Coming off a lackluster game against Clever to open the Pink and White Tournament, the Lady Tigers wasted no time asserting themselves against Fair Grove Tuesday night. Republic jumped ahead 9-0 and never trailed, cruising to a 79-60 victory.
Coach Kris Flood says he was much happier with his team’s effort compared to Monday.
“Right off the bat, right at the beginning, we jumped up 9-0. They definitely looked like they had a lot more focus,” he says. “Fair Grove came back on us, but we definitely had some spots there–second quarter and a little bit there in the third–where we were able to stretch it out to double digits and basically just rode it through.”
Alexis Ladwig shot the lights out in the first half, making five three-pointers and scoring 19 points before the break. She finished with 21 to lead Republic.
“I actually air-balled in the warmups, so I was a little scared,” Ladwig says. “I just took a deep breath and I was like, ‘I gotta do something,’ so I shot it and hoped that I made it.”
What’s Ladwig thinking when she opens the game with a hot hand?
“I want to keep going. Every time I get the ball I just want to shoot it and make it. It feels really good.”
Four other Lady Tigers scored in double figures: Brylee Argo had 14 points, Taylor Fergen and Brooke Stanfield had 11 each, and Jordan Kabetske scored 10. Jade Sawyer scored five points–her first of the season since returning from a knee injury. Carly Bayans scored four, and Madison Beckham had three.
“We had a lot of kids contribute. Seniors stepped up. It was definitely a good team effort,” Flood says.
The win sets up a showdown between two of the most successful girls basketball programs in southwest Missouri. Undefeated Crane, the #1 team in Class 2 and the top seed, will face Republic (8-0, #2 in Class 5) in the semifinals at 7 pm Wednesday.
Republic Tiger Sports will broadcast the game live starting with Absolute Roofing Pregame Show at 6:50. You can listen to the game here.