When first-year coach Trevyor Fisher talked about his team in the preseason, he stressed two areas for improvement: defense and team toughness. Now, as the Tigers head into the state semifinals, Fisher says his players have developed both.
Republic enters the Show-Me Showdown in Columbia with a claim as one of the best defensive teams in Missouri. The Tigers are allowing only 40 points a game, and have given up just 34 points a game in the postseason.
“Going into the year, that’s what we had tried to accomplish, and I think we’ve gotten better as the season has gone on,” Fisher says of the Tigers’ team defense. “That Borgia game, Ty and Dylan and Jake were really flying around. I’m very pleased with our defense this year. Definitely it will take two more great defensive efforts to accomplish what we want, and that’s two wins.”
As for team toughness, Fisher says that developed over the course of the season without much direct intervention from the coaching staff.
“The good part about that is we really haven’t even had to bring that up,” says Fisher. “Maybe with the exception of the Willard game, for the most part we’ve been the tougher team, played hard, and all that stuff. It’s been a positive that we really haven’t had to talk about that a whole lot.”
For Fisher, in his first year as a head coach, he says he’s not taking such a memorable season for granted.
“Obviously it’s been a very positive experience, and mostly due to having a great bunch of kids, and kids that have been great to work with, and have bought into everything that we’ve tried to do this year,” he says. “From a personal standpoint, I know you never take it for grated to win district championships, then a Final Four, so I’m just trying to take it all in.
“I know it can still be stressful with the scouting and all that kind of stuff, but you’ve still got to enjoy it at the same time.”
Republic’s semifinal game is against Liberty North, last year’s Class 4 third place finisher.
“They’re very similar to us, I believe,” says Fisher. “They’ve got good size in the post, and some guards who can shoot it on the perimeter. They’re very good defensively, kind of like us. I think on paper it should be a pretty even matchup.”
Grant Hancock is the only player who played on the varsity team that made a trip to state three years ago, but Fisher says the rest of his team can draw on that experience, too.
“At least those kids were around the program at that time, so they kind of got a feel for it,” Fisher says. “I think that made them realize how neat it would be to get back there themselves.
“They’ve been pretty loose and obviously very excited. We’ve had three good days of practice. I think they’re ready to get after it.”
