Jefferson City Helias made an astonishing 16 three-pointers at Republic Tuesday night.
They needed 17.
Republic’s Tucker Thomas hit a free throw line jumper with 2.7 seconds remaining to lift the Tigers to a comeback 62-60 win over the Crusaders. The game-winning shot put an exclamation point on Thomas’ best offensive night of the young season. He scored a season-high 14 points. His output was all the more important because Broc Smith and Drew McMillin, two of the Tigers’ big scorers in their first five games, spent much of the night on the bench in foul trouble.
Tucker Thomas’ Game-Winning Shot
Meanwhile, at the other end of the court, the Crusaders were unconscious, with three-pointers flying into the basket from all ranges and all angles. Helias made nine threes in the first half, but every time it seemed they might pull away, one of the Tigers made a big play.
The Crusaders led 15-6 late in the first quarter before four different Tigers scored on a 9-0 run to end the period, tying the game at 15-15. The biggest bucket was a three-pointer by Cole Buxton, who’d just come off the bench to fire home a buzzer beater and tie the game.
In the second quarter, Republic asserted control briefly at 26-21, but three straight three-pointers gave the Crusaders the lead again at 30-26. It was 30-28 Helias at halftime.
The Crusaders took their biggest lead of the night at 39-32 early in the third quarter, thanks to back-to-back threes. But two three-pointers by McMillin got Republic close again, and by the end of the quarter, Helias led by only a single point, 47-46.
McMillin fired home another three to start the fourth quarter, giving Republic a two-point lead, and after Helias answered, Smith made a three-pointer of his own to make it 52-50. The Tigers led 54-52 when Smith went to the bench with his fourth foul with 5:50 remaining in the game.
But this time it was Trent Rackley’s turn to step up. He buried a three-pointer to stretch Republic’s lead to five, and Cole Buxton made a free throw to give Republic a 58-52 lead — but two more threes by Helias tied the game again at 58.
Kris Yocum State Farm Post-Game Show
The teams traded buckets, setting up Republic’s game-winning possession. The Tigers ran about a minute and a half off the clock before the ball ended up in Thomas’ hands near the top of the key. He dribbled to the free throw line, pulled up, and shot in the game-winner.
Helias had one final opportunity to tie or win the game, but a Crusader stepped out of bounds on the sideline before they could get off a shot.
Republic improves to 4-2. Helias falls to 2-3. The Tigers will be on the road Friday at Bolivar. Republic Tiger Sports will broadcast the game online.
Scoring
Tucker Thomas 14, Drew McMillin 11, Broc Smith 11, Trent Rackley 9, Cole Buxton 7, Race Looney 6, Jaden Duvall 4