Defense wins championships. Republic plays defense.
For the fourth day in a row, the Tigers shut down their opponent, earning the Blue Division championship of the Blue & Gold Tournament with a 72-50 win over Springfield Glendale. The Falcons had averaged 81 points a game in their previous three tournament games.
When the game started, Republic struggled to work the ball inside against the trapping defense of the Falcons.
“They play a different style of defense,” says coach Trevyor Fisher. “They kind of trap and make you play fast and out of control, and you’re going to turn the ball over against them some. But I thought we did a good job of being patient…and ultimately getting great shots.”
Once they settled in, the Tigers picked Glendale apart, forcing the Falcons to chase the ball sideline to sideline. That opened up lanes to the bucket and easy shots inside. When the Tigers missed, they crashed the boards and got second-chance points.
Broc Smith and Caleb Singley dominated inside, combining for 19 points in the 1st half. Singley finished with 12 points, while Smith had a career-high 21.
“It’s an honor not just to play in this tournament], but to win a championship,” says Smith. “People said we’re not a powerful one seed. People keep saying we’re not as good as Nixa. But we didn’t listen to them, played our game, and it worked out good for us.”
By the end of the 1st quarter, Republic had opened a 21-10 lead. At halftime, Republic led 32-22, and all of Glendale’s points belonged to Monty Johal (14) and Jordan Walton (8).
In the 3rd quarter, neither Johal nor Walton scored a field goal, as the Tigers held Glendale to eight points, stretching their lead to 45-30. The 4th quarter turned into a free throw shooting contest. Republic made 11 free throws and outscored Glendale 27-20 to seal the championship.
Republic’s defense was the story of the tournament in the Blue Division. The Tigers allowed just 141 points in four games. If not for a 20-point 4th quarter by Glendale after the game was in control, the Tigers could have broken the old record of 131 points allowed in four games — set all the way back in 1955 by Springfield Central.
Treydon Rackley contributed 13 points for the Tigers. Ty Stevens had nine. Cameron Doke scored seven, and Devon Ward and Mitch Coiner scored six each.
It’s Republic’s second Blue & Gold championship under coach Trevyor Fisher, and their third title in six years. Republic beat Springfield Hillcrest in 2011 and Springfield Parkview in 2012, then lost in the championship game in 2013.
Republic improves to 9-1. They play next at Springfield Central on January 3rd.
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After the game, Cameron Doke was honored with the Logan Middleton Sportsmanship Award, given to one player in the Blue Division and one player in the Gold Division. The award is named for former Nixa player Logan Middleton, who died in an accident in Stone County after graduating in 2014.
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Crackerjack Shack Player of the Game
Broc Smith scored 11 1st-half points to help the Tigers assert control, and finished with a career-high 21 to lead the Tigers to a Blue & Gold Championship as a sophomore. He was our Player of the Game.
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