For the third time in four games, the Republic Lady Tigers had a chance to tie or win the game on their final possession. And for the third time, the shots wouldn’t fall. Monday, Republic missed three chances to force overtime in a 51-49 loss to Waynesville during the Stephanie Phillips Classic at Kickapoo.
Republic had trailed most of the game, by as many as ten points. But three straight three pointers — two by Lacee Walcher and one by Brylee Manes — closed the gap to one point in the third quarter, and the game remained close the rest of the way. Republic seized the lead for the first time at 48-47, and another free throw made the score 49-47. But Republic turned the ball over on its following possession, and Waynesville scored the final four points of the game to grab the victory.
“A lot of its just mental right now,” coach Kris Flood said of the mistakes that cost the Lady Tigers. “Get a bounce here and there, and it could have gone either way, but we let it get away. We missed some shots underneath the basket and missed some free throws. We just didn’t execute when we needed to.
“Hopefully, we’re learning from it, because like I told the girls, we don’t have any room for error with the teams we play.”
On its final possession, Republic missed two mid-range jumpers that would have forced overtime, then got one more crack at it when the ball rolled out of bounds off Waynesville with .9 seconds remaining. But after a time out, Republic’s final shot was blocked as time expired, dropping the Lady Tigers’ record to 1-3.
Manes had 13 points to lead Republic. Walcher scored 12 points off the bench. Halli Bartelsmeyer scored seven. Avy Powell-Qualo had six, Megan Branstetter had five, Jade Kirby scored two, and Anna Bell added one.
Republic returns to the court at Kickapoo Friday night at 9 pm vs Jefferson City.
Score by Quarters
Republic 10 12 14 13
Waynesville 11 15 11 14
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Farr Better Player of the Game
Lacee Walcher came off the bench to score in double digits. Her two three pointers in the 2nd half helped get Republic back in the game, and she was our Farr Better Player of the Game.
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