Updated Monday, Feb. 9, at 4:10 p.m.

GIRLS TOURNAMENT CHANGES
Due to the anticipated inclement weather for the weekend of the girls tournament, Nixa has made changes to its Girls Invitational Tournament.

The tournament will now follow a two-day shootout format and be held on Jan. 22-23, 2026, at Nixa High School. No champion will be determined.

Each team will play two games, one on Thursday and one on Friday. All Thursday games will be played as originally scheduled. 

The new tournament schedule will follow as such.

Thursday, January 22
4 p.m. | Lee's Summit West vs. Cape Notre Dame
5:30 p.m. | Republic vs. Helias Catholic
7 p.m. | Nixa vs. Troy
8:30 p.m. | Strafford vs. Battle

Friday, Jan. 23
4 p.m. | Cape Notre Dame vs. Battle
5:30 p.m. | Republic vs. Troy
7 p.m. | Lee's Summit West vs. Strafford 
8:30 p.m. | Nixa vs. Helias Catholic

* The team listed first will be the home team and wear white with a 15 minute warm-up for each game. *
 

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(New edits from original.)

Nixa Public Schools has released the dates, information, and brackets for the 2026 Nixa Invitational Tournament (NIT), presented by Arvest Bank.

Below is all the pertinent information regarding both tournaments.

The 2026 Girls Nixa Invitational Tournament (GNIT) will take place from Jan. 22-23, 2026.

The 2026 Boys Nixa Invitational Tournament (BNIT) will take place from Jan. 29-31, 2026.

The tournament will now follow a two-day shootout format and be held on Jan. 22-23, 2026. No champion will be determined. The boys tournament will follow the traditional eight-team bracket format.

The girls tournament field features Cape Notre Dame, Battle, Helias Catholic, Lee's Summit West, Nixa, Republic, Strafford, and Troy.

The tournament host, Nixa, is the defending champion. Three teams - Strafford (Class 4, No. 2), Lee's Summit West (Class 6, No. 4), and Troy (Class 6, No. 10) are ranked by the most recent Missouri Basketball Coaches Association (Jan. 19) polls. Republic (Class 6) received honorable mention. Helias Catholic is fresh off a Class 5 Final Four appearance (4th) from a year ago. Lee's Summit West, Strafford/ and Troy all won district championships but fell in the quarterfinal round. 

Players ranked by Prep Girls Hoops MO competing in the tournament.

Class of 2026:
No. 11, Elsie Larsen, Strafford
No. 12, Antil Snoddy, Lee's Summit West
No. 31, Kumani Clark, Battle
No. 49, Mya Robinson, Troy
No. 59, Taylor Wood, Nixa
No. 61, Alex Keister, Lee's Summit West
No. 72, Awbree Berning, Republic
No. 98, Hayden Rose Robinson, Lee's Summit West
No. 137, Gwen Kubik, Nixa
No. 138, Claire Morris, Helias

Class of 2027:
No. 16, Grace Means, Troy
No. 22, Ellie Moore, Troy
No. 29, Sway Jones, Battle
No. 65, Lydia Goodin, Strafford
No. 86, Paelyn Gilmore, Republic
No. 107, Olivia Luvvering, Helias

Class of 2028:
No. 6, Kinley Larsen, Strafford
No. 8 Saniah Jones, Lee's Summit West
No. 15, Trista Van Horn, Strafford
No. 63, Miley Twellman, Troy
No. 64, Brooklyn Griffith, Battle
No. 68, Tiyelle Frye, Battle
No. 89, Macy Twellman, Troy

Class of 2029:
No. 6, McKeyla Ledsworth, Lee's Summit West
No. 21, Zoey Page, Lee's Summit West
No. 50 Jada Pace, Troy

The boys tournament field includes Cape Notre Dame, Hillcrest, Logan-Rogersville, Marquette, Nixa, Park Hill, Staley, and Whitfield.

Click here for the BNIT bracket.

Rogersville is the defending champion. Five teams are ranked in the top ten by the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association's Jan. 12 recent rankings – Logan-Rogersville (Class 4, No. 3), Nixa (Class 6, No. 4), Staley (Class 6, No. 7), Hillcrest (Class 5, No. 8), and Whitfield (Class 3, No. 10). Rogersville (2024 and 2025 3rd) and Nixa (2025 3rd) are coming off state Final Four appearances last season in their respective classes.

Players ranked by Prep Boys Hoops MO competing in the tournament.

Class of 2026:
No. 17, Brody Owen, Marquette
No. 33, Kenison Stone, Staley
No. 38, Alex Komorech, Marquette
No. 42, Marcus Moore, Logan-Rogersville
No. 68, Jakobe Hicks, Staley
No. 96, Sutton Shook, Logan-Rogersville
No. 114, Caden Lewis, Battle

Class of 2027:
No. 2, Chase Branham, Logan-Rogersville
No. 13, Kyrese Simpson, Hillcrest
No. 20, Adam McKnight, Nixa
No. 26, Jackson Smith, Staley
No. 35, Jaevyn Jones, Hillcrest
No. 44, Tra Moore, Staley
No. 50, Parker Hoffman, Marquette
No. 60, Dillon Player, Whitfield
No. 75, Ayden Lemons, Marquette
No. 93, Joe Aghaeze, Whitfield

Class of 2028:
No. 2, Titus Moore, Logan-Rogersville
No. 15 De'Andre Stewart, Whitfield
No. 30, Jack Sutherland, Logan-Rogersville
No. 73, Braylon Smith, Nixa

Class of 2029:
No. 15, Kaivon Alexander, Hillcrest
 

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General NIT Information:

Admission to the tournament is as followed: 

• Adult (College/Up): $4
• Student (1st-12th): $2
• Senior Citizen: Free

Passes that are not accepted are MTSA member cards, COC Passes, or other similar type of passes.

The Nixa Live Production students will broadcast every girls and boys game throughout the NIT on the Nixa Public Schools YouTube channel. You can access the link below.

Live game updates will be available on the Nixa Athletics social media (Facebook, Instagram, X). Follow @nixaathletics to stay updated.

Tournament updates, daily scores, top performances, and brief recaps will be posted on our website below each day, as well as on our social media channels. 

Concessions will be available, and credit cards will be accepted.

