The first time Republic played Bolivar this season, the Liberators’ big men combined for 32 points in a 54-38 win. Heading into Saturday’s championship game of the Liberator Tournament, coach Tim Brown switched up his defensive game plan and threw much of the responsibility for its success at freshman Ahlante Askew. It couldn’t have gone much better.
The Tigers beat the Liberators 57-49 to avenge the earlier loss and win the tournament. Republic swept the weekend in Bolivar, with the JV team winning its bracket, as well.
Hampered by the Tigers’ double-team on the low post, 6’5″ Kyle Pock and 6’5″ Brodie Pollock saw their production halved from the first time they played the Tigers. They managed just 16 points between them – 14 by Pock. Askew drew five offensive fouls as the key defender in Republic’s double-team scheme.
“Our game plan was to make ‘Te a designated trapper, and anytime the ball went in to those guys, he was leaving his man and trapping the ball out. And my goodness, he executed so well tonight, and to think he’s only a freshman,” said coach Tim Brown. “Our whole game plan was predicated on our post guys doing a good job of not letting them catch it deep, and they did a great job. And then that’s a lot of responsibility that we put on a freshman tonight, and not only did he execute, but man, he dominated that game plan. It was … just a great job by him and everyone else.”
From the start of the game, Republic’s plan to double the post hampered Bolivar offensively. The Liberators scored only four two-point field goals in the first half. Republic led 11-10 at the end of the first quarter and took a 25-20 lead into halftime.
Askew started hot at the offensive end of the floor, as well. He scored eight points in the first half before landing on the bench with two fouls early in the second quarter.
While Bolivar’s defense focused its attention on Drew McMillin, who scored 30 points Friday night, several other Tigers picked up the scoring slack. Race Looney scored ten in the first half and finished with a game-high 21. Joe Rexroat, who finished the first half without a point, scored six straight points to open the third quarter to help extend Republic’s lead, and he finished with 12. McMillin scored nine points and Askew finished with eight. Nate Woolford had six points, and Carson Neff had one.
The Tigers won three games in three days at Bolivar, just two days after Springfield Catholic snapped a six-game win streak. Republic has won 9 of its last 11 games to stand at 14-5 as conference play resumes with a home game against Branson next Tuesday.
Republic scoring: Race Looney 21, Joe Rexroat 12, Drew McMillin 9, Ahlante Askew 8, Nate Woolford 6, Carson Neff 1
