for over 25 years Being a school board member is a way to give back to a district that has provided so much to our family and community." how will you make an impact: "My goal is simple: To keep our district progressing forward and continuing our legacy of excellence Our schools are such an important reason that people move to our community We need to make sure we are preparing students for the future with a well rounded education and we have to make sure we attract and retain the best teachers in order to do that." Email: timmcknight417@gmail.com (This story was updated to provide more information) COLUMBIA — Tears filled the Nixa Eagles' eyes as they surrounded coach John Perry on the Faurot Field turf It's always hard to lose the last game, Perry thought as he looked his players in their heavy eyes It didn't matter when that final game occurred — even if it was in a 35-20 loss in the Missouri Class 6 state championship capping off their best season in program history But as Perry and the Eagles turned around to see Nixa's side of the bleachers filled with the entire town, it was hard not to appreciate what they'd done. And the Eagles feel like they're just getting started "We set a foundation that we can build on for a long time," Perry said "This group has been absolutely phenomenal." More: Nixa football falls short to De Smet in Missouri Class 6 championship The Eagles will bring home a runner-up finish matching the second-place trophy the school earned a decade before The Eagles were closer to glory than the 15-point difference showed at the De Smet 17 with just over a minute left Sophomore Adam McKnight couldn't find an open receiver as he went down in the backfield and fumbled The Spartans scored on a 70-yard touchdown run two plays later Nixa earned its way to becoming one of the state's elite Five years under Perry have seen the Eagles earn new milestones every year they earned their first championship berth in a decade advanced past a state quarterfinal round that haunted them in recent years and had one of the best ground attacks in state history behind what will be remembered as one of the great offensive lines to come through the region The senior class ended with 42 wins over the last four seasons they helped instill pride that the entire Nixa community has bought into "This was such a special group; for as long as I've been here it's been about building leaders and building relationships and I think that's why it was so special," senior offensive lineman Jacob Lile said We're going to keep leading no matter what." Don't expect Nixa to fall off any time soon The Eagles will keep talent that could have them playing in the same place next year hoping to have tears of joy after winning the final game Cantwell and other members of the offensive line will return The Eagles always seem to have more star players waiting in the wings but he will have plenty more opportunities McKnight couldn't help but smile and look ahead "I want to be in this situation next year," McKnight said What are we going to do to get better and prepare for next year You've got to put down a price and put down the work." NIXA — Growing up in a Nixa basketball gymnasium, Jaise and Kael Combs dreamed of playing on the biggest stages and hitting championship-winning shots. About 24 hours before Nixa senior Jaise Combs was set to be the star player for the Eagles in a district championship game against Kickapoo, he watched his older brother on television cut down the nets as a Missouri Valley Conference champion Drake sophomore Kael Combs watched from the bleachers at his alma matter when his younger brother had the ball in the final seconds against rival Kickapoo Jaise Combs had the ball at the top of the key with five seconds left. He crossed over to his right, created the separation he needed, and let it fly from deep. Nixa players stormed the court after the shot fell through with 1.8 seconds left The Chiefs couldn't get a game-tying shot off at the buzzer as the Eagles clinched a 56-53 victory in a Class 6 District 5 championship that won't soon be forgotten "I really don't know what to think or feel in that moment," Jaise Combs said "I'm pretty sure it'll hit me at some point." Jaise Combs finished with a game-high 19 points It capped off a remarkable game of back-and-forth action The Eagles got down as much as 10 in the first quarter "Those guys just expect to win," Eagles coach Brock Blansit said "We were down six with not much time left and there was no panic They're just in the huddle saying that if we get a couple of steals here The shot clinched Nixa a spot in Friday's quarterfinals against Rockhurst The game will be played in Nixa at a time that has yet to be determined It handed Nixa its first district championship since finishing as the state runner-up in 2022 It's the first time the Eagles won two games against Kickapoo in the same season since the same year The shot also added an exclamation point to the second half of Jaise Combs' season when he emerged as one of the best players in the Ozarks much like his brother did during the second half of his senior year Kael Combs had a shot to beat Troy at the buzzer in the Nixa Invitational championship in 2023 Jaise Combs now has a game-winning shot to beat Kickapoo in a district championship on his résumé It's been a heck of a week for the Combs family "It's been really successful and victorious "It just feels really good for both of us to work really hard and it's been really good to see that we've come out of this victorious." NIXA — Four years ago, when Logan Hughes was an assistant baseball coach at Drury he was convinced to apply for the Nixa High School job For years, he had scouted the program and became somewhat familiar with it. A booming high school in a city right outside Springfield wanted to be a powerhouse in everything it did. Hughes was offered the job, and after his father urged him to take it, he accepted. he's already accumulated more than 100 wins and now has a team loaded with highly touted college prospects who can challenge for the program's first-ever state championship "It's just one of those things that you've got to take advantage of when you do." More: Why did Jackson Cantwell rule out Missouri football? What to know as his decision nears and it looks capable of leading the Eagles to another state appearance after the boys' basketball and football teams qualified this academic year "We knew we had the talent and we'd be able to compete with anybody," shortstop Caeden Cloud said "We just kind of have that mental factor that we're just going to come out and win." Cloud is among the team's main attractions as a shortstop signed with Kentucky He closed Nixa's 8-0 win over Joplin on Wednesday by fielding a ball deep in the infield and throwing a perfect dart across the field to the first baseman for the final out He made the difficult plays look routine while improving to a .410 batter this season with a trio of home runs The only player reaching base more than him is centerfielder Wyatt Vincent, a Missouri State signee His speed in centerfield allows the corner outfielders to play near the foul lines because he covers so much ground Seniors Jackson Gamble (Missouri Southern) and Mason Duncan (Mission) were also freshmen when Hughes took over the program "We knew we had an extremely talented freshman class that played a lot of highly competitive baseball growing up," Hughes said "We knew that if they continued to progress and continue to play a lot they would have a chance to be as special as the senior group we have now." Just as the current seniors watched the classes in front of them the younger Eagles have made names for themselves Sophomores Adam McKnight and Cameron Miller were recently tabbed as the No and neither is anywhere near their ceilings McKnight is a three-sport standout who is a rising prospect at quarterback and was the most consistent player on a basketball team that reached a state semifinal but he went from not seeing live pitching in more than 10 months to hitting a home run in his first game after the basketball season ended Miller is the team's everyday third baseman and has the arm to be a great starter on the mound in his future The velocity of his throws to first from across the diamond shows that his coach knows what he's talking about "These kids are good because they work at it and put the time and effort into it," Hughes said They come out here and play the best they can Nixa heads into the rest of this season with a target on its back The Eagles have been good at everything in 2024-25 and this star-studded roster is no different They'll play in a Columbia tournament that features some of the state's best before playing the rest of their Central Ozark Conference schedule A loaded district features the other top teams in the area they'll have a shot at yet another special run "It'd be a great story to tell my kids someday that I was able to go to state in three sports in my sophomore year," McKnight said I think it's time to get a first in baseball." Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Jim was the son of Kenneth and Virginia Bryant where he graduated with the Nixa High School Class of 1957  Jim worked four summers along side his dad as an iron worker to pay for college Jim continued his education at Southwest Missouri State University earning degrees in Agriculture and Business where he was offered the opportunity to manage a cheese plant in New York City choosing instead to remain in Nixa close to his new girlfriend—later his wife of 59 years—and his love for his hometown Jim accepted a position with the Springfield City Health Department where he worked as a Grade A Milk Inspector for over 36 years he received numerous awards for his outstanding service  Jim was a passionate advocate for his community where he helped secure land for the construction of schools and was instrumental in establishing the school’s football program Louis to haul a trailer of bleachers back to Nixa for the first football field A steadfast supporter of Nixa Future Farmers of America Jim and Ilene were honored with a Chapter Farmer Award  Jim’s talents and love of cooking were well-known especially at the Nixa Sucker Day festivities where he could often be found frying fish with expert skill Nothing brought him more joy than hosting gatherings at his home cooking his famous sucker fish freshly snagged or gigged from the Finley River or Bull Creek alongside his sons He enjoyed tending his cattle farm and cherished walks in the woods His sons’ hunting trophies are a testament to the memories they shared in the field together  Jim proudly served his country in the Army Reserves for six years he devoted over 18 years to volunteering at the Nixa Senior Citizens Center delivering meals to homebound seniors until his health prevented him from continuing despite the frequent chorus of "How much further is it?" from his young sons attending his kids’ and grandkids’ sporting events and even coaching his sons’ Little League teams Friday nights were often spent playing Rook with friends where laughter and camaraderie were always present  A natural storyteller and people person Jim loved meeting new people and hearing their stories "Tell me all about yourself and how did you get your start?" He found joy in making others laugh "If I can make one person laugh long enough to forget their problems  Jim’s faith was the cornerstone of his life he was an active member of North Nixa Baptist Church Known for his "Dad Joke of the Week," he greeted everyone with warmth and humor his wife Ilene (Kellett) Bryant; his two sons Patsy (Stephen) Hedgpeth and Judy (Paul) Moore; his sister-in-law offer a glimpse into his kind and thoughtful heart: "As I travel through life I have found the real people are the ones that are truly interested in making lives better." Jim was undeniably one of those “real people,” and his memory will continue to inspire all who knew him donations may be made to Nixa Senior Center Missouri with Pastor Travis Edwards officiating Visitation will precede the service at 10:00 AM  A Graveside Service will follow the Funeral Service at Glenn Cemetery Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Nixa’s Aubrey Posegate has defense in her heart Scoring opportunities are rare for the sophomore defender playing center defender or outside back,” Posegate said Posegate finally got her moment in the offensive spotlight Thursday night – against one of Nixa’s biggest rivals She scored the game-winner as Nixa defeated Kickapoo 1-0 on a rainy night in Springfield The goal was the first in Posegate’s career – for club or school “I’ve always wanted to get a goal,” Posegate said As a swing player for last season’s district title-winning team Posegate played on Nixa’s JV and varsity we’d put her up top sometimes and she still wouldn’t score,” Nixa coach Evan Palmer said Posegate scored midway through the second half after a Nixa corner kick bounced amid traffic in front of the Kickapoo net “It feels amazing and it’s great to have this opportunity with this team because they’re amazing players,” Posegate said Everyone’s very competitive at practice and everything Thursday night’s win was the latest accolade in an impressive season thus far for Nixa which improved to 11-1 overall and 6-0 in the Central Ozark Conference the Lady Eagles own wins over the likes of Willard Nixa notched two wins against strong out-of-area competition (Timberland Louis Schools – Francis Howell Central and Cor Jesu Academy – in early May The lone blemish thus far was a 3-0 road loss at Blue Springs South in the first week of the season “We had a fantastic weekend (at the Kickapoo Shootout),” Palmer said “We want to put ourselves against those good teams because those are the types of teams we might see if we make it to the postseason.” Kickapoo’s defense and freshman goalkeeper Gia Current helped the Lady Chiefs stay level through the first 40 minutes Current made a diving save in the 23rd minute to deny a would-be Nixa goal following a rebound opportunity in traffic CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME 5-1) have allowed one or fewer goals in 12 of their 14 matches Nixa’s advantage in shots and possessions increased The Lady Eagles can lean on their depth to keep their starters fresh Thursday’s hero – Posegate – is part of that bench unit They get a little rest so by the end of the game they have a little more left in the tank.” Kickapoo will host Pembroke Hill for a Saturday afternoon match this weekend Nixa returns to action on Monday night at Glendale Nixa and Kickapoo could meet again for a rematch in next month’s Class 4 District 5 Tournament The Lady Eagles prevailed in last year’s district title game The Nixa-Kickapoo series continues to be tight nine of the 12 matchups have been decided by a one-goal margin NIXA — One of the most dominant high school football teams to come through the Springfield area will play for a Class 6 state championship Nixa football (13-0) used a commanding ground game in a 56-46 win over Kirkwood (9-3) in a Class 6 state semifinal on Saturday afternoon in front of a packed house at Nixa High School has the Eagles playing for a state championship for the second time in the program's history The appearance follows their 2014 state runner-up finish Senior running back Dylan Rebura finished the game with 322 rushing yards and six touchdowns Sophomore quarterback Adam McKnight ran for 111 yards as Nixa rushed for 440 total Class 6 title game in Columbia led by five-star offensive lineman Jackson Cantwell McKnight and safety Parker Mann are among the many who helped the Eagles meet their incredibly high expectations They will face De Smet Jesuit (11-2) for the championship The Spartans finished as a state runner-up in 2020 after winning the championship the year before They beat Liberty 34-14 on Saturday afternoon More: Nixa football superfan Crawford Bassak brings out the