For the third time in three games, the Lady Tigers hit an extended dry spell against Branson’s matchup zone defense. This time, it not only led to a loss, but to the end of Republic’s season in a 60-42 defeat in the state sectionals in Springfield Wednesday night.
For the first eight minutes of the game, Republic attacked the zone more aggressively. The Lady Tigers turned that aggressiveness into open looks at the basket, but missed several good shots. They trailed 16-10 after one quarter.
In the second quarter, Republic got more tentative offensively, and Branson pushed its lead to double digits for the first time. A key stretch came near the end of the half, after an Allyson Barrett three-pointer cut Branson’s lead to eight points and gave Republic some momentum for the first time since the early-going. But Branson scored quickly, Republic turned the ball over on its next possession, and the Lady Pirates scored again to take a 12-point lead into halftime, 32-20.
“We had some open looks, we just didn’t hit some shots,” coach Kris Flood says of his team’s play in the first 1 1/2 quarters. “But especially that last three minutes ~, they hit us with a couple of transition baskets and caught us.”
Republic played better defense in the third quarter, holding Branson to only 13 points, but that didn’t matter—because the Lady Tigers couldn’t get any offensive momentum. Halli Bartelsmeyer and Madi Beckham scored Republic’s only two field goals of the quarter, as Branson pushed the lead to 45-24.
“We came out in the third quarter with some intensity defensively. We just had trouble scoring,” says Flood. “If you can’t score, you’re not going to win too many games. It’s a pretty simple game.”
It’s the second straight season that Republic’s season has ended at Drury in the state sectional game. Last year, eventual state champion Kickapoo knocked out the Lady Tigers.
Republic ends its season with a 16-12 record. The Lady Tigers were district champions for a fourth season in a row. Wednesday also marked the final game for four seniors: Beckham, Taylor Fergen, Madi Appleberry, and Allyson Barrett.
“We’ve had a lot of ups and downs, but we were right to the last night of conference and had a chance to share that ~. We did win a district and have an opportunity to advance in the playoffs. I told the kids I was proud of them and proud of the way they hung together and played this year.”
Scoring
Taylor Fergen 14, Brylee Manes 8, Madi Beckham 6, Allyson Barrett 4, Madi Appleberry 3, Megan Branstetter 3, Halli Bartelsmeyer 2, Avy Powell-Qualo 2
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Player of the Game
Playing in her last game as a Lady Tiger, Taylor Fergen led the team in scoring as she had most of the year. Despite being a focal point of the Branson defense, Fergen scored nine points in the first half and a team-high 14 points for the game, and she was our Coldwell Banker Player of the Game.
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