The Lady Tigers will host Neosho tonight. The game was originally listed as a road game on the schedule. Tipoff for JV is at 6 p.m., with varsity to begin after that.
Republic Honors Ramsey
February 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Republic High School honored former basketball player Kyra Ramsey during its homecoming game Friday. Her all-state plaque will be hung alongside other former all-state athletes from Republic.
Ramsey played four seasons for the Lady Tigers, and started on the varsity team her senior year, earning second-team all-state honors. She led the team in steals and assists both her junior and senior seasons. Her senior year, she was named the team’s defensive most valuable player.
“Kyra took a tremendous amount of pride in playing defense,” says Republic coach Kris Flood. “She played with heart, and had a true desire to do whatever it took to help her team come out on top.”
Ramsey helped Republic win three district championships, and make an appearance in the state quarterfinals her senior year. That season, the Lady Tigers were 22-7, and finished as runners-up in the COC, with a 6-1 conference record. Ramsey earned all-conference and all-district honors that season, too.
Ramsey also played volleyball for two years, and was a member of the National Honor Society. She graduated with a 4.0 grade point average.
Ramsey is currently a starting guard for the Baker University Wildcats in Baldwin, Kansas.
Unbeaten x 2
February 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment
One of the valuable lessons of competitive sports is learning how to lose. But that’s a lesson that will have to wait for Republic’s 8th grade girls basketball team. Both the A and B teams went undefeated during their junior high careers, with a combined record of 52-0 in two seasons.
Coach Tonia Herbold says the undefeated run was the product of several factors.
“They’re pretty deep on the bench, and they have a lot of talent,” she says. “They have this will to win. We were down 13 points (against Ozark in the COC Tournament), and came back and one the game. They’re just real dedicated.”
And Herbold says basketball smarts played a role in the team’s success, too. “If you ask them to do something,” she says, “you usually don’t have to tell them twice.”
The 8th grade A team went 13-0 this season, and 28-0 overall. The B team was 24-0 in two years. The team’s depth allowed Herbold to substitute liberally, shuffling some players between the two squads.
Republic’s closest competition in two seasons was with Ozark, the team that had Republic down by 13 points in the first half at the COC Tournament. But the Lady Tigers battled back in that game to lead at halftime, and went on to compile an overall 6-0 record against Ozark in two years. 
The success at the 8th grade level didn’t come without a good support system. The 7th grade team was also very good, finishing this year at 10-3. That talent helped push the 8th graders in practice all year.
“In practice we put our starting 7th grade starting five with our starting 8th grade five, then we mix kids in and out,” says Herbold. “It makes it much more competitive in practice, if we scrimmage.
“And our 8th graders make our 7th graders better. They feed off each other.”
Morgan’s Big Finish Leads Carthage Past Republic
February 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The Republic Lady Tigers started fast, but Carthage finished faster, coming from behind to beat Republic 55-46.
The Lady Tigers jumped ahead early, thanks to a big first quarter by Sarah Kreul. She had 11 points in the first eight minutes, as Republic built an 18-11 lead. But Carthage adjusted, and clawed back to take the lead 28-27 at halftime.
The second half stayed close most of the way. Republic recaptured the lead 37-36 at the end of the fourth quarter.
But Carthage’s Kaylee Morgan took over down the stretch, and that made the difference. Morgan scored 10 of her game-high 24 points in the fourth quarter to deliver the victory to Carthage.
Kreul and Kayla Bartelsmeyer both finished with 13 points for Republic.
With the loss, Republic falls to 13-7.
Lady Tigers Drop Home Game to Glendale
February 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Republic all-state violinist Luke Thomas played a stirring rendition of the national anthem before Wednesday’s varsity girls game against Glendale. And not much else went right for Republic all night, as they lost 53-40.
The Lady Tigers fell behind 16-6 after one period, and never seriously challenged the Lady Falcons. Republic fell behind by 13 in the 2nd quarter before using a mini-run to close the gap to 30-22 at halftime. It was 40-30 after three periods.
