Republic jumped ahead quickly despite a sluggish start after an eight-day layoff, and cruised to a 56-23 win over Lebanon in the opening round of the Rogersville Tournament.
The Tigers dumped the ball inside repeatedly in the first quarter, but were often impatient offensively in the first half. Cody Geiger and Marcus Miller combined for ten early points, and Republic led 15-6 after one. The lead was 27-10 at halftime.
In the 2nd half, the Tigers turned up the intensity to pull away. Republic scored 10 of the first 13 points in the 3rd quarter to run its lead to 37-13, and eventually stretched the lead to 43-15 heading into the 4th quarter.
“Obviously when you hold a team to 20-some points, you’ve done a decent job,” says Fisher. “Overall, I didn’t think we quite had the intensity and focus that we probably needed to start with. I don’t know if that’s the eight-day layoff, or a tendency when you’re playing a team that doesn’t have a great record, you relax a little bit.”
The Tigers had to play the 2nd half without guard Dylan Bekemeier, who injured his shoulder fighting through a screen in the first half.
Miller led the Tigers with 14 points. Geiger, Jake Fletcher, and Grant Hancock added eight apiece. Dylan Bekemeier and Brock Yocum each scored six.
“As long as we really play good team ball, I’m content with whatever happens,” says Miller. “If I don’t score as much, I could be doing something else to help the team. As long as we play good team ball, (that’s) really what I’m concerned about.”
Republic improves to 15-1. They’re back in action Friday night at 6:30, when they’ll meet tournament host Rogersville. The Wildcats beat Glendale 44-41 in the opening round. The other semifinal will feature Ozark vs. Strafford.
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