Tournament programs will be available on-site.

For media requests/reservations, passes, or needs, please contact Alex Stein at alexstein@nixaschools.net.

Nixa High School would like to remind all spectators that this tournament is competitive, but it is also an educational experience for all players and students. Let's continue to show respect and sportsmanship throughout the tournament and refrain from negative cheers, chants, or behavior. We welcome our guests and wish all players good luck. Fans are also reminded that entering the court at any time is not permitted.
 

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Important Tournament Links:
2026 BNIT Bracket
Updated BNIT Bracket After Day 1
Updated BNIT Bracket After Day 2
Final BNIT Bracket
Admissions Link
Live Stream Link
Nixa Athletics Twitter
Nixa Athletics Facebook
Nixa Athletics Instagram
 

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Boys Updates:

Day 1 - Thursday, Jan. 30 Results:
Park Hill 55, Hillcrest 49
Rogersville 71, Whitfield 31
Nixa 67, Cape ND 39
Marquette 67, Staley 60

Friday, Jan. 31 Schedule (Semifinals):
Consolation Semifinal No. 1: Hillcrest vs. Whitfield | 4 p.m.
Consolation Semifinal No. 2: Cape Notre Dame vs. Staley | 5:30 p.m.
Championship Semifinal No. 1: Nixa vs. Marquette | 7 p.m.
Championship Semifinal No. 2: Park Hill vs. Rogersville | 8:30 p.m.

Day 2 - Friday, Jan. 31 Results:
Hillcrest 71, Whitfield 58
Staley 68, Cape ND 25
Marquette 82, Nixa 71
Rogersville 62, Park Hill 32

Saturday, Feb. 1 Schedule (Championships):
7th Place: Cape Notre Dame vs. Whitfield | 11 a.m.
Consolation Championship: Hillcrest vs. Staley | 12:30 p.m.
3rd Place: Park Hill vs. Nixa | 2 p.m.
Championship: Rogersville vs. Marquette | 3:30 p.m.

Day 3 - Saturday,  Results:
Whitfield 70, Cape ND 66
Staley 64, Hillcrest 48
Nixa 70, Park Hill 60
Rogersville 90, Marquette 50

Final Standings:

1. Rogersville
2. Marquette
3. Nixa
4. Park Hill
5. Staley
6. Hillcrest 
7. Whitfield
8. Cape ND

Denzil Morris Sportsmanship Award: Hillcrest

Rank	Total Pts	Player	Team	Yr
1	29	Brody Owen	Marquette	Sr.
2	22	Adam McKnight	Nixa	Jr.
3	21	Kyrese Simpson	Hillcrest	Jr.
4	20	Chase Branham	Rogersville	Jr.
5	19	Jackson Smit	Staley	Jr.

Rank	Total Pts	Player	Name	Yr
1	28	Kyrese Simpson	Hillcrest	Jr.
2	25	Brody Owen	Marquette	Sr.
3	24	Adam McKnight	Nixa	Jr.
4	22	Jayven Jones	Hillcrest	Jr.
5	21	De'Andre Stewart Ty Kellis	Whitfield Nixa	So. Sr.

Rank	Total Pts	Player	Team	Yr
1	27	Brody Owen	Marquette	Sr.
2	24.5	Kyrese Simpson	Hillcrest	Jr.
3	23	Adam McKnight	Nixa	Jr.
4	19.5	Ty Kellis Chase Branham	Nixa Rogersville	Sr. Jr.
5	16.5	Kenison Stone	Staley	Sr.

Rank	Total 3-PT FGM	Player	Team	Yr.
1	4	James Collins	Hillcrest	Sr.
2	4	Brody Owen	Marquette	Sr.
3	2	Cole Adams Sutton Shook Luke Wilson Kyle Runyon Ayden Lemons Parker Hoffman	Cape ND Rogersville Staley Marquette Marquette Marquette	So. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr.

Rank	Total 3-PT FGM	Player	Team	Yr
1	4	Tra'Veon Moore Nolan Lewis Preston Loehr Rylan Ferrin	Staley Staley Marquette Park Hill	Jr. So. Sr. Jr.
2	3	Sutton Shook Daniel Hinson	Rogersville Whitfield	Sr. So.
3	2	James Collins Kyrese Simpson Bryon Devrouax Alex Komorech Brody Owen Brayon Smith Ty Kellis	Hillcrest Hillcrest Whitfield Marquette Marquette Nixa Nixa	Sr. Jr. So. Sr. Sr. So. Sr.

Rank	Total	Avg.	Player	Team	Yr
1	6	3	Brody Owen James Collins	Marquette Hillcrest	Sr. Sr.
2	5	2.5	Sutton Shook Rylan Ferrin Tra'Veon Moore Preston Loehr	Rogersville Park Hill Staley Marquette	Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr.
3	4	2	Nolan Lewis	Staley	So.

Scored	Team	Allowed	Team	3-PT FGM	Team
71	Rogersville	31	Rogersville	11	Marquette
67	Nixa Marquette	39	Nixa	6	Rogersville
60	Staley	49	Park Hill	5	Staley Hillcrest
55	Park Hill	55	Hillcrest	3	Cape ND

Scored	Team	Allowed	Team	3-PT FGM	Team
81	Marquette	32	Rogersville	11	Marquette
71	Nixa Hillcrest	35	Staley	9	Staley
68	Staley	58	Hillcrest	7	Park Hill
62	Rogersville	62	Park Hill	6	Rogersville
58	Whitfield	68	Cape ND	5	Hillcrest

Total Scored	Avg. Scored	Team	Total Allowed	Avg. Allowed	Team	Total 3-PT FGM	Avg. 3-PT FGM	Team
149	74.5 PPG	Marquette	63	31.5 PPG	Rogersville	21	11	Marquette
138	69 PPG	Nixa	102	51 PPG	Staley	14	7	Staley
133	66.5 PPG	Rogersville	111	55.5 PPG	Park Hill	12	6	Rogersville
128	64 PPG	Staley	113	56.5 PPG	Hillcrest	10	5	Hillcrest
120	60 PPG	Hillcrest	121	60.5 PPG	Cape ND	5	2.5	Cape ND

Updated Bracket After Day 2

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Game Recaps:

Day 1- Game 1
Park Hill 55, Hillcrest 47 - Jan. 29, 2026
By: Ryan Retone, Nixa Public Schools

The Park Hill Trojans survived a back-and-forth battle to open the first round of the Boys Nixa Invitational Tournament (BNIT), pulling away late for a 55-47 win over the Hillcrest Hornets.

