For the second time this season, Republic used a big third quarter to pull away from scrappy Neosho, winning 63-42 and advancing to the district championship game Thursday.
Tristan Ollar scored 22 points to lead all scorers. Treydon Rackley scored 15. He passed the 1,000-point mark for his high school career, ending the game with 1,001.
The Tigers’ win mirrored their victory at Neosho, where Rackley keyed a second-half defensive lockdown, scored 18 points after halftime, and led Republic to a win. Tuesday night, too, the difference in the first and second halves was defense, according to Rackley.
“Our defensive intensity, when we picked up pressure we got turnovers and stopped and we could convert on the other end,” he says.
The Tigers led 32-25 at halftime, but outscored Neosho 31-17 in the second half. Republic allowed just five points in the fourth quarter.
Rackley scored 11 of his 15 in the second half–including a free throw in the final minutes that put him at 1,000 points for his career.
“It feels good. Coming into the season, I knew I had a certain number I had to get, and I wanted to get it this year. We knew I had to average about 14 a game to get it before districts, and I just missed it,” Rackley says. “Coming in tonight and getting it, it feels good.”
Cameron Doke scored nine points for republic, and Ty Stevens added seven. Mitch Coiner scored five. Zach Branstetter scored three, and Alex Holden added two.
Republic will play in the second half of a Republic-Nixa doubleheader for the district championship Thursday. The Lady Tigers and Lady Eagles will play at 6 pm, and the Tigers and Eagles will play after that. Republic Tiger Sports will broadcast both games live in the Republic Tiger Sports app or at this link.