For the fourth game in a row, Republic stayed close to a top conference rival, only to fall short in the fourth quarter. Tuesday, it was Ozark who pulled away down the stretch, beating Republic 54-45.
Republic stayed in the game despite getting only four points from leading scorer Kevin Stander, who was slowed by an injured ankle. Two other seniors picked up the slack on Senior Night. Josh Morrow scored 16 points, and Dylan Fletcher scored 15 to lead the Tigers.
Republic led 14-13 after one quarter, led by a couple of early 3-pointers by Nick Yocum. At halftime, Ozark had grabbed a 26-23 lead. Ozark’s Isaiah Monroe hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to end the 3rd quarter, and Ozark extended its lead to 41-34. They scored the first seven points of the 4th quarter to extend the lead 14, and Republic never got closer than nine points the rest of the way.
Ozark got 20 points from Monroe, 14 from Seth Arnold, and 9 from Tom Ligon.
Republic has lost four in a row, and falls to 15-8. Ozark improves to 20-5.