The opening quarter set the tone for what would be a tightly contested game, featuring eight ties and 11 lead changes throughout the night. 

Hillcrest got an early spark from Kyrese Simpson, who attacked the rim and lived at the free-throw line, while James Collins knocked down a pair of triples to help the Hornets keep pace. Park Hill answered with strong interior scoring from Donovan Fonville, and after trading baskets throughout the quarter.

The teams were knotted 17–17 at the end of one.

Hillcrest carried a slim advantage into halftime, leading 28–26 after a second quarter that continued the back-and-forth nature of the contest.

Park Hill responded coming out of the locker room, leaning on Fonville inside and stringing together defensive stops. Fonville grabbed a decisive lead at the three-minute mark with a monster slam. The Trojans outscored Hillcrest 17–12 in the third quarter to take a 40–36 lead entering the final period.

In the fourth, Park Hill gradually pulled away. Fonville continued to score around the basket, while Isaiah Caston and Dante Dixon added timely contributions to keep the Hornets from closing the gap. Hillcrest made several pushes behind Simpson and Collins, but the Trojans ended the game on a 6-0 run, securing the 55–47 victory.

Park Hill was led by Donovan Fonville's 18 points, while Isaiah Caston added 11. Hillcrest was paced by Kyrese Simpson with 21 points and James Collins with 15.

The Trojans advance to the semifinals at 8:30 p.m. Hillcrest will play at 4 p.m. in the consolation bracket.

Box Score:
Park Hill 17 | 9 | 17 | 12 | 55
Hillcrest 17 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 47

Leading Scorers:
Hillcrest, Kyrese Simpson (Jr.), 21
Park Hill, Donovan Fonville (Sr.), 18
Hillcrest, James Collins (Sr.), 15
Park Hill, Isaiah Caston (Sr.), 11

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Day 1 - Game 2
Rogersville 71, Whitfield 31 - Jan. 29, 2026
By: Ryan Retone, Nixa Public Schools

The Rogersville Wildcats wasted little time asserting control in their opening-round matchup of the BNIT, rolling past the Whitfield Warriors 71–31.

Indiana commit Chase Branham led the Wildcats with 20 points, including six in the opening frame

Rogersville set the tone and jumped in front from the opening tip, while never looking back, starting the game on a 10-0 run. The Wildcats held Whitfield to single-digit scoring in the opening quarter.

After one, it was 21-6 Rogersville.

Six Wildcats had buckets in the second quarter, including a buzzer-beating, put-back layup by Peyton Felton to send the squads to the locker room with Rogersville's lead at 38-13.

After halftime, Rogersville continued on a 17-0 run that spanned over two quarters and five minutes of game time.

The defending champs and the No. 3 team in Class 4 coasted in the second half, outscoring Whitfield 33-18, and completing the 71-31 win in the opening round.

The Wildcats advance to the semifinals at 8:30 p.m. against Park Hill. Whitfield will take on Hillcrest at 4 p.m.

Box Score:
Rogersville 21 | 17 | 20 | 13 | 71
Whitfield 6 | 7 | 12 | 6 | 31

Leading Scorers:
Rogersville, Chase Branham (Jr.), 20
Rogersville, Jack Sutherland (So.), 10
Rogersville, Titus Moore (So.), 8
Whitfield, De'Andre Stewart (So.), 7

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Day 1 - Game 3
Nixa 67, Cape Notre Dame 39 - Jan. 29, 2026
By: Ryan Retone, Nixa Public Schools

The No. 4 in Class 6 and host Nixa Eagles rolled into the semifinals of its own tournament with a 67–39 win over the Cape Notre Dame Bulldogs.

Cole Adams kicked off the scoring with a three-pointer, giving the Bulldogs their only lead of the contest.

Adam McKnight and Ty Kellis, who combined for 40 points in the victory, led the Eagles on a 12-0 run. Nixa would not look back, ending the quarter with a 21-7 lead.

The host's defense shone in the first half. After a solid first quarter, the Eagles came out even stronger in the second, especially on the defensive side, holding the Bulldogs to four points on just one field goal. Nixa closed the half with a 14-2 run.

The Eagles hit halftime leading with a 30-point advantage, 41-11.

"That was a good first half for us," said Nixa Head Coach, Brock Blansit. "Anytime you come out on night one of a tournament like this, you never know what you're gonna get."

The adjustments made by Cape Notre Dame head coach Jeremy Brinkmeyer paid off in the third offensively. The Bulldogs created their highest scoring quarter of the contest. Dylan Rubel had 11 points in the second half, including seven in the third quarter.

Nixa led 61-28 at the end of three.

The running clock was in effect for the majority of the final quarter, allowing the Eagles to coast to an opening-round victory.

Nixa moves right to the semifinals at 7 p.m. on Friday. Cape Notre Dame slides left in consolation bracket at 5:30 p.m.

Box Score:
Nixa 21 | 20 | 20 | 6 | 67
Cape Notre Dame 7 | 4 | 17 | 11 | 39

Leading Scorers:
Nixa, Adam McKnight (Jr.), 22
Nixa, Ty Kellis (Sr.), 18
Cape Notre Dame, Dylan Rubel (Jr.), 11
Cape Notre Dame, Braedyn Robert (So.), 9
Nixa, Colt McCoy (Sr.), 9

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Day 1- Game 4
Marquette 67, Cape Notre Dame 60 - Jan. 30, 2026
By: Ryan Retone, Nixa Public Schools

The Marquette Mustangs closed out opening-round play of the BNIT with a statement, upsetting the Class 6 No. 7 Staley Falcons 67–60 to claim the final spot in the semifinals.

Senior Brody Owen led all teams with 29 points in the win, and got started early with seven points, allowing the Mustangs to weather an early storm.

Staley flexed early, holding a lead the entire opening stanza thanks to a 9-2 run to start the game. Junior guard Tra'Veon Moore had ten of his 15 in the quarter.

After one, the Falcons led 18-12.

