Republic’s Nick Yocum scored 21 points, and went over 1,000 for his career, in a 59-55 win over Willard.
Yocum’s hot start fueled Republic early. He scored 11 points in the first quarter and 14 before halftime. The Tigers drained eight three pointers in the first half, building a 33-24 lead at the break.
But Willard stormed back, scoring the first 13 points of the second half to take a 37-33 lead. Republic didn’t score until Grant Hancock scored back-to-back baskets inside to tie the game at 37.
The score was tied 41-41 going into the 4th quarter, and stayed close the rest of the way. There were eight lead changes in the final period, but Republic nabbed the lead for good when Yocum hit his sixth 3-pointer of the game to put the Tigers ahead 53-51. The bucket gave Yocum 1,001 career points. He ended the game with 1,002 for his career.
The key score came with 12 seconds remaining and the Tigers up by a single point. Yocum took the in-bounds pass and drove the length of the floor, avoiding a foul by Willard. He dished to Cody Geiger for a layup, and the Tigers led 58-55.
Payton Looney intercepted a pass on the ensuing Willard possession, and hit a free throw to seal the victory.
Geiger and Canyon Smith scored 8 points apiece for the Tigers. Jake Fletcher and Looney scored six apiece.
Republic improves to 20-5 with the victory. Willard falls to 10-11.
Republic has home-court advantage and the top seed in the upcoming district basketball tournaments next week. Both the boys and girls have a bye in the first round.
Jake Fletcher poked the ball away to disrupt Carthage’s final possession, and a final jumper in the lane by Carthage’s Kyle Reed bounded away as time expired, giving Republic a 69-68 win in a matchup of two of southwest Missouri’s best teams. (See 
The Republic Tigers got big games from their three post players against an outsized Central Bulldogs team, in a 76-35 win at home Monday. Eleven players scored in all for Republic, who ran their record to 17-4. Grant Hancock led the Tigers with 14 points. Fellow inside players Cody Geiger and Marcus Miller scored 9 points apiece. 
The Republic freshman boys overcame a late charge by Carthage to win their opening game in the COC Tournament at Branson, 37-31.
For the second night in a row, Republic overcame a halftime deficit to win. But this time, it was for a tournament title. The Tigers used stingy defense to shut down host Rogersville 51-42, winning the Rogersville Tournament championship. It’s the second tournament win of the season for the Tigers, who also captured the Blue and Gold Tournament earlier this season.
After scoring only 14 points in the first half, Republic solved the Marshfield defense and applied a little defense of its own in a 46-32 win. The Tigers outscored Marshfield 32-12 in the second half to beat the Blue Jays for a third time this season.
