Head coach Brock Blansit compiled a 49-8 record in his first two seasons leading Nixa's boys basketball program, but he went into year three with just one returning starter. It turned out to be one of Nixa's best seasons yet.

The Eagles made their second Final Four appearance in four years and beat Lafayette (Wildwood) 56-33 in the Class 6 third-place game. Nixa's final record of 29-3 represented the most wins in a season since 2012 when a 30-2 Eagles squad finished second in the state. They've now won 152 games in the last six years.

"They were a special group, a very tight knit group," Blansit said. "We had several seniors and they really came together as a team. We got a late start with a lot of them playing football, but they were really tight knit, one of the more tight knit groups I've ever coached, and I think it showed in those games because those guys really wanted to win, they didn't care who got credit or scored."

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