Cody Geiger scored 27 points and Dylan Bekemeier scored 21 as the Republic Tigers began the defense of their state championship with an 83-34 romp over Siloam Springs, Arkansas. The two top scorers combined for 33 points in the first half, as the Tigers started quickly and never looked back.
The blowout started with a barrage of seven three pointers in the first 16 minutes of play, including four from Bekemeier. Brock Yocum added two and Geiger had one, as Republic led 47-19 at halftime. The 2nd quarter was the decisive one, with Republic outscoring Siloam Springs 26-8.
“As a coach, you always worry about that first game. How your kids are going to react, how they’re going to mentally prepare, did I get them prepared, are we going to play hard,” says coach Trevyor Fisher. “The answer to all those is ‘yes.'”
In addition to the blistering offensive start, Republic shut down a Panthers team that had won its first two games of the season.
“I thought for the most part our defense was pretty good, but we’ve still got some room to improve,” Fisher says. “But overall, I’m very happy with the first effort.”
In addition to Geiger’s 27 and Bekemeier’s 21, the Tigers got nine points from Dillen Ramsey and seven from Canyon Smith. Brock Yocum and Chase Hoffman scored six apiece. Josh Vaughn had four points and Jordan Kerr added three.
If there was a weak spot — if there can be a weak spot in a 49-point victory — it was the Tigers’ rebounding at times. Fisher says he knows that will continue to be a focal point.
“We gave up four offensive rebounds right at the beginning of the game, then at halftime I think we’d given up five,” Fisher says. “That will be an ongoing deal that we have to get better at all season long, because obviously we’re not as big as we were last year, and we just have to do a better job of getting them off the glass.”
Republic is 1-0. Siloam Springs falls to 2-1. The Tigers will be back in action in the Republic Invitational semifinals Friday night at 7:30.
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