The two teams traded runs in the second quarter, and an Ayden Lemons 3-pointer by the Mustangs cut the lead to one possession with 30 seconds left. However, it was the Falcons that got the last laugh in the first half as Luke Wilson answered the triple with one of his own.

At the half, Staley held a six-point lead.

Marquette Head Coach Derek Hoffman was blunt in his halftime remarks about what his team needed to do to win stating, "It starts with rebounding, we haven't put much effort on the offensive end going and getting boards. We are playing one of the best teams in the state, and we just gave up eleven second-chance points; that cannot happen," he said.

The message hit home as the Mustangs outscored the Falcons 26-12 in the quarter, giving Marquette its first lead of the game. Kyle Runyon hit two 3-pointers, including a third-quarter bucket that gave his squad the lead at 49-46.

Coach Hoffman's team closed the dominant quarter on an 8-0 run, leading 54-46 into the final quarter.

Staley cut the lead to as low as three in the final quarter, but solid ball movement and free-throw shooting prevailed, and the Mustangs secured the 67-60 victory.

Marquette will take on Nixa in the semifinals at 7 p.m., and Staley will face Cape Notre Dame for a spot in the fifth-place game at 5:30 p.m.

Box Score:
Marquette 12 | 16 | 26 | 13 | 67
Staley 18 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 60

Leading Scorers:
Marquette, Brody Owen (Sr.), 29
Staley, Jackson Smith (Jr.), 19
Staley, Kenison Stone (Sr.), 15
Staley, Tra'Veon Moore (Jr.), 15
Marquette, Alex Komorech (Sr.), 13

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Day 2 - Game 1
Hillcrest 71, Whitfield 58 - Jan. 30, 2026
By: Ryan Retone, Nixa Public Schools

The Hillcrest Hornets controlled the game from the opening tip, with a 21-point first quarter, never allowing Whitfield back within striking distance in a 71–58 win to start day two of the Boys Nixa Invitational Tournament.

Kyrese Simpson led the Hornets with a game-high 28 points, scoring efficiently at all three levels and setting the tone early.

Jayven Jones provided a strong interior presence, finishing with 22 points as Hillcrest dominated the glass 42-24. Jones scored consistently around the rim, including a few highlight reel dunks that helped the Hornets control tempo throughout the night.

Hillcrest's early surge proved decisive. After Whitfield briefly cut the margin to 15-7 late in the first quarter, the Hornets responded with a decisive 9–0 run in the second period to stretch the lead to 38-16 at the half.
James Collins added eight points, knocking down a pair of threes, while Derrick Dailey chipped in six points, and Dylan Kirby added four, as Hillcrest finished the night shooting efficiently across the board.

Whitfield showed resilience in the second half, outscoring Hillcrest 42–33 after the break. De'Andre Stewart led the Warriors with 21 points, scoring inside and out, while keeping Whitfield competitive. Daniel Hinson added 12 points, including four 3-pointers, and Byron Devrouax finished with eight.

Despite the late push, Whitfield never fully erased the early deficit. Hillcrest answered each run, pushing the lead back to 24 points midway through the fourth quarter before closing out the win.

Hillcrest will play in the consolation championship at 12:30 p.m. Whitfield will kick off the day in the 7th place game at 11 a.m.

Box Score:
Hillcrest 21 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 71
Whitfield 9 | 7 | 18 | 24 | 66

Leading Scorers:
Hillcrest, Kyrese Simpson (Jr.), 28
Hillcrest, Jayven Jones (Jr.), 22
Whitfield, De'Andre Stewart (So.), 21
Whitfield, Byron Devrouax (So.), 10

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Day 2 - Game 2
Staley 68, Cape Notre Dame 35  - Jan. 30, 2026
By: Ryan Retone, Nixa Public Schools

Staley controlled the game from the opening tip and never let Cape Notre Dame find a rhythm, pulling away for a 68–35 win in the BNIT consolation semifinal.

The Falcons set the tone early against a zone defense that allowed Tra'Veon Moore to heat up from distance. His four opening-quarter three pointers allowed Staley to jump out to a 28-5 lead.

Staley carried a 42–14 advantage into halftime, effectively putting the game out of reach by the break.

Kenison Stone led the way with 18 points, while Tra'Veon Moore poured in 17, and Nolan Lewis added 16, forming the core of Staley's offense. The trio accounted for 51 of Staley's 68 points, overwhelming Cape Notre Dame throughout the night.

Cape Notre Dame struggled to generate sustained offense against Staley's pressure. Braedyn Robert led the Bulldogs with 12 points, Cole Adams added 11, and Evan Schweinbold finished with 5, but the Bulldogs were held to just 35 points on the night, falling 68-35.

Staley will take on Hillcrest in a battle of state-ranked teams for the consolation championship at 12:30 p.m. Cape Notre Dame plays Whitfield at 11 a.m. for 7th place.

Box Score:
Staley 28 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 68
Cape Notre Dame 5 | 9 | 15 | 6 | 35

Leading Scorers:
Staley, Kenison Stone (Sr.), 18
Staley, Tra'Veon Moore (Sr.), 17
Staley, Nolan Lewis (Sr.), 16
Cape Notre Dame, Braedyn Robert (So.), 12
Cape Notre Dame, Cole Adams (So.), 11

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Day 2 - Game 3
Marquette 82, Nixa 71 - Jan. 30, 2026
By: Ryan Retone, Nixa Public Schools

Nixa's run came to an end in the semifinals as Marquette stayed upset-minded, using timely shooting and late-game execution to pull away for an 82–71 victory in a shootout.

The Eagles were tested early as Marquette opened the game with sharp perimeter shooting. Nixa trailed 17–12 after the first quarter, with Marquette's spacing forcing early defensive adjustments. Despite the slow start, the Eagles settled in during the second quarter, thanks to strong interior play and improved ball movement.

Nixa responded with a 21-point second quarter, leaning on Adam McKnight and Ty Kellis to chip away at the deficit. The Eagles briefly grabbed momentum late in the half, and a three from Braylon Smith tied the game at 33–33 heading into the break, erasing a seven-point Marquette lead and resetting the game.

Brody Owen led all scorers on night one with 29 points, and he continued the dominance into the semifinal matchup. 15 of Owen's 25 points came in the decisive second half.

