Republic didn’t allow a field goal in the 1st or 3rd quarters, and dominated Willow Springs in the opener of the Blue & Gold Tournament, 71-15.
Republic led 18-0 after one quarter, and 34-5 at halftime. It was 54-6 after three quarters.
Canyon Smith was high scorer for the Tigers, with 16 points. Dakota Fortner had 12 points off the bench, with four three-pointers. Cody Geiger added ten in limited minutes, as coach Trevyor Fisher emptied his bench early.
“There will be a time when those guys are going to have to step in and contribute, so the more time we can get them game action, the better,” Fisher says. “And I thought they came in and did a good job.”
Fisher says he was pleased with the Tigers’ mental approach to a game they could have taken lightly — and that’s been a strong point of the team so far.
“I think our mindset’s been good going into games. I don’t think we’ve overlooked anybody,” Fisher says. “It’s just a matter of doing the things we do every day in practice, and doing those early and establishing what we need to.”
Willow Springs made a bit of inauspicious history by tying a Blue and Gold record for fewest field goals in a game, with four. Coincidentally, at the very same time in the Blue Division game at Hammons Center, Buffalo was also tying the record, by scoring only four field goals against Willard. Before that, the last time a team had four field goals in a Blue/Gold game was in 1971.
Republic’s victory sets up a second round matchup with West Plains at 8 pm Friday at JQH Arena. The Zizzers beat Ava 70-55 to advance.
