Junior Tori Taylor scored 19 points, including 13 in the 1st half, to lead Republic to a Senior Night victory over Willard 66-39. Micah Mansker contributed 11 points to the victory, which keeps Republic undefeated in the Central Ozark Conference at 5-0.
The victory game on a night when Republic honored seniors Payton Kabetske, Rachael Allen, Bailey Cornelison, and Haley Smith. All four saw action down the stretch, which doesn’t always happen. But coach Kris Flood says the four seniors have been leaders by accepting their roles, even if it means they don’t get much playing time.
“In practice…whenever they get in there, they always work hard. They’ve never complained or said anything,” says Flood. “They’re some of the biggest cheerleaders we have. They’re good character kids. They’ve meant a lot up to this point, and I’m glad they’ve stuck it out.”
Monday night’s game was close after one quarter, with Republic holding a three-point lead, 14-11. A key stretch came in the final minute of the 2nd quarter, when Micah Mansker converted a conventional three-point play, and Brylee Argo followed that up with a three-pointer from the corner to stretch a five-point lead to 11 at halftime, 32-21.
In the 3rd quarter, Republic outscored Willard 23-3 to take control.
“I don’t know how many possessions we had in a row there at the beginning. We scored it seemed like on our first five or six possessions,” says Flood. “It gave us a chance to spread that thing out.”
Michayla Shanks scored nine points for Republic. Jordan Kabetske had eight. Brooke Stanfield, Logan Flood, and Argo had five apiece. Jade Sawyer and Cornelison each scored two.
Republic improves to 19-4 overall. They will go for their 20th win of the season at Ozark Thursday night.