The Lady Tigers remembered how to shoot free throws just in time to capture a 70-63 overtime win over Nixa, taking third place in the White Division of the Pink & White Lady Classic Friday.
Republic missed eight free throws in the fourth quarter alone — most of them in the final two minutes when they could have put the game away. But they turned it around in overtime, making 10 of 12 free throws to claim their third win in four games at the tournament.
Republic had entered the tournament with a 2-6 record, but now they’ll head into the conference season in January at 5-7.
“We were definitely…in a funk. We weren’t playing real well,” Flood says of his team’s pre-tournament schedule. “I thought this was overall was a step in the right direction. For the most part, we played hard for all four games.”
The Lady Tigers led 28-19 at halftime, and it was 42-35 to start the fourth quarter. After Nixa scored two straight buckets, Megan Branstetter seven consecutive points for the Lady Tigers, and Republic had a 49-41 lead with about five minutes remaining.
But Nixa stormed back, aided by the Lady Tigers’ free throw troubles. At one point, Republic missed five of six free throws — and the only one they made was waved off because of a lane violation. Nixa pulled within one point at 57-56 with 13 seconds remaining. After Lacee Walcher made one of two free throws, Nixa made a layup at the buzzer to force overtime.
But in the overtime, Halli Bartelsmeyer scored the first four points, including two free throws, and Republic never trailed again.
Flood says three wins in four days has made a big difference in his team’s outlook.
“We survived and got three of four,” Flood says. “I think now, some of that anxiety is gone. They’re smiling a little bit, and it’s good to see, because they act like they’re back.”
Individual Scoring
Brylee Manes 16, Avy Powell-Qualo 15, Halli Bartelsmeyer 14, Megan Branstetter 10, Lacee Walcher 7, Morgan McGuire 5, Anna Bell 3
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Farr Better Player of the Game
Halli Bartelsmeyer wasn’t the Lady Tigers’ leading scorer, but she stepped up in crunch time. Bartelsmeyer scored the first four Republic points in overtime, and had nine in the extra period. That included seven free throws in eight attempts, after poor free throw shooting had almost sunk Republic in regulation.
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