Republic overcame a cold shooting start to beat Stockton 58-40 in the KTXR Lady Classic in Springfield Wednesday.
The Lady Tigers were just 1-for-7 from beyond the 3-point arc to start the game, while Stockton came out red-hot, hitting 6-of-9 from the field in the first period. After one quarter, Stockton led Republic 13-11.
The Lady Tigers’ defense started to assert itself in the 2nd quarter and Republic picked up some easy buckets in transition. When Alice Heinzler hit a layup to make the score 19-17, it was the Lady Tigers’ first lead of the game. Republic led 30-23 at halftime.
Ashli Burton got hot for Stockton to start the 2nd half, scoring eight of her 14 points in the 3rd quarter. But after Burton cut the lead to 36-33 with about 5:00 left in the period, Taylor Wells hit a big 3-pointer, and the Lady Tigers never looked back. Republic outscored Stockton 22-7 the rest of the way.
Alex Botkin led the Lady Tigers with 14 points. Sarah Kreul added 12.
Republic improves to 7-1. The Lady Tigers advance to the consolation championship against Ozark Thursday at 12:30 p.m.