best in the Eagles The Eagles dominated with the same gameplan they've used all season — win in the trenches and hand the ball to Rebura Fifty of the Eagles' 54 plays were on the ground with only two going backward when Rebura mishandled snaps in the wildcat formation One of the four passes was a 38-yard touchdown pass from McKnight to Lane Meltabarger Another was an apparent touchdown pass on replay that was ruled an incompletion on the field; it resulted in the only drive the Eagles didn't score Rebura scored on the Eagles' final three drives to ice the game The only thing stopping him were cramps that sidelined him for a play He immediately scampered for a 56-yard gain and then scored a touchdown two plays later "There ain't nobody tougher than Dylan Rebura," Perry said "If I had to clean out a bar late at night After Nixa took an 11-point lead late in the first half Kirkwood QB Owen Nesslage threw a ball behind star receiver Larry Robinson Jr. who reached back and tried to make a one-handed grab and it was intercepted by Eagles junior Randy Flint He returned the ball 92 yards for a touchdown and a 35-17 lead "I saw the ball was thrown behind the receiver and I saw it go off his hand," Flint said I heard the crowd and everyone cheering and that was nice to hear." Nixa will play in the Class 6 state championship against De Smet Jesuit on Friday at 7 p.m at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium in Columbia with its losses coming to Christian Brothers (Sept The Spartans have won each of their postseason games by 14 points or more This story was updated to provide additional information Shortly after storming the field to celebrate with teammates after leading a game-winning touchdown drive that will forever live in Nixa football lore star sophomore quarterback Adam McKnight had to give his biggest fan a hug McKnight had just thrown a 19-yard touchdown pass to Wyatt Vincent with just over 10 seconds left capping off an 89-yard touchdown drive over the last two minutes to lead the Eagles to a 21-20 win over Lee's Summit North in a Class 6 state quarterfinal With seemingly the entire team and the Eagles fans from the stands wanting to congratulate or take pictures with him, McKnight took a moment for Nixa superfan Crawford Bassak who cheered louder than everyone at the stadium when the touchdown pass fell perfectly into Vincent's arms "He brings life to the team," McKnight said shows his love for Nixa every week when he cheers on the Eagles sideline his consistent presence brings out the best in every student-athlete and coach he's interacted with since attending his first Nixa game at six months old Like Nixa had to fight to continue their postseason run Bassak had to fight to survive from the moment he was born his mother didn't feel well and made a regular doctor's appointment doctors found her placenta had broken away from her uterus Both Bassak and his mother faced the possibility of not surviving "It was touch and go for a while," Billy Bassak who played football at Nixa and graduated in 1989 "You just thanked God every day that he was still around." Crawford put on enough weight and was allowed to go home Billy Bassak decided to put him in a baby carrier and take him to somewhere he's found sanctuary his entire life: Crawford attended a Nixa district basketball game Crawford was at every Nixa athletics event he could He faced challenges growing up in his speech and ability to walk but watching the Eagles play always kept him motivated He eventually attended the high school where his dad feared kids could be bullies Crawford's older sister had friends who embraced him once he arrived at the high school and made him feel included nicknaming him "CrawDaddy" and including him in the fun He had a front-row seat in the Nixa student section and led chants at football and basketball games He was eventually named the school's prom king and the "Nixa Fan of the Year" award has been renamed the "CrawDaddy Nixa Fan of the Year" in his honor Former Nixa basketball coach Jay Osborne was among the first to let Crawford be around his team as often as he wanted Current basketball coach Brock Blansit kept the tradition alive keeping Crawford in the program while also rewarding him with a letterman jacket at a postseason banquet Football coach John Perry quickly joined the bandwagon when he moved to Nixa allowing him to attend every Eagles football function Crawford attends every practice and is on the sideline for every game there are only two places in the world Crawford could be where he wouldn't have to worry about him: when he's at football or basketball practice Nixa coaches have brought Crawford on the bus for road trips "I see kids like Crawford and they make life better," Perry said they're always hugging and loving up on you To have those kids around your program is priceless because what an example they are to people who may think they're having a bad day and then see those kids always happy." Crawford is most excited when he sees McKnight throw perfect deep passes down the field McKnight's mom being Nixa Public Schools' executive director of special services "He's a really good football player," Crawford said who doubles as a basketball star and triples as a baseball star considers them "close" noting he's talked to him after basketball games for as long as he can remember McKnight hears Crawford's cheers during games and hears them again when the team watches game film "He just brings life to the team," McKnight said 1 fan and always supports us no matter what." basketball return the love Crawford gives themAhead of Nixa's Monday morning practice ahead of its state semifinal game Crawford raised his hand to high-five every Eagles player who walked out of the locker room He was happy to be around his favorite people and to get time off work inside the high school Crawford was bundled up from head to toe in Nixa gear from a five-star offensive lineman like Jackson Cantwell to the last player at the end of the bench received the same amount of love from their biggest fan telling him "hello" while asking how he was doing None asked if he was ready for Nixa's 1 p.m state semifinal game against Kirkwood on Saturday in Nixa because they already knew it was the most important item on his schedule Crawford believes the Eagles can win and advance to their first state championship game in a decade He refuses to look ahead to the Class 6 state championship echoing coaches saying the Eagles must take it one game at a time his dad already knows he'll wake up to Crawford sitting in his room practicing his Nixa cheers as he's done before many Friday nights over several decades Crawford will cheer "Go Eagles!" from the sideline and celebrate every snap Everyone around the Nixa football program will be better for it "Everybody's a part of this family," McKnight said "Crawford's a big part of that family and without him COLUMBIA — The final chapter in Nixa football's storybook season ended with a runner-up finish Nixa football (13-1) fell 35-20 to De Smet (12-2) in Friday night's Missouri Class 6 state championship game at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium in Columbia The season will go down as Nixa's best in program history. It was their first appearance in a decade and their second overall who finished his fifth year as Eagles coach told his team during their first meeting that they'd one day be the best team in Missouri He got his team and community to believe but came up one win short Friday night won't mark the end of Nixa's story as it returns key players at quarterback and the offensive line heading into 2025 The Eagles will lose Dylan Rebura after one of the best rushing seasons in state history along with defensive standout Parker Mann and others More: After Nixa football's best season in program history, are even better days ahead? The Eagles drove deep into De Smet territory where it faced a fourth-and-2 with just over a minute to go McKnight dropped back