The third quarter proved to be the difference. After Nixa briefly grabbed the lead early in the half, Marquette closed the period on a decisive run, turning a tight, back-and-forth game into a 61–51 advantage entering the fourth. The surge was fueled by shot-making, as Marquette shot 55 percent from 3-point range and 58 percent overall, stretching the floor and forcing defensive rotations.

Nixa continued to battle in the final period, but Marquette's execution down the stretch proved decisive. The Mustangs converted 13 of 15 free throws (87%), consistently turning possessions into points and preventing any sustained comeback attempt.

Nixa finished with a three-rebound edge and forced 15 Marquette turnovers, but was unable to fully capitalize on those opportunities. The Eagles shot 45 percent from the field and 27 percent from three, while Marquette's perimeter efficiency ultimately swung the semifinal.

McKnight finished with 24 points, Kellis added 21, and Smith chipped in 10, as Nixa remained competitive in a game that featured 13 lead changes and four ties. Marquette's second-half shooting and late-game efficiency secured the upset and a spot in the tournament final.

Marquette will play in the championship game at 3:30 p.m. Nixa is seeking its second consecutive 3rd place finish when the Eagles take the court at 2 p.m.

Box Score:
Marquette 17 | 16 | 23 | 26 | 82
Nixa  12 | 21 | 18 | 20 | 71

Leading Scorers:
Marquette, Brody Owen (Sr.), 25
Nixa, Adam McKnight (Jr.), 24
Nixa, Ty Kellis (Sr.), 21
Marquette, Parker Hoffman (Jr.), 18
Marquette, Alex Komorech (Sr.), 16

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Day 2 - Game 4 
Rogersville 62, Park Hill 32 - Jan. 30, 2026
By: Ryan Retone, Nixa Public Schools

Defending BNIT champion Rogersville turned a competitive first half into a runaway second half, defeating Park Hill 62–32 in the semifinals.

Rogersville controlled the early pace and built a 28-19 halftime lead, keeping Park Hill within range through the first two quarters before fully asserting itself after the break.

The Wildcats took over in the third quarter, outscoring Park Hill 16–10 to push the margin to 44-29 heading into the fourth. 

From there, Rogersville slammed the door with a dominant 18-3 fourth quarter, turning the game into a blowout.

Chase Branham turned in another quality performance with 19 points, supported by a quality showing from Sutton Shook (13) and the Moore brothers, who each had 12.

Park Hill was led by Rylan Ferrin, who scored 12 points on four 3-pointers, and Isaiah Caston, who added seven. The Trojans were limited to just 14 points after halftime and four in the fourth quarter against Rogersville's defensive pressure.

The Wildcats will look to repeat as BNIT champions at the 99th edition of the tournament at 3:30 p.m. Park Hill will take on Nixa at 2 p.m. for 3rd place.

Box Score:
Rogersville 15 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 62
Park Hill 12 | 7 | 10 | 3 | 32

Leading Scorers:
Rogersville, Chase Branham (Jr.), 18
Rogersville, Sutton Shook (So.), 15
Park Hill, Rylan Ferrin, (Jr.) 12
Rogersville, Marcus Moore (Sr.), 12
Rogersville, Titus Moore (So.), 12
 

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Day 3 - Game 1 | 7th Place Game
Whitfield 70, Cape Notre Dame 66 - Jan. 31, 2026
By: Ryan Retone, Nixa Public Schools

The Whitfield Warriors closed BNIT play with a 70–66 victory over the Cape Notre Dame Bulldogs in the seventh-place game, holding off a strong second-half rally to secure the win.
Whitfield built an early cushion with a 23-point first quarter and carried a 43-28 lead into halftime.

Braedyn Robert was the story for Cape Notre Dame in the third quarter, as his 12 points led a charge, allowing the Bulldogs to erase a 15-point deficit. They tied the game at 52 heading into the fourth quarter.

Cape Notre Dame would take their first and only lead of the day on a Cole Adams three-pointer to start the final quarter. Colton Landewee hit from distance for his fourth time in the game on the next possession, capping a 6-0 run.

This was followed by an 8-0 run by the Warriors, where Daniel Hinson gave Whitfield the lead back with a corner triple. 

Landewee took the lead back with 55.2 seconds left on a fast-break layup, and the Bulldogs led 66-65.

Hinson, who drained six 3-pointers, hit his biggest with 30 seconds to play, taking the lead right back at 68-66. After a turnover, Hinson iced the game at the free throw line, earning his team a gritty 70-66 victory, and 7th place at the BNIT.

Box Score:
Whitfield 23 | 20 | 9 | 18 | 70
Cape Notre Dame 13 | 15 | 24 | 14 | 66

Leading Scorers:
Whitfield, Daniel Hinson (So.), 29
Whitfied, De'Andre Stewart (So.), 22
Cape Notre Dame, Colton Landewee (Sr.), 17
Cape Notre Dame, Braedyn Robert (So.), 15
Cape Notre Dame, Cole Adams (So.), 12
 

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Day 3 - Game 2 | 5th Place Game
Staley 64, Hillcrest 48 - Jan. 31, 2026
By: Ryan Retone, Nixa Public Schools

The 5th-place game at the BNIT carried an uncommon weight, featuring two state-ranked programs with plenty left to prove.

Class 6 No. 7 Staley and Class 5 No. 8 Hillcrest met Saturday with pride and positioning on the line, and it was the Falcons who won every quarter en route to a 64-48 victory.

Staley set the tone early, opening a 16-11 lead after the first quarter and extending the margin to 30-18 at halftime. The Falcons stayed in control after the break, outscoring Hillcrest in both the third and fourth quarters to steadily build separation.

Jackson Smith led Staley with 21 points, scoring consistently throughout the game. Kenison Stone added 17, while Tra'Veon Moore finished with 10. Jakobe Hicks chipped in six as Staley's balance and defensive pressure limited Hillcrest's offensive rhythm.

Hillcrest was led by Kyrese Simpson, who scored 25 points, accounting for more than half of the Hornets' offense. Simpson finished the tournament as the overall leading scorer with 24.7 PPG. James Collins and Jayven Jones each added seven.

Staley handled both the moment and the matchup, closing BNIT play with a statement win in the 5th-place game.

