Republic’s Jake Fletcher has signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Missouri Valley College in Marshall. Fletcher helped lead the Tigers to a state championship his senior season. His buzzer beater at the end of the 1st quarter in the state championship game against Normandy was one of the key plays of the game.
Fletcher says Republic’s success in the playoffs helped get him more attention from colleges as he was considering his future.
“I think the state run was a big part in my collegiate decision,” says Fletcher. “It was able to give (Missouri Valley) Coach (Chad) Lance an opportunity to look at me, and I think that played a big role.”
From a leader on a state championship team to a college freshman, Fletcher says he knows things will be different next year.
“It’s going to be a big transition,” says Fletcher. “But the state thing is something they can’t take away. It’s always going to be here, back at Republic, so I think that’s awesome.”
Fletcher will join Republic’s Brody Thompson at Missouri Valley. He says their similar styles of play make him confident he can contribute in Marshall.
“Brody and I play pretty much alike, so that’s why I thought I could go into the system and fit in.”
When Republic’s seniors finished 4th in the state as freshmen in 2010, they promised themselves they’d be back at the final four this year. Jake Fletcher made sure it wasn’t just a token appearance.
A half-century ago, the Republic Tigers went to Brewer Field House in Columbia and came home with a Class M state basketball championship. Saturday, the Tigers will be back on the big stage in Columbia — this time at Mizzou Arena — when they play Normandy for a Class 4 state championship.
