A hot-shooting Nick Yocum scored 22 points and the Republic Tigers used stifling defense to topple Ozark on the road, 51-47.
(Listen to coach Gary Stanfield’s postgame comments below.)
Yocum hit six 3-pointers, including three in the first four minutes of the 3rd quarter, as Ozark started to build momentum after a slow start.
Republic forced several turnovers early with swarming defense, and jumped to a 15-6 lead in the first quarter. It was 17-8 after one period.
Ozark closed the gap to 2 points by halftime, and Republic went into the break leading 25-23.
Ozark took its first lead of the game at 28-27 on a 3-pointer by Clint Landrigan. And that’s when Yocum took over.
Yocum buried a 3-pointer to give Republic the lead again — then got a steal and hit another 20-footer to make the lead five. After an Ozark score, Yocum drilled his third straight trey, from well beyond the arc, to extend the lead to six. At the end of the 3rd quarter, Republic led 40-35.
Ozark fought back again to take a lead at 43-42 with 4:00 left in the game. After a Republic turnover, Ozark tried to slow the pace, but missed an easy shot in the lane — setting up Yocum to hit his sixth 3-pointer of the night and give Republic a 2-point lead again.
From there, Ozark never retook the lead, and Brody Thompson hit three key free throws in the closing minute to help seal the victory.
It was the second Republic win over Ozark this year, after Republic opened the season with a home victory in the Republic Invitational.