Brooke Dutton led the Lady Tigers with 14 points. Sarah Kreul had 10, all in the second half. Julia Wells had 21 points to lead Glendale.
The loss drops Republic’s record to 13-6. Glendale improves to 16-3.
Lady Tigers Snap Skid at Home
January 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Alice Heinzler scored 17 points to lead Republic over St. James at home Monday, 62-43. Sarah Kreul added 14 points as the Lady Tigers snapped a two-game losing skid.
Republic’s defense buckled down and held St. James to only 5 field goals in the first half. The Lady Tigers led 26-14 at halftime.
A big 3rd quarter put the game away, as the Lady Tigers outscored St. James 19-9, building the lead to 22 points after three.
Kayla Bartelsmeyer added 8 points and Brooke Dutton scored 7 for the Lady Tigers.
Photo courtesy Rodger Wheeler, Republic Monitor
Lady Tigers Fall in 3rd Place Game
January 21, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Kickapoo’s Annie Armstrong scored 30 points to lead the Lady Chiefs to a 65-56 win over Republic for 3rd place in the Queen of the Courts Showcase. The game was close most of the way before Kickapoo pulled away at the end for a nine-point victory. They avenged an overtime loss at Republic earlier this season.
Republic grabbed an early lead, and led 16-10 at the end of the 1st quarter. Kickapoo closed the gap, but Republic still led by a point at halftime, 29-28.
The 3rd quarter belonged to the Lady Chiefs. They nabbed the lead, outscoring Republic 17-9, and led 45-38 going into the final period. The Lady Tigers kept the game close until the final minute, when Kickapoo salted the game away.
Sarah Kreul led Republic with 14 points. Alexis Edwards scored 10, and Alex Botkin had 9.
(Photo courtesy Rodger Wheeler, Republic Monitor)
Ozark Romps in Tournament Semifinals
January 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The Republic Lady Tigers fell behind early and were never close in a 64-35 loss to Ozark Friday. Republic scored just 14 points in the first half as they fell to Ozark for the third time this season.
Haylee Beard scored 19 points, including three 3-pointers in the first half, for Ozark. Jackie Fugate added 17.
Alex Botkin, Brooke Dutton and Alice Heinzler scored 8 points each for the Lady Tigers.
Republic returns to the court at 2 p.m. Saturday in the 3rd place game of the Creator Designs Queen of the Courts Classic. The tournament is being played at the O’Reilly Center at Drury University.
Lady Tigers Whack Webb City
January 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The Republic Lady Tigers whipped Webb City in the opening round of the Creator Designs Queen of the Courts Showcase, 67-37. Republic bolted to the lead behind the 1-2 punch of Brooke Dutton and Alice Heinzler, who each scored nine points in the first quarter.
Dutton scored 17 total points to lead the Lady Tigers. Heinzler added 11. Kayla Bartelsmeyer scored 9 and Alexis Edwards had 7.
Nine different players scored in all for the Lady Tigers, who posted their second win over Webb City in nine days. Republic had beaten the Cardinals 73-59 at home earlier this month.
It was 21-8 when the first period ended. Republic ran the score to 43-14 at halftime, and led 56-24 after three.
Republic plays again Friday night at 8:30 at the O’Reilly Center at Drury University. The Lady Tigers will meet the winner of the Ozark/William Chrisman game.
Lady Tigers Run & Gun in Blue Jay Blowout
January 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The Republic Lady Tigers smothered Marshfield with full-court pressure defense in a blowout win on the road, 60-27
The teams were tied 8-8 midway through the first quarter, but then Republic’s defense took over. At one point, the Lady Tiger press forced turnovers on four straight possessions. Republic went on a 27-4 run the rest of the half, and led 35-12 at the break. The Lady Tigers extended the lead to 47-19 by the end of the 3rd quarter.
Ten players scored for the Lady Tigers, in their most balanced offensive effort of the season. Alice Heinzler led Republic with 13 points. Alex Botkin had 9, Alexis Edwards and Kayla Bartelsmeyer added 8 apiece, and Lindsey Carlson scored 7.