but couldn't find an open receiver Needing a stop that would have given them the ball with seconds remaining De Smet running back Jayden McCaster broke a tackle and outran the Nixa defense for a 70-yard score to put the game out of reach the Spartans scored 14 unanswered in the third quarter De Smet pulled trickery for its first score going with a Statue of Liberty play when facing third-and-goal from the Nixa 2 the Spartans found the endzone 52 seconds later after McCaster broke away for a 46-yard run Duff punched in a one-yard touchdown two plays later to double up the Eagles 64-yard drive concluded with Rebura running in his second touchdown of the game from four yards away to bring the game within eight The Eagles had 84 rushing yards through their first two drives They had 107 for the remainder of the game moving around different members of a defensive line with a four-star defensive end and a defensive tackle signed with Eastern Michigan Rebura finished with 156 rushing yards and two touchdowns as the team finished with 3.4 yards per carry Missouri linebacker signee Jason King finished with 18 tackles COLUMBIA — Nixa basketball coach Brock Blansit never wanted to coach in a third-place game knowing there would be lingering pain from a semifinal defeat But on Wednesday afternoon in Columbia, with his eyes stinging from holding back tears following a 61-50 loss to Oak Park in a Missouri Class 6 semifinal game, Blansit had a change of heart. "I've never been so excited to play a third-place game," Blansit said I can't tell you guys how much fun I've had with these guys "I think that's why I've been so emotional because tomorrow's it We'll never play together as a team again." Nixa's semifinal loss saw it stay within striking distance against the team that had been considered the state's best for the entire season More: Missouri high school basketball championships: Previewing Class 4-6 boys state semifinals They scored six points in just over a minute Oak Park made the plays down the stretch to hold on San Diego basketball commit Corbin Allen finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds for the Northmen. The top-ranked Northmen shot 50% in the second half after being held to 28.6% in the first you kind of feel like there's something you could have done to get your team over the top," Blansit said "This sure wasn't for their lack of effort This is just one of those guys where we couldn't get the ball to go in the hole." Thursday in the third-place game against Lafayette to cap its latest great season The Eagles started it with only three practices following a football state runner-up finish that extended into December They found their stride after the Blue and Gold Tournament and went undefeated in the Central Ozark Conference even after its expansion to add top programs like Kickapoo "It took every single one of our players; it wasn't just one person all season," sophomore Adam McKnight said "Everyone had moments; different games would be different people the Eagles fought like they had all season but came up short McKnight finished with 21 points and nine rebounds Keivon Flint scored 11 of his 13 points in the second half They'll bring the fight one last time Thursday morning "It's going to be tough for the next 24 hours and I'm excited to watch them play one more time." Nixa practiced two-minute drills with its starting offense facing its starting defense Eagles coach John Perry said the offense never won It was somewhat fitting that Nixa took over the ball at its own 11 with 2:04 left while trailing by six to Lee's Summit North in the Class 6 state quarterfinal. "We didn't have a choice but to go two minutes and get 89 yards," Perry said "We didn't look great for a while but how you finish matters." Perry watched the Eagles march 89 yards down the field, capped off by sophomore quarterback Adam McKnight's perfect 19-yard pass to senior receiver Wyatt Vincent in the endzone with 10.4 seconds to go Nixa held on for a 21-20 victory, advancing to its first state semifinal game since 2014 "You see that in the movies," McKnight said Every good movie script puts the hero in an adverse situation McKnight and his offense got in a groove early when the game plan was to run the ball behind the Eagles' elite offensive line It worked when building their lead up to 14-7 but the Broncos caught on loaded the box and prevented Nixa star running back Dylan Rebura from controlling the game Nixa's first two second-half drives resulted in interceptions The Eagles had to rely on their defense and it came through holding Lee's Summit North to only a field goal in the second half the Eagles tackled Ka'Mori Moore for a loss of four forcing a punt with just over two minutes left What Nixa coach John Perry told Adam McKnight before the driveMcKnight wasn't having his best day throwing the ball but the Eagles had no choice but to air it out when needing to drive 89 yards in two minutes he was 3 for 7 for 66 yards and an interception as the Broncos student section chanted he was incapable of throwing the ball "A two-minute drive revolves around the quarterback Nixa's drive started with a McKnight run for eight yards while getting the no-huddle He completed a quick pass to Rebura for five yards and the first and then a nine-yarder to Keivon Flint Rebura quickly scampered for eight and McKnight ran for nine giving Nixa the ball at midfield with 31.7 seconds left McKnight dropped back to pass but couldn't find anything open The Broncos appeared to have him dead to rights but he somehow snuck out got one-on-one with a defender in the open field McKnight made three tacklers miss before being tackled for a 31-yard gain to the Lee's Summit 19 "I just had an instinct to get out and run," McKnight said "When there are some big ol' boys chasing after you He was tackled from behind as his foot got caught in the turf causing a twist when the tackler landed on his leg Blood stains seeped from his sock and he admitted his ankle was swollen Adam McKnight's game-winning pass to Wyatt VincentOut of a timeout with 15.8 seconds left from the Broncos 19 McKnight received a play called "Empty Brady" where Rebura has a choice-route between running across the middle or running up the seam McKnight saw that Rebura occupied the safety meaning he'd have a one-on-one fade to Vincent in the back of the endzone is as fast as they come at the wide receiver spot McKnight watched Vincent beat his man and he threw up what he called a 50-50 ball Lee's Summit North defensive back Bryce Rudolph reached for it and got a piece of it but not enough The ball landed in Vincent's hands but not cleanly He didn't possess it for a moment while in midair but he trapped the ball against his waste had full possession and the referee threw his hands up to signal the touchdown "There was no feeling like it," Vincent said "I just had to make sure that I came down with it I heard their sideline go silent and then I heard ours go crazy." throw it to a dang player and Wyatt is a player." After Braden Kahmke kicked the go-ahead extra point Lee's Summit North had the length of the field to go with just 10 seconds left The Broncos needed a miracle out of four-star receiver Isaiah Mozee Nixa stormed the field with a 21-20 win while getting over the state quarterfinal hump where their season had ended in three of the previous four years "We put our Thanksgiving practice on the schedule back in December and said that you're supposed to spend Thanksgiving together," Perry said "We're going to do that for the first time." Nixa's Thanksgiving practice will come two days before their state semifinal game against Kirkwood which beat Jackson 45-35 on Friday night in Nixa for a trip to the MSHSAA Show-Me Bowl It wouldn't have happened without Nixa overcoming the most adversity it's faced all year Nixa's sophomore quarterback grew up in front of everyone while the Eagles never stopped believing how are you going to bounce back?" McKnight said We all bounced