The sign of a good team is winning when you don’t play well. The sign of a great team is winning by 24 points against a state-ranked opponent when you don’t play well. That what the undefeated Republic Lady Tigers did in a 60-36 win over Blue Valley Southwest 60-36.
“I give them a lot of credit,” says coach Kris Flood. “We haven’t been guarded like that for a long time. Alice (Heinzler) had to work for everything she had.”
Republic was only 10 of 25 from the free throw line, and turned the ball over more than usual against a Blue Valley Southwest team that entered the game ranked #4 in Kansas Class 5A, according to one poll. The Timberwolves used tight defense, keying Heinzler, to take an early lead. But Republic’s pressure and quickness eventually wore the Timberwolves down.
“In a tight game, we probably come out on the wrong end on this one,” says Flood. “But we hit them with our 7-0 and 8-0 spurts.”
For a second straight game, Tori Taylor stepped up to fill a scoring void. She had six points in the 1st quarter, helping to open up the perimeter for the Lady Tiger guards. Taylor ended the game with 11.
Heinzler led the Lady Tigers with 16 points. She was the only other Republic player in double figures.
Republic built a 14-9 lead at the end of the first period, and jumped ahead 31-18 by the half. The third quarter put the game away for Republic, as they extended their lead to 46-27.
“It’s good to see someone different, and someone similar to us,” Flood says of the out-of-state opponent. “They play similar defense, similar presses. It was good for us.”
Republic is back in action tomorrow night at Nevada.