Box Score:
Staley 16 | 14 | 18 | 16 | 64 
Hillcrest 11 | 7 | 15 | 15 | 48

Leading Scorers:
Hillcrest, Kyrese Simpson (Jr.), 25
Staley, Jackson Smith (Jr.), 21
Staley, Kenison Stone (Sr.), 17
Staley, Luke Wilson (Jr.), 10
Staley, Tra'Veon Moore (Jr.), 10
 

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Day 3 - Game 3 | 3rd Place Game
Nixa 70, Park Hill 60 - Jan. 31, 2026
By: Ryan Retone, Nixa Public Schools

A decisive fourth quarter lifted the Nixa Eagles past the Park Hill Trojans, 70–60, in the BNIT 3rd place game.

The Eagles led for most of the afternoon but were unable to fully separate until the final stretch. Nixa opened with a 17–13 first-quarter lead and carried a slim 31–29 advantage into halftime in a game that featured four ties and four lead changes.

Park Hill grabbed their first lead in the third quarter at 33-32. Adam McKnight, who finished second overall in the BNIT PPG, answered immediately with a strong finish inside to swing momentum back to the host school.

The game remained tight throughout the quarter, and after Park Hill tied it 47–47 late in the third, the stage was set for an exciting fourth.

The Eagles took control to open the final period. Randy Flint knocked down a corner three to spark an 8–0 run, followed by back-to-back free throws from Colt McCoy. Ty Kellis capped the surge with a pull-up jumper to push the lead to 55–47, forcing Park Hill to play from behind the rest of the way.

From there, Nixa closed the game at the line. McKnight scored eight of his squad's final 13 points, including four straight free throws in the final two minutes.

McKnight led all scorers with 23 points, scoring in every quarter. Flint and Kellis each added 15, while Colt McCoy finished with 10. Nixa shot 52% from the field, committed just nine turnovers, and won the rebounding battle 29–19.

Park Hill was led by Isaiah Caston, who hit five 3-pointers on his way to 21 points, and Donovan Fonville, who added 16. Park Hill shot 48% from three, but couldn't generate enough stops late.

With the win, Nixa secured third place at the BNIT for the second consecutive year.

Box Score:
Nixa 11 | 20 | 16 | 23 | 70
Park Hill 8 | 21 | 18 | 13 | 60

Leading Scorers:
Nixa, Adam McKnight (Jr.), 23
Park Hill, Isaiah Caston (Sr.), 21
Park Hill, Donovan Fonville (Jr.), 16
Nixa, Randy Flint (Sr.), 15
Nixa, Ty Kellis (Jr.), 15
 

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Day 3 - Game 4 | Championship Game
Rogersville 90, Marquette 50 - Jan. 31, 2026
By: Ryan Retone, Nixa Public Schools

Rogersville, the defending BNIT champion, delivered another statement performance with a 90–50 win over Marquette.

The victory also featured a marquee individual matchup, as Chase Branham, the No. 8-point guard nationally in the Class of 2027, squared off against Brody Owen, a McDonald's All-American nominee, in a game that tilted heavily in Rogersville's favor.

Class 4 No. 3 Rogersville set the tone early, jumping out to a 19-11 lead early behind eight points from the highly-touted sophomore Titus Moore. The lead continued to grow in the second quarter as Rogersville's offensive efficiency and defensive pressure took hold, carrying a 43–25 advantage into halftime.

Rogersville put the game out of reach in the third quarter, pouring in 28 points in the period to stretch the margin to 71–42. A decisive 8–0 run midway through the quarter pushed the lead from 61–35 to 69–35, with Chase Branham knocking down a pull-up three in transition and Jack Sutherland following with a corner triple to force a Marquette timeout.

Moore continued to dominate the interior, finishing through contact and scoring on consecutive possessions late in the third as Rogersville's lead ballooned past 30. The defending champions maintained control in the fourth, outscoring Marquette 19–8 to close out the win.

Moore led all scorers with 31 points, shooting 10-of-12 inside the arc and 3-of-4 from beyond the three-point line. Branham added 27 points, connecting on four three-pointers while controlling the pace throughout. Sutherland chipped in 13, as Rogersville shot 69% from the field and 60% from three.

Box Score:
Rogersville 19 | 24 | 28 | 19 | 90
Marquette 11 | 14 | 17 | 8 | 50

Leading Scorers:
Rogersville, Titus Moore (So.), 31
Rogersville, Chase Branham (Jr.), 27
Rogersville, Jack Sutherland (So.), 13
Marquette, Brody Owen (Sr.), 13
Marquette, Alex Komorech (Sr.) (11)
 

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Girls Updates:

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Game Recaps:

Day 1 - Game 1
Lee's Summit West 81 vs Cape Notre Dame 27 - Jan. 22, 2026
By: Ryan Retone, Nixa Public Schools 

The No. 4 team in Class 6 fired on all cylinders to kick off the 2026 Girls Nixa Invitational as the Lee's Summit West Titans (LSW) defeated the Cape Notre Dame Bulldogs 81-27. 

The Titans spread the wealth en route to a 29-point first quarter, as six players got in the scorebook. Paced by seven points from Dareion Hunt, LSW led 29-0 at the end of one.

Cape Notre Dame got on the board when Cobie Koehler hit from beyond the arc late in the first half.

At the break, the Titans held a 52-4 lead.

Eloiza Marquez and Mia Panton had strong second halves for the Bulldogs, combining for 26 points.

LSW claimed the first win of the invitational, 81-27, led by a pair of 13-point performances from Antil Snoddy and McKayla Ledsworth.

Box Score:
Lee's Summit West 29 | 23 | 23 | 6 | 81
Cape Notre Dame 0 | 4 | 10 | 13 | 27

Leading Scorers:
Cape Notre Dame, Eloiza Marquez (Jr.), 14
Lee's Summit West, Antil Snoody (Sr.), 13
Lee's Summit West, McKayla Ledsworth (Fr.), 13
Lee's Summit West, Saniah Jones (So.), 12
Lee's Summit West, Zoey Page (So.), 11
Cape Notre Dame, Mia Ponton (Sr.), 9

Game 1 - Game 2
Republic 52, Helias Catholic 41 - Jan. 22, 2026
By: Ryan Retone, Nixa Public Schools 

The Republic Tigers displayed a balanced attack on Thursday night, pulling away in the second half to defeat the Helias Crusaders 52-41.