back and we just fought together." Story updated to reflect change of time and date for Class 6 state semifinal As the Nixa basketball team burst out of a pregame tunnel and through a banner the Eagles ran straight out of a time machine wearing cream-colored uniforms and red and white striped pants like the ones the players wore in Hoosiers ran onto a new hardwood surrounded by a capacity crowd that filled a gymnasium they first played in 73 years ago Their cheerleading teammates wore long red shirts and long-sleeved cream-colored uniforms, similar to the ones Sandy wore in Grease before she traded in her uniform to become a greaser girl. The Nixa coaches wore letterman sweaters with big N's as they walked the sidelines. It was everything Nixa coach Brock Blansit envisioned it'd be "I heard one of our kids at the end of the night say that this was the greatest basketball experience they've ever had," Blansit said beating Joplin 77-54 in the Faught Administration Center on Tuesday night The building served as one of the Eagles' first homes; they played their first game at the Faught Gym in 1952 which is known to go all out with its athletics programs then provided the Eagles and their cheerleaders with vintage uniforms but Blansit kept pitching ideas for them to be as "outrageous" as they could be The only thing Blansit didn't push too hard for were shorter shorts "I thought the color was really weird," star senior Jaise Combs Combs admitted to not knowing the music that played over the speakers Johnny Cash and other rock and roll hits from the 1960s rang out He's unfamiliar with Grease but knows what Hoosiers is he has been familiar with taking over games and leading the Eagles to big victories Blansit knew the one thing he couldn't do after pushing for a special throwback night event was lose the Eagles advanced to 16-2 and guaranteed more throwback nights will be played in Faught Gym in the future The Lady Eagles are hoping to have their opportunity soon and it'll continue to be used year-round for younger athletes When asked about the cost of renovating the gym Nixa athletic director Brandon Clark laughed and said "Enough that we'll be using it plenty in the future." Nixa came out on top on a special night the players won't forget but the experience is what high school's about," Blansit said I want them to leave our program and say it was an unbelievable experience Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInNIXA (KY3) - An allergy-friendly baker in the Ozarks is celebrating this week with the opening of its new storefront bakery Sensitively Sweet Bakery held a ribbon cutting on Wednesday and held open houses on Friday and Saturday started the bakery in 2022 due to her autoimmune condition and her husband having alpha-gal Hagan was selling baked goods at farmer’s markets around the Ozarks “I hope that we can just reach as many people as possible People who deal with food allergies don’t have any convenience in their lives And also just make a space where people can feel warm and know that what they are eating isn’t going to cause them to be sick,” said Hagan Hagan uses alternate ingredients for almost everything than if they were made with traditional ingredients and have much more fiber and protein than traditional baked goods Hagan says the bakery has more plans to sell products in more places around the Ozarks Sensitively Sweet is located at 107 Aldergate Drive in Nixa It is in the same shopping center as the Italian restaurant Piccolo Sensitively Sweet is at the same location that another gluten-friendly baker had occupied up until this fall. The Sweet Deal announced it was closing in August due to family reasons for the owner Sensitively Sweet is open Tuesday-Friday from 8 a.m To report a correction or typo, please email digitalnews@ky3.com Please include the article info in the subject line of the email But one trait every Eagle brings to the court: competitive toughness we were probably smaller at every position But we are a very physical team for a small team,” said Nixa coach Brock Blansit answered the call in Friday night’s Class 6 state quarterfinal versus Rockhurst The Eagles took control in the second half and pulled away for a 58-49 home victory in front of a near-capacity crowd the Eagles (28-2 overall) are headed to the final four They’ll face top-ranked Oak Park (29-1 overall) at noon next Wednesday March 19 in the Class 6 semifinals at Mizzou Arena in Columbia a longtime assistant at Nixa now in his third season as head coach “A lot of coaches don’t ever get to go to the final four There are a lot of coaches – a whole lot better than me – that don’t get to go to the final four These (players) have made me look really good at times CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME He scored 11 in the second half to jumpstart Nixa’s surge Flint and the Eagle guards relentlessly attacked a bigger but slower Rockhurst lineup Nixa was 21-for-28 at the free throw line while Rockhurst attempted just five free throws the hero in Monday’s district-title win over Kickapoo joined Flint and Adam McKnight (11) in double figures so we just try to use that to our best advantage,” Combs said The Eagles jumped out to an early 8-0 lead at the start but turnovers allowed Rockhurst to go up by five halfway through the second quarter “I thought we were really uptight in the first half “We just decided that we have to get after it and pick it up a little bit more We loosened up and played a lot better in the second half.” who battled foul trouble in the first half helped Nixa retake the lead for good in the third quarter The Eagles began the second half on a 9-0 run and never trailed again “I keep saying that I need to start out with my second half speech in the first half because we usually get out to slow starts,” Blansit said “We didn’t really get out to a slow start today but I do think we did a good job of staying in it with Adam (McKnight) on the bench.” CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO OF THE GAME Said Combs: “We just had to get the jitters out Junior forward Kevin Sullivan led Rockhurst with 13 points The Hawklets (23-5 overall) were held under 50 points for just the fourth time on the season “It all started on the defensive end,” Combs said toughened up and tried to play the best defense that we could with the best effort.” Nixa has won 13 straight games since losing to Park Hill in overtime at home on Jan OZARK — Down 10 at the end of the first quarter, Kickapoo girls basketball standout Mikayla Pilley was held without a point and in danger of having her senior season end prematurely. She's learned from the best when it's time to lead She saw it during last year's state runner-up run from Kya Johnson She saw it as a freshman during Kickapoo's 2022 state runner-up finish from Bella Fontleroy Pilley knew it was time to put her head down and work hard to come back and pull off the victory That's what Johnson and Fontleroy would have done before her "We had something to prove this game," Pilley said "We just came together as a team instead of being one that breaks apart More: Nixa basketball star Jaise Combs hits game-winner, beats Kickapoo for district championship Pilley has always been one to tell Hanchey that she didn't want the team to take any days off If Hanchey even brought up the idea of only watching film rather than getting shots up in the gym Pilley stepped in and made sure the Lady Chiefs were practicing "She's realized that it's 'win or go home,'" Hanchey said "She's really embraced being the vocal leader I've seen in these last three games that she's getting everybody together and making sure everybody's on the same page Then she does the basketball stuff she always does." The "basketball stuff she always does" was on full-display throughout Kickapoo's comeback which saw it take control midway through the second quarter and for the rest of the night locked down players on a high-scoring Nixa offense and was the first one to