Photos: 7th Grade Girls Basketball vs Nixa
Defense Keys Lady Tigers Road Win
The Republic Lady Tigers used a stifling defense to steamroll Carl Junction in a blowout win on the road, 59-16.
Republic led 38-11 at halftime, and the defense got even better after the break. The Lady Tigers shut out Carl Junction in the 3rd quarter, and allowed just five points in the fourth quarter.
Sarah Kreul led the Lady Tigers with 16 points. Alex Botkin added 13. Brooke Dutton and Alice Heinzler scored 10 apiece.
The JV team also won, 37-27.
Photos: Freshman Boys Basketball vs Nixa
Photos: Freshman Girls Basketball vs Nixa
Freshman Basketball Sweeps Willard
Republic’s freshman girls jumped out to an early lead and cruised to an easy win over Willard at home Monday night. The Lady Tigers, playing with only five players, won 48-12.
The freshman boys were even at halftime, and pulled away to a double-digit lead in the 3rd quarter. Willard came back down the stretch, but never got closer than four, as Republic won 45-40.
Tigers Throttle Physical Wildcats 57-41
The Republic Tigers pulled away down the stretch in a physical game at Cassville, beating the Wildcats 57-41.
Nick Yocum had 20 points for the Tigers, and Canyon Smith had 8. Grant Hancock had 11 rebounds.
The game was close for most of the first half. The Tigers fell behind early, but clawed back to tie the game 12-12 after one period.
With the game tied at 24, the Tigers went on an 11-2 run to take a 35-26 lead into the halftime break.
The game stayed close through the 3rd quarter, with Republic holding the lead most of the way. The Tigers took their first double-digit lead at 47-36, with 5:15 left in the game. Three minutes later, a pair of free throws and a breakaway layup by Canyon Smith stretched the lead to 15, and the Tigers salted the game away.
Republic improves to 4-1 on the season. They play again next Friday at Monett.
Earlier in the night, the JV team beat Cassville 47-12.
Tigers Whip Rogersville for 3rd Place
Republic got 21 points from sophomore Canyon Smith and beat Rogersville 70-55 Saturday, to take 3rd place at the Republic Invitational Tournament. Smith hit five 3-pointers in the first half, and six for the game.
The Tigers led 28-21 at halftime. Smith’s big first half helped pick up the slack as Rogersville’s defense shut down senior Nick Yocum, holding him scoreless before the break. Yocum scored 13 in the 2nd half.
Jake Fletcher added 13 for the Tigers. Cody Geiger had 10, and Grant Hancock scored 8.
Republic improves to 2-1. Rogersville drops to 1-2.
Rogers Shuts Down Tigers in Semifinals
Republic scored only five points in each of the first two quarters, losing to Rogers, Ark. in the semifinals of the Republic Invitational 51-43.
In the first half, a quick Rogers defense shut down Republic’s inside game, and the Tigers were unable to compensate, shooting poorly from the perimeter. It was 10-5 after one period, and 23-10 at halftime.
Rogers built a 21-point lead late in the 3rd quarter, and it was 36-18 as the 4th quarter began. The Tigers used a late charge to cut the lead to eight points with :34 left, but couldn’t get any closer.
Nick Yocum led the Tigers with 22 points, including six 3-pointers. Cody Geiger had ten points, all in the 4th quarter.
Nate Musso had 14 points to lead Rogers.
The Tigers fall to 1-1. They’re back in action Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. against Rogersville in the 3rd place game. Rogersville lost to Russellville, Ark. in the other semifinal Friday night.
Rogers will play Russellville in the championship game.
JV Girls Take 2nd at Willard Tournament
Republic’s JV girls couldn’t overcome a difficult start as they lost to Ozark in the finals of the Willard JV Tournament 54-36.
Ozark jumped out to a 15-point halftime lead, thanks to a lot of second-chance points. For the game, Ozark had 15 points on free throws as a result of offensive rebounds.
The loss was the first of the year for Republic. The Lady Tigers fall to 2-1.
Lady Tigers Pull Away Late to Beat Mt. Vernon
The Republic Lady Tigers scored 24 points in the 4th quarter to break open a close game and beat Mt. Vernon 56-43 at the Lady Houn’ Tournament in Aurora. Alex Botkin had 22 points to lead the Lady Tigers.
Republic struggled offensively for the first three quarters. They trailed 7-2 early, and trailed 11-9 at the end of one period.
A 10-2 run late in the 2nd quarter gave the Lady Tigers the lead, and they went into the locker room at halftime leading 23-21.
The offensive trouble continued for both teams in the 3rd quarter, with Mt.Vernon outscoring the Lady Tigers 11-9, setting up a 32-32 ballgame going into the final period.
In the 4th quarter, Republic’s full-court pressure defense finally wore down the Lady Mountaineers, and the Lady Tigers scored several easy buckets off turnovers. They also made 10 of 14 free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.
Alice Heinzler had 13 points, all in the 2nd half. Sarah Kreul and Brooke Dutton added six points apiece.
Republic advances to the tournament finals Friday night against Walnut Grove, who upset top-seeded Bolivar Thursday evening.
