Ozark hasn't had much luck against Kickapoo recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Tigers will host the Chiefs at 7:00 p.m. Ozark has given up an average of 69 points per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
The home team had won the previous four meetings between Ozark and Neosho, and Neosho kept the tradition alive. The Tigers fell 56-47 to the Wildcats on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Kickapoo entered their tilt with Webb City on Tuesday with four consecutive wins but they'll enter their next game with five. They put the hurt on the Cardinals with a sharp 62-36 win. Given the Chiefs' advantage in MaxPreps' Missouri basketball rankings (they are ranked ninth, while the Cardinals are ranked 92nd) , the win wasn't entirely unexpected.
Kickapoo's win came from a few key players that Ozark will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Reese Kimrey, who posted ten points in addition to six steals and five boards. Those six steals gave him a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Brock Thompson, who went 5-for-7 on his way to 12 points and seven rebounds.
Kickapoo smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 15 offensive boards. That's the most offensive rebounds they've managed all season.
Ozark's loss dropped their record down to 1-4. As for Kickapoo, their victory bumped their record up to 14-4.
Ozark lost to Kickapoo at home by a decisive 60-43 margin when the teams last played back in February of 2025. Will the Tigers have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps