Republic blew open a close game in the 2nd half Friday night to win at Glendale going away, 80-64. Cody Geiger scored 23 in the 2nd half, and finished with 27 points for the game, to lead the Tigers past the Falcons in the Ozark Mountain Shootout. Canyon Smith added 22.
Glendale came out strong, and Republic didn’t take its first lead until 2:30 remaining in the first quarter, when they went ahead 12-11. The teams were tied 15-15 after one.
The Tigers built a six-point lead in the 2nd quarter, but Glendale scored six in a row to tie the game again, before a Canyon Smith three-pointer made it 30-27 at halftime.
But Republic came out of the locker room with new-found intensity. The Tigers reeled off a 16-2 run in the first five minutes, building a 46-29 lead. Geiger had 11 points in the 3rd quarter, as Republic eventually pushed the lead over 20. They led 58-39 as play started in the 4th.
Smith drained a season-high five three-pointers for the Tigers, who hit eight treys as a team. It was the second straight game of 20+ points for Smith.
Dylan Bekemeier scored 12 points for Republic, Brock Yocum had nine, Chase Hoffmann added five, Jordan Kerr scored three, and Dillen Ramsey added two points.
Republic improves to 4-0 this season.
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