The local squad set the tone early, edging Helias 15-12 after the first quarter behind balanced scoring and solid defense. Paelyn Gilmore knocked down a 3-pointer with under a minute remaining in the opening period to give the Tigers the lead at the end of one.

The Tigers maintained control in the second, holding the Crusaders to just 10 points, taking a four-point lead into halftime, 26-22.

Helias opened the second half with momentum, as Isla Alfultis connected from beyond the arc out of the break. But, Republic quickly answered with a decisive 13-0 run. The Tigers' defense held Helias scoreless for the remainder of the quarter, extending their lead to 39-25.

Helias outscored Republic 16-13 in the final quarter behind strong performances from Jayli Howell and Claire Morris, but free-throw shooting by Republic iced the game and closed out the win.

Gilmore led Republic with 14 points, while Awbree Berning added 10. Addie Brown chipped in eight points as the Lady Tigers saw eight players score in the victory.

Morris paced Helias with 15 points, followed by Howell with 14.

Box Score:
Republic 15 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 52
Helias Catholic 12 | 10 | 3 | 16 | 41

Leading Scorers:
Helias Catholic, Claire Morris (Sr.), 15
Helias Catholic, Jayli Howell (Sr.), 14
Republic, Paelyn Gilmore (Jr.), 14
Republic, Awbree Berning (Sr.), 10
Republic, Addie Brown (Sr.), 8
Helias Catholic, Isla Alfultis (Jr.), 7

Day 1 - Game 3
Nixa 57, Troy 41 - Jan. 22, 2026
By: Ryan Retone, Nixa Public Schools 

The Nixa Eagles rode a big night from Taylor Wood and a dominant second quarter to secure a 57-41 victory over the Class 6 No. 10 Troy Trojans.

Wood set the tone early, scoring 10 of her game-high 26 points in the opening quarter as Nixa jumped out to a 17-13 lead after one. The Eagles carried that momentum into the second quarter, where their defense tightened, and the offense followed. Nixa outscored Troy 20-6 in the quarter, creating separation and taking a 37-19 lead into halftime.

"I thought we played with a lot of fire and effort," said Wood, "I felt like we played really good defense that game, which led to offense."

Troy responded with energy out of the break, putting together its strongest stretch of the night in the third quarter, and brought the game within single digits to end the period, 44-35. The Trojans outscored the Eagles 16-7 in the quarter, headlined by Grace Means' trio of three pointers.

Nixa maintained a two-possession foothold in the fourth, and Troy's comeback attempt was thwarted by a strong defensive effort from the Eagles, only allowing six points on their way to a 16-point victory.

Box Score:
Nixa 17 | 20 | 7 | 13 | 57
Troy 13 | 6 | 16 | 6 | 41

Leading Scorers:
Nixa, Taylor Wood (Sr.), 27
Troy, Grace Means (Jr.), 18
Troy, Mya Robinson (Sr.), 13
Nixa, Miah Johnson (Jr.), 10

Day 1 - Game 4
Strafford 52, Troy 40 - Jan. 22, 2026
By: Ryan Retone, Nixa Public Schools 

Behind a strong all-around team effort and an individual standout performance from beyond the arc from Kinley Larsen, the Strafford Indians opened invitational play with a 52-40 win over the Battle Spartans.

The No. 2 team in Class 4 trailed 4-2 in the early stages of the first quarter due to buckets from Kumani Clark, but after a 7-0 run, the Indians never gave up the lead.

After one, Strafford led 16-10.

The squads traded buckets before Spartan Sway Jones knocked down a trey to cut the lead to one. 

Strafford's suffocating defense would earn itself a 4-0 run, while holding Battle scoreless for the final 3:30 of the first half.

The Indians led 26-21 at the 10-minute intermission.

Battle made multiple pushes to stay within striking distance, but Strafford responded each time with timely baskets and defensive stops. 

The Indians stayed consistent offensively, matching the 26-point first half, while keeping the Spartans at arm's reach with a 12-point victory.

Strafford's Coach Dustin Larsen's daughters, Elsie and Kinley, played a big role in the win, scoring 33-of-the-52 points. Kinley, a sophomore, hit five 3-pointers.

Box Score:
Strafford 10 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 52
Battle 10 | 11 | 6 | 13 | 40

Leading Scorers:
Strafford, Kinley Larson (So.), 19
Strafford, Elise Larson (Sr.), 14
Battle, Tiyelle Frye (So.), 12
Battle, Kumani Clark (Sr.), 8

Day 2 - Game 1
Battle 44, Cape Notre Dame 24  - Jan. 23, 2026
By: Ryan Retone, Nixa Public Schools

The Battle Spartans used a dominant start to control the game from the opening tip in the first game of Day 2 of the Nixa Invitational, defeating the Cape Notre Dame Bulldogs 44-24.

The Spartans came out firing, opening the contest on a 16–0 run while holding the Bulldogs scoreless for much of the first quarter. Cobie Koehler opened up the scoring for Cape Notre Dame with a 3-pointer in the late stages of the first.

Sway Jones set the tone early, knocking down three of her game-high four 3-pointers in the opening period as Battle jumped out to an 18–3 lead after one.

Cape Notre Dame found more rhythm offensively in the second quarter, staying with Battle at a 12-10 disadvantage in the period, but the Spartans maintained control and carried a 30–13 advantage into halftime.

After the break, Battle's defense took over once again, holding the Bulldogs to just five points in the third quarter to extend the lead. The Spartans closed the game in the fourth, limiting Cape Notre Dame to two points while adding nine of their own to secure the 20-point victory.

Jones (17) and Kumani Clark (11) both got into double-digit scoring for the Spartans.

Battle finished the Nixa Invitational at 1-1, while Cape Notre Dame fell to 0-2.

Box Score:
Battle 18 | 12 | 5 | 9 | 44
Cape Notre Dame 3 | 10 | 9 | 2 | 24

Leading Scorers:
Battle, Sway Jones (Jr.), 17
Battle, Kumani Clark (Sr.), 11
Cape Notre Dame, Cobie Koehler (Fr.), 8
Battle, Tiyelle Frye (So.), 8

Day 2- Game 2
Republic 62, Troy 56 - Jan. 23, 2026
By: Ryan Retone, Nixa Public Schools

The Republic Tigers closed strong on Friday night, pulling away late to defeat the Troy Trojans 62–56 in Nixa Invitational action.