encourage teammates when called upon Pilley has attempted to follow in the previous great Lady Chiefs' footsteps while turning into one herself "One of the things that I've been trying to do is grow as much as possible," Pilley said I'm just trying to do my part and make an impact on the younger players that we have." Pilley has been touted as one of the toughest defenders in the Ozarks turning into the best player on a state runner-up team by her junior season The 5-foot-11 guard will continue to develop her skills at Division II Fort Hays State in the coming years but hopes to have three more games in a Lady Chiefs uniform to play before then Kickapoo will host Lee's Summit West in Saturday's Class 6 quarterfinal at a time yet to be determined they will make their fourth semifinal appearance in five years Pilley was hoisted onto the shoulders of her teammates as they celebrated a district championship in the student section like she remembered Fontleroy and Johnson do in the years before taking in a moment that her younger teammates will try to replicate in the years to come "I've watched a lot of great players ahead of me who were able to receive that trophy and hold it over their heads," Pilley said "That was something I've been dreaming about since I was in eighth grade The Nixa Eagles check a lot of boxes heading into the 2025 season the Eagles are poised to be one of the top teams this year – locally and state-wide “Our two biggest strengths are pitching and team speed,” said Nixa coach Logan Hughes “We have nine to 10 pitchers returning who threw varsity innings last year.” one year removed from making the Class 6 final four The Eagles have won at least 18 games each season dating back to 2018 Nixa is equipped to continue its winning standards this year all of whom earned all-conference honors last season Jackson Gamble (P/1B) and Colin Kelley (P) lead the way for Nixa’s experienced pitching staff Both have signed to play at Division II programs – Gamble with Missouri Southern State University and Kelley with Maryville Gamble enters his fourth season in the varsity rotation “He has been a huge piece of the puzzle for our pitching rotation,” Hughes said “He will be a big part of our offense this year as well.” Kelley posted excellent numbers on the mound He was honorable mention all-state in Class 6 “Colin has had a great career so far at Nixa and we expect big things from him this season,” Hughes said “He has command of three pitches that are very good pitches and he keeps hitters off-balance very well.” Wyatt Vincent might be the area’s top returning player in any position The speedy Vincent has elite range in center field and gaudy production at the plate hit .333 last season (1.156 OPS) with seven homers “Wyatt is a very mature baseball player who impacts the game offensively and defensively,” Hughes said He gets some of the best jumps in center I’ve ever seen.” Vincent will likely set multiple career state records this spring Nixa boasts another Division I prospect in senior Caeden Cloud (Kentucky) Cloud is a three-year starter at shortstop “He has grown a ton in the last couple of years It’s going to be very fun to watch him compete this season,” Hughes said Sophomore outfielder Adam McKnight proved to be an immediate star last season matching his football and basketball prowess McKnight hit .362 (1.110 OPS) with 15 extra-base hits (four homers) “He has all the intangibles and is continuing to mature as a hitter The next big step for his all-around game will be developing into an elite base stealer.” Nixa graduated five seniors from its 2024 varsity squad including all-conference selections Nate Uber (P) and Rylan Michel (OF) Mabe (College of the Ozarks) and Eoff (Missouri S&T) are continuing their baseball careers in college junior Tyler Yonkers (C) and sophomores Rowan Johnson (C) and Cameron Miller (INF/P) are battling for some of Nixa’s vacated roles Midyett is an Evangel signee and lefthander who gained velocity over the offseason “He really knows how to pitch,” Hughes said “I could see Tanner working his way into a starting role or pitching often out of the bullpen.” Yonkers is one of the team’s hardest workers and could see time in a platoon role at catcher “He plays the game extremely hard every time he steps on the field,” Hughes said He can also impact the game offensively in many different ways which makes him a big key to our team this year.” Johnson is battling for innings at catcher as well Nixa graduated its top two catchers from last season’s team athletic and has a big-time arm,” Hughes said “We are excited to watch him continue to grow each game.” Miller threw varsity innings as a freshman He’s also a capable hitter and could see regular varsity at-bats this season two-way player who can play the left side of the infield and hit for power,” Hughes said “It will be exciting to see the strides he makes his sophomore year.” Nixa will play in a jamboree at Logan-Rogersville on March 17 The Eagles open the season versus Skiatook (Okla.) on March 21 then compete in the Branson Festival March 21-22 tries to break away from a Nixa defender during the MSHSAA Class 6 championship Friday night at Memorial Stadium McCaster had 13 carries for 200 yards and two touchdowns in the Spartans' 35-20 win De Smet quarterback Dillon Duff runs for a touchdown during the MSHSAA Class 6 championship against Nixa on Friday night at Memorial Stadium The senior registered 69 yards on eight carries and threw for 121 yards and a score in the Spartans' 35-20 victory reaches for a touchdown during the MSHSAA Class 6 championship against De Smet on Friday night at Memorial Stadium McKnight threw for 128 yards with one interception in the Eagles' 35-20 loss to the Spartans defends a pass intended for De Smet wide receiver Wyatt Stoltz during the the MSHSAA Class 6 championship Friday night at Memorial Stadium it was the Spartans who conquered the Eagles to earn their first state title since 2019 Facing a fourth-and-2 with a little more than a minute remaining in regulation of the MSHSAA Class 6 championship Nixa had the ball at the De Smet 17-yard line threatening to trim an eight-point deficit Nixa sophomore quarterback Adam McKnight was sacked sending the De Smet crowd into a flaming-hot frenzy that pierced the cold air in mid-Missouri on Friday night at Memorial Stadium junior running back Jayden McCaster broke multiple tackles and made a title-sealing house call from 70 yards away to secure a 35-20 win over the Eagles Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content Get the latest Mizzou and local high school sports stories delivered to your inbox Email notifications are only sent once a day Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist The Columbia Parents’ Digest is a newsletter to keep you in the know about raising kids in Columbia Start your day with the latest news stories for Columbia Receive a roundup of the news of the day each evening. (View a sample.) Join the MNN Newsletter for a behind-the-scenes look at how the Columbia Missourian MBA and Vox magazine build connections across Missouri Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account NIXA — When Nixa football running back Dylan Rebura woke up Saturday morning, he pictured in his head what the Eagles were going to do that afternoon Behind what's been dubbed as perhaps the greatest offensive line to come through the Ozarks Rebura saw himself accelerating through the massive holes and leading the Nixa program to its second-ever state championship appearance Rebura's vision became a reality as he rushed for 322 yards and six touchdowns en route to Nixa's 56-46 win over Kirkwood in a Class 6 state semifinal victory on Saturday afternoon in Nixa. "We were just the better team," Rebura said "I got the best offensive line and I'm the best running back in the state We're just going to run down your throat." It didn't matter how many players Kirkwood loaded the box with; Nixa ran the ball successfully