Battle of SWMO Heavyweights 2

[Ru-B-Do]

Kickapoo vs Nixa 2 is tonight at the O'reilly Event Center. Although K-Poo walked away with an easy victory earlier this year, Nixa always poses a threat. Especially in the post season. Should be a great game tonight.

Any thoughts or predictions.

I say POO by 10

 

[metro-dude]

Kickapoo vs Nixa 2 is tonight at the O'reilly Event Center. Although K-Poo walked away with an easy victory earlier this year, Nixa always poses a threat. Especially in the post season. Should be a great game tonight.

Any thoughts or predictions.

I say POO by 10

Kickapoo is the favorite for sure but this is a game of interest

 

[hoops4u]

I'm going with Kickapoo by 12. Here's why... I really think it comes down to guard play and depth. Advantage to Kickapoo in both of those categories. I also think that Jared Ridder will neutralize the inside play of Chase Allen, just because of size and physical play. Both are strong and physical. Ridder can shoot and score from anywhere. If Allen gets in early foul trouble as he did in the first meeting, that will not bode well for the Eagles. Kickapoo must play unselfish basketball. The Chiefs have several players that can come off the bench and not lose much when they sub. I don't think Nixa has that kind of depth. I don't think it will be a 31 point blowout that we saw the first time, but I do think Kickapoo will win the game. Nixa is very good and well coached by Jay Osborn, but I think it will be a different outcome in this year's sectional rematch. One more note...Kickapoo has not lost to a Missouri team this season. Only two losses were in the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions.

If Kickapoo wins tonight, I think they'll go the Final Four. That would, more than likely, set up a semi-final matchup against undefeated Lee's Summit. I don't know a thing about the Tigers, but an undefeated Class 5 team in Kansas City can't be too shabby. Lee's Summit and Liberty North would be a great quarterfinal matchup, if it comes down to that.

Just my thoughts.....

 

[EdmundBlackadder]

Throw out the score for the first game between these two. Seth Viebrock got hurt a few minutes into the game and Chase Allen was in foul trouble throughout. Nixa is a different team when Viebrock is on the floor to provide quickness and perimeter scoring, and he has been playing well. Kickapoo's talent and depth should prevail, but anything can happen and it may depend on how the game is called. Ridder actually is not a physical player -- he won't be matched up on Allen all the time, and if Vokolek and/or Closser can guard Allen without fouling out (a big if) they will be on him most of the time.

Lee's Summit is a great, tough matchup for Kickapoo, if it ends up happening. They played last season at Municipal Auditorium and LS won, although Ridder as I recall was sitting that game out post-concussion (courtesy of Chase Allen). They played this summer in Springfield and Kickapoo prevailed although I don't think Spellman was playing that game. If they play it will be a tossup IMO.

It is possible that 3 of the final 4 in Class 5 could be undefeated against Missouri competition (Chaminade, LS, Kickapoo)

 

[hoops4u]

I understand it was a home game for Kickapoo in the first meeting. That's why I went from 31 points down to 12. Viebrock does a nice job, but I don't think he, Flood, Dent, Bergmann, Elmer and Combs match up against Thomas-Fontleroy, Johnson, Davis, Roberson and Schmitz. I would say every time Allen touches the ball he will be double and triple teamed. Nixa's guards are playing better. As I said before, I think it comes down to guard play and depth. Obviously, it's that time of year when anything can happen. I just think it's Kickapoo's time.

 

[Ru-B-Do]

Kickapoo is up at half 27-26

 

[Ru-B-Do]

K-Poo is Up 39-34 end of third.

 

[Ru-B-Do]

Kickapoo wins 65 to 44. Tremendous 4th quarter by Kickapoo.

 

[hoops4u]

Great game by Kickapoo! You're right, the Chiefs completely shut down Nixa in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Eagles by 16. Nixa's Chase Allen had 12 at the half. He was pretty much a non-factor in the second half.

 

[msubearssuperfan1]

http://kickapoobasketball.weebly.com/2015-16-varsity.html

 

[hoops4u]

Great video, Patrick! Jared Ridder is an unbelievable shooter. The guy can flat out play! Kickapoo is a fun team to watch. Slow, slow start in the first quarter, but once they got rolling, they're like a freight train. It's like an aerial assault, wave after wave after wave. I look for more of the same in their game this Saturday night against Blue Springs South.

 

[Ru-B-Do]

I agree hoops. I will say the live and die by the 3 gives me a panic attack sometimes.

 

[hoops4u]

I understand. The Chiefs scored 42 of their 65 (2/3) points from beyond the three-point line, but they also had a bunch in the paint, too, off dribble drives and "creative" shots around the basket. Ridder finished with 23 and 18 of those were on 3's. Not bad for someone that's 6'7". He's just a very good player that also had several key rebounds in the fourth quarter. I noticed that he, along with others, defended Allen in the second half. Allen had 12 of Nixa's 26 in the first half and finished with 13 for the game. Did Ridder ever come out of the game? I never remember him not being on the floor.

 

[Ru-B-Do]

Now that you bring it up i am not sure if he sat down. He might have played all 32 minutes.

 

[hoops4u]

He did come out at the very end of the game when Coach Rippee put in all the reserves, but I'm thinking he probably played 30 of the 32 minutes.