Troy came out aggressively in the opening quarter, jumping out to a 17–9 lead behind early offense from Mya Robinson, who had seven points in the first. All five Trojan starters scored to give themselves an early advantage.

The story of the evening for Republic was at the free-throw line as the Tigers shot 21-of-24 in the win. That efficiency became evident in the second quarter, when Paelyn Gilmore kick-started the offense by going a perfect 4-for-4 at the charity stripe.
Republic settled in during the second quarter, tightening defensively and trimming the deficit to 23–19 at the break.

The scoring picked up on both sides in the third quarter, as the teams traded baskets throughout the period. Troy found success offensively behind continued production from Robinson and Grace Means, while Republic answered with timely buckets from Cora Cutbirth and Josie Stalzer. 

The Trojans edged the Tigers 17–16 in the quarter, taking a 40–35 lead into the fourth.

With 3:53 remaining in the fourth quarter, Gilmore hit a 3-pointer that capped off a personal 9-0 run, giving Republic a 48-45 lead that they would not surrender for the remainder of the game.

The Tigers used a combined 21 points from Cutbirth and Gilmore to edge Troy 27-16 in the final quarter.

Cutbirth led Republic with 21 points, while Gilmore added 19. Troy was paced by a game-high 25 points from Robinson, with Means going for 16.

Republic completes the invitational with a 2-0 showing, while Troy went 0-2.

Box Score:
Republic 9 | 10 | 16 | 27 | 62
Troy 17 | 6 | 17 | 16 | 56

Leading Scorers:
Troy, Mya Robinson (Sr.), 25
Republic, Cora Cutbirth (Jr.), 21
Republic, Paelyn Gilmore (So.), 19
Troy, Grace Means (Jr.),  16
Republic, Josie Stalzer (So.), 11

Day 2 - Game 3
Strafford 60, Lee's Summit West 59 - Jan. 23, 2026
By: Ryan Retone, Nixa Public Schools

In a battle of two state-ranked teams who both opened the tournament with wins, the Class 4 No. 2 Strafford Indians edged the Class 6 No. 4 Lee's Summit West Titans, 60–59, in a thriller at the Nixa Invitational.

Strafford set the tone early, jumping out to a 21–11 lead after the first quarter behind a heavy offensive attack from the Larsen sisters.

Saniah Jones led a charge for the Titans in the second quarter as her ten-point frame brought Lee's Summit West within as many as one.

The Indians' Kinley Larsen drained a trey ball with 25 seconds left in the half to send her team into the locker rooms with a 30-26 lead.

Basketball is a game of runs, and the third quarter was a perfect example. Kinley Larsen opened the half by drilling another three, but Lee's Summit West answered with a 7–0 run to even the score at 33. Strafford used a timeout to regroup and responded immediately with a 7–0 surge of its own, forcing the Titans to stop play.

Out of the break, Lee's Summit West returned the favor, rattling off seven straight points to knot the game once again. After the two teams traded baskets in the closing moments of the quarter, Zoey Page capped the period with a 3-point play at the buzzer, sending the game to the fourth tied and setting the stage for a dramatic finish.

Down the stretch, Kinley Larsen delivered in the biggest moments. The sophomore knocked down six three-pointers on the night and stepped to the free-throw line with 13 seconds remaining, calmly sinking the game-winning free throw to put the Indians in front.

Lee's Summit West had one last chance, getting an open look from beyond the arc that rimmed out. The Titans grabbed the offensive rebound and were fouled, but with just 0.3 seconds left on the clock, the ensuing tip attempt came up empty, sealing the 60–59 Strafford victory.

Strafford finishes 2-0 in the Nixa Invitational, and Lee's Summit West finishes 1-1.

Box Score:
Strafford 21 | 9 | 15 | 15 | 60
Lee's Summit West 11 | 15 | 19 | 14 | 59

Leading Scorers:
Strafford, Kinley Larsen (So.), 28
LSW, Saniah Jones (So.), 20
LSW, Antil Snoddy (Sr.), 13
Strafford, Elise Larsen (Sr.), 12
LSW, Alex Keister (Sr.), 11

Day 2 - Game 4
Nixa 61, Helias Catholic 41 - Jan. 23, 2026
By: Ryan Retone, Nixa Public Schools

The host Nixa Eagles concluded the final game of the Nixa Invitational, pulling away in the second half for a 61–41 win over the Helias Lady Crusaders.

Helias led the majority of the first quarter, getting out to a 12-6 lead. A 3-pointer from Nixa's Khloe Schlenker tied the game at 12 at the end of one.

Nixa claimed a decisive lead in the second quarter, going on a 10-0 run and leading by as many as 10. The Eagles outscored Helias 19–13 in the second to take a 31–25 lead into halftime.

Gwen Kubik came alive in the third quarter, leading the way for the Eagles with 11 points. Despite Helias cutting the lead to as low as four, the Eagles carried a 47-37 lead into the final quarter. 

"They were a very physical team; they just came out hard, and I thought that we fought back well and played physical with them," said Wood. "We played really well as a team today, which is always a plus."

Jordan Phillips had a nice evening for Nixa with 11 points. Phillips' mid-range jumper in the fourth quarter extended the lead to 16 at the halfway point in the fourth quarter.

Nixa put the finishing touches on the invitational with its defense, limiting Helias to just four points in the fourth quarter while continuing to add to the margin, and closed out the tournament with a convincing 61–41 victory.

When asked how the Eagles will celebrate the victory, Kubik gave a fitting response for the frigid January night, "Go play in the snow."

The Eagles concluded their home invitational with a 2-0 record, while Helias went 0-2.

Box Score:
Nixa 12 | 19 | 16 | 10 | 61
Helias Catholic 12 | 13 | 12 | 4 | 41

Leading Scorers:
Nixa, Taylor Wood (Sr.), 20
Nixa, Gwen Kubik (Sr.), 11
Nixa, Jordan Phillips (Jr.), 11
Helias Catholic, Jayli Howell (Sr.), 10