Springfield Catholic ripped off a 20-0 run in the first quarter, then held off the furious Republic rally down the stretch for a 75-62 win in Springfield Tuesday. The Irish slashed away at the middle of Republic’s defense with dribble penetration and easy layups, then dropped three-point bombs over the top.
Republic led 8-4 when Catholic scored 20 consecutive points to take command. A Drew McMillin basket as time expired in the first quarter cut the lead to 24-11.
“We started the game and we didn’t have five guys on the same page on either end. We were doing our own thing on offense and being soft with the ball,” said coach Tim Brown. “They were just taking it from us and pushing us off our spot on our cuts, when we actually did decide to try to cut.
“Then we didn’t guard anyone in the first half. We allowed straight line penetration, um, scouting report that we went through––we didn’t pay attention to any of it. We allowed guys to get to their spots that we said…to try to not get them there.”
The Irish lad 39-25 at halftime, and eventually led by as many as 23 points twice in the third quarter. But Republic reeled off 13 consecutive points at the end of the fourth quarter and the beginning of the fourth. The Tigers actually cut the lead to seven points with about three minutes remaining, but ran out of gas in the final minutes.
” I thought we showed a little fight (and) showed a little desire to try to do things that we teach in our program,” Brown said of the comeback. “It’s kind of kind of amazing that when we do things that we teach and practice, we look like a basketball team.”
Broc Smith led Republic with 23 points. Drew McMillin scored 16. Race Looney also finished in double figures with 12.
The Tigers have lost three straight, going back to the final two games at the Ralph Miller Classic in Chanute, Kansas. They’re 13-6.
Scoring
Broc Smith 23, Drew McMillin 16, Race Looney 12, Trent Rackley 6, Joe Rexroat 3, Jaden Duvall 2