even when they have a budding sophomore star at quarterback who is capable of making big plays when it counts Nixa ran the ball 50 times out of its 54 plays and only two lost yards when Rebura mishandled snaps out of the wildcat formation Quarterback Adam McKnight added 111 yards as the team finished with 440 on the ground Nixa scored on every drive but one when it turned it over on downs after a questionable incomplete call wiped away what appeared to be a Keivon Flint touchdown reception had a 92-yard pick-six right before halftime giving the Eagles a commanding lead before the break Rebura ran behind an offensive line that features five-star tackle Jackson Cantwell The line also features other all-state-caliber players who often have their opponents lying on the turf never going down on first contact and accelerating through the holes He might have bigger numbers if a ref didn't get in the way of what might have been a 50-plus-yard touchdown run or if he didn't cramp up on the sideline He broke away for a 56-yard gain after sitting one play toughest dude," Eagles coach John Perry said of Rebura 'Keep giving it to the toothless wonder because he one hard dude.'" Rebura now has a state-leading 2,606 yards and 46 touchdowns this season He's 21st in state history in yards and seventh in touchdowns He's three scores away from tying Marionville's Lee Flood for the most in southwest Missouri history Not many will question his ability to get it it's safe to bet what the Eagles' game plan will be when they face De Smet Jesuit in Friday's 7 p.m "I'm just glad to be a part of this," Rebura said Nixa and De Smet will meet in the Missouri high school football Class 6 state championship The Class 6 MSHSAA Show-Me Bowl will occur on Friday at 7 p.m. at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium on the University of Missouri campus in Columbia Nixa (13-0) is making its second state championship appearance in program history The Eagles won 56-46 last week against Kirkwood in a state semifinal They are led by five-star junior offensive lineman Jackson Cantwell De Smet (11-2) is making its fifth championship appearance and first since 2020 The Spartans finished as runners-up in 2020 after winning the Class 6 title the year before They are led by Kansas State quarterback commit Dillon Duff and four-star junior edge rusher Titan Davis More: Nixa football's run to the state championship has been five years in the making Nixa and De Smet will play in the Class 6 state championship on Friday How can you stream Nixa football vs De Smet today?Stream: MSHSAA.tv ($)The Class 6 state championship between Nixa and De Smet will be streamed live on MSHSAA.tv for $15.75 The purchase will give you access to all state championship games Ramone Green Jr. played his first two seasons at Missouri State football as a walk-on Green was surprised by the news on Wednesday when Bears coach Ryan Beard addressed his team in the locker room. The football team shared the video on its social media accounts, showing Green wiping away tears as he embraced his family. Beard started the video by telling his team that someday in the future, they may not feel like going to work, but they have to in order to feed their families. He asked those on his team to raise their hands if they were already fathers "Some days you don't feel like it or don't have it "You get up and go do your work because that's what men do." Beard then addressed Green directly: "You've been doing that here for free The team around Green applauded as the running back stood up to give Beard a hug Beard then pointed Green to the back of the room where his family and picked up his daughter to another round of applause from the team Green has appeared in 13 games through two seasons at MSU and has carried the ball 10 times for 29 yards he could be in the mix for more touches in an overhauled backfield featuring Shomari Lawrence and King Davis The former Nixa star is one of the best tailbacks to come through the Springfield area in recent years He was named the News-Leader's 2022 Player of the Year after rushing for over 2,220 yards and 35 touchdowns Top seeded Nixa and Kickapoo showed off their defensive prowess in district semifinal wins on Saturday Nixa held Branson to 10 or fewer points in each quarter including just two in the fourth quarter on the way to a 70-30 win Brooke Teter and Kennedy Nash paced the Eagles with 18 and 17 points Kickapoo was even stingier defensively holding Republic to just three first-quarter points and seven total points in the first half The Lady Chiefs did not allow Republic to score more than eight points in any quarter on the way to a 57-21 victory Josie Salazar and Mikayla Pilley were each in double figures with 15 and 14 points 2 Kickapoo at 6 pm on Tuesday at Ozark in the Class 6 District 5 championship game The Lady Eagles beat Kickapoo 58-53 in the regular season matchup Kickapoo has won five consecutive playoff games against Nixa dating back to 2014 when Nixa last beat Kickapoo in the playoffs in 2014 Jackson Cantwell, the No. 1 recruit in the 2026 high school football class, has narrowed his list of potential suiters to six The Nixa High School five-star phenom narrowed his list through On3 He had previously cut his list to 14 ahead of his junior season before leading the Eagles to a Class 6 runner-up finish Cantwell announced his final six programs: Georgia In recent weeks, many head coaches and assistants from the remaining programs on his list visited him his family and Eagles coach John Perry at Nixa High School Among head coaches who visited include Ohio State's Ryan Day Michigan's Sherrone Moore and Oregon's Dan Lanning He also recently visited Mizzou, where his dad, former Tigers track and field star and United States Olympic silver medalist Christian Cantwell was recognized during the second half of a basketball game He was spotted alongside Tigers coach Eli Drinkwitz Cantwell has said previously that he wants to commit to a school before his senior season this fall Cantwell was named the News-Leader's 2024 Player of the Year after pancaking 158 players and being one of three finalists for the Gatorade National Player of the Year honor The Eagles rushed for 3,710 yards in 14 games against Class 5 and 6 opponents Their best game came in a Class 6 state semifinal win over Kirkwood when they rushed for 457 total yards and six scores NIXA — Eagles coach John Perry can only recall twice in his life when he cried when he was the head coach at Pearl High School in Mississippi and his players lost a hard-fought playoff game He walked to the back of a building and shed tears because he hurt for them The other? He got teary-eyed near the end of the 1993 Disney film Cool Runnings. But after Nixa's 56-46 state semifinal win over Kirkwood on Saturday afternoon advancing the Eagles to their first state championship in 10 years Perry felt a third round of waterworks coming He kept his postgame remarks brief and avoided them "I almost got emotional because I know what it took," Perry said "I know what they've put into this and I know what we've put into this as coaches It was an overwhelming gratefullness that we got to do this together There are so many people that this means so much to and it just made it that much more important." Nixa's run to a state championship has been five years in the making, coinciding with Perry's hiring Since he was named the Eagles' head coach in 2020 the direction of the Nixa football program changed and it only seemed like a matter of time before it reached a state championship "This is a group of young men and coaches the community can rally around More: Missouri high school football playoffs: Everything to know about the state championship games Nixa athletic director Brandon Clark went into looking for a new football coach in 2020 looking for someone who could install a culture that would get its football players to believe The school always had the needed athleticism and kids who