Senior guards Brock Yocum and Brady McGill combined for 32 points in the final 32 minutes, as Republic overcame an 11-point deficit to pull off a wild, improbable comeback in a double-overtime win at the new brand-new Cardinal Dome in Webb City Friday, 59-55.
The Tigers looked dead in the water at halftime, trailing 25-16, and unable to muster any offense against a bigger Cardinals lineup.
“It’s the same old story for us,” says coach Trevyor Fisher. “When we play hard on defense and we fly around, it’s amazing how much better our offense gets.
“The first half offensively, we were just terrible. We threw the ball around the perimeter. We didn’t throw the ball inside one time. We didn’t attack. The second half, we kind of did the opposite.”
The attack was led by McGill, for the second straight game. He took the ball at the defense and scored six quick points in the third quarter to give the Tigers life.
“When teams are pressuring and making it difficult for us to run our offense, he’s the guy that can break the defense down by himself by getting into the gaps,” says Fisher. “It’s not always for him to shoot the ball, but he can get in there and draw two, and kick to shooters. He did a good job of attacking and making stuff happen.”
After the Tigers closed a 25-16 halftime deficit to four at the end of the third quarter (31-27), Yocum took over. Yocum had ten points in the fourth quarter to pull the Tigers even at the end of regulation.
“He stepped up and made some big shot at big moments. If those shots don’t go in, we’re probably not in overtime, and we walk out of here with the loss,” Fisher says. “Credit him with sticking with it and having the guts to step up there and make shots.”
Republic had a chance to win at the end of regulation, but failed to score when McGill drove into the lane and had his shot blocked. Trevyor Fisher wanted a foul call on the play, but didn’t get it.
In the first overtime, Tim Brazeal picked up the offensive load for the Tigers, beginning with a 3-point play on the inside to start the period.
“In the first half, our guards didn’t do a good job of looking inside. In the second half, we made it an emphasis to get it in there. They really couldn’t guard him in there,” Fisher says. “We got the and-one to start the overtime, and he made a difference those last 24 minutes.”
Brazeal scored all five points in the first overtime period, but again the Tigers missed an opportunity come away with the win.
At the start of the second overtime, the score was tied 49-49. That’s when McGill and Yocum took over one last time. McGill scored seven points in the final four minutes, and Yocum added three more, to help Republic outscore Webb City 10-6, finally stealing the road victory.
Yocum finished with 24 points, including seven three-pointers. McGill scored 22. Brazeal finished with nine. Cameron Doke scored two points and Blake Fanning had one.
The win pulled Republic’s record to an even 10-10. The Tigers are now 2-0 in Central Ozark Conference play, with a home game against Neosho coming up next Tuesday.