could play but he felt like the program lacked the needed culture and identity to get it to compete at a high level Clark always thought Nixa athletics could be something big Clark believed the school would one day have a Class 6 athletics program he believed Nixa needed the right investment and amount of winning "There was also this competitive desire to go to a place where we knew absolutely nobody and do the same thing we did at Pearl," Perry said This is the most fulfilling thing that I've done and that's saying something because we won the first state championship in the history of the school that I graduated from." Perry is known for his "Perry-isms," which involve pulling the wildest metaphors from way out of right field He didn't hold back while interviewing and was unapologetically himself There was something so positive about him that Clark felt was right for the program when listening to his vision for the culture and on-field success it was the most interesting interview ever," Clark laughed "We wanted to find someone that could get kids to believe they were special and I felt John was the best candidate for that." After one of Perry's first practices with the team he went home to his wife and told him that he thought about quitting Never in his life had he seen a team struggle to understand the concept of an inside drill as much as the Eagles did what have we gotten ourselves into?" he said "What you figure out really soon is that kids will do exactly what you ask them to do," Perry said You have to paint the picture of where we want to go." That picture was on the first slide of a slideshow he showed the team during his first day on the job He shared his vision of making Nixa the best team in Missouri "They needed to think that I believe," Perry said Belief was the theme throughout a 2020 season that saw the Eagles go from a program 5-6 the year before to knocking off the defending state runner-up in Week 2, going 9-3, and playing in a state quarterfinal, losing by three to the eventual state champion. "We turned a team that nobody really wanted to play for into a team that's going to make an impact on the whole community of Nixa," then-senior standout Steven Ward II said "We turned our whole community around and we did that as a team." The 2021 season started with a bang when Nixa beat Webb City for the first time but the rest of the year didn't go as planned after star running back Ramone Green Jr showed that he was among the best running backs in the state and helped Nixa snap a 10-game losing streak to Carthage en route to a co-Cental Ozark Conference championship and we got to get stronger," Perry said after the game it could have been a whole lot closer if one or two things went our way in the first half We just got to get better on the line of scrimmage The Eagles lived up to the expectations and more They've rushed for nearly 3,500 yards and 55 touchdowns McKnight has a 22-2 touchdown-interception ratio and throws one of the prettiest deep balls you'll ever see The defense has allowed 14 points per game and the team never won by less than 20 until deep in the postseason In their fourth state quarterfinal trip in five years, Nixa finally broke through thanks to a game-winning touchdown drive that will forever live in Eagles legend. McKnight led an 89-yard drive in the final two minutes capping it off with a perfect 19-yard touchdown pass to Wyatt Vincent with 10 seconds remaining "You see that in the movies," McKnight said afterward Perry took 10 seconds before Nixa's state semifinal against Kirkwood to take in the environment around him Eagles fans didn't pack the stands like they do now Friday nights at Nixa have become must-attend events shutting down the rest of the town as the Eagles play under the lights Perry wears his championship ring from when he won state at Pearl High School hoping it sends subliminal messages to his players he sent text messages to his former players and other great Eagles players from the past letting them know they set the foundation for the team's current success Perry took the moment before watching Rebura rush for 335 yards and six touchdowns in a 56-46 win as the Eagles were led by their offensive line and a budding star quarterback who made plays with his feet hoping to avoid the third time he can remember crying he bet on himself when moving away from his home Perry got a program and a community to believe in what it was capable of a vision will culminate in Nixa's state championship appearance when the Eagles take the field on Friday night in Columbia and it took everything in me not to cry because I thought I had the thought that he could lose This could be his last game,” said Courtney Combs But Jaise’s high school basketball career isn’t over yet He will play in the state semifinals Wednesday and potentially for a state title on Thursday “I’ve been waiting for this for a very long time,” Jaise said “I’m just proud of myself and our team for just even getting here The Nixa leading scorer (avg 15.6 pts/game) is not the only family member with a big week ahead “As a kid you dream about being able to play in March Madness,” said Drake sophomore and Jaise’s brother Kael and his Drake Bulldogs won the Missouri Valley Conference They start play in the big dance against Mizzou *also* on Thursday I think we have seven players from Missouri.” Kael said “It’s kind of coincidence we’re actually playing at Mizzou and he’s playing Mizzou,” Jaise said With a possible Nixa state championship at 4 P.M the big question is: Where will the rest of the Combs family be “I’ve told everybody to go to Jaise’s game just ’cause it’s his senior year,” Kael said “We’re really proud of both of them,” said Kael and Jaise’s mom  Andrea Clark “I wish the timing was a little different with the games happening the same day but we’re thrilled.” It’s called March Madness for a reason and the Combs family is getting the full experience Moments after Nixa football came back to defeat Lee's Summit North in a Class 6 state quarterfinal "That was the most fun I've ever had playing football in my life," Cantwell said After leading Nixa to its best football season in program history we proudly announce that Cantwell has been named the Springfield News-Leader's 2024 High School Football Player of the Year He was also the premier player on one of the best offensive lines to come through the region It wouldn't be fair not to mention the likes of Oakly White All five were named First Team All-Central Ozark Conference East making it one of the more remarkable units to grace an Ozarks high school football field The numbers the Cantwell-led unit put up spoke for themselves Don't count out the impact star running back Dylan Rebura contributed, as well He was a hard runner who helped the offensive line look even better He would sometimes go untouched several yards down the field before breaking a tackle and running for more There's little doubt that Cantwell will go down as one of the best players in the area's history when his career comes to a close He's the highest-touted recruit to come through the region Most remember the frenzy that surrounded DGB's recruitment and Cantwell's is going to get crazy heading into the offseason He's expected to make his college decision by the fall of 2025 The craziest thing about Cantwell might be that he's the same bright kid he was before everyone in the nation wanted him as their left tackle He's been called a "friendly giant" as the 6-foot-8 300-pounder hasn't let any of the attention get to his head Cantwell is guaranteed to be successful at anything he does Cantwell is the third Nixa player in five years to earn our Player of the Year honor and it wouldn't be surprising if he wins it again next year Other standouts in consideration were Fair Grove's Spensar Seiger But Cantwell's phenomenal season was a little too hard to ignore and we're proud to honor him as the Springfield News-Leader's 2024 High School Football Player of the Year.