Republic scored just one point over the final six minutes 44 seconds of an overtime loss to Cape Girardeau Notre Dame in the first round of the Nixa Invitational Tournament Thursday. Neither team managed a field goal in the four-minute overtime period, but Notre Dame managed three free throws to nab a 48-45 win.
The Lady Tigers turned the ball over 16 times and shot just 39 percent from the floor, and the offense struggled most of all down the stretch. When Kaemyn Bekemeier scored on a layup with 2:44 remaining in regulation, it gave Republic a 44-40 lead. But that was the last field goal of the night for the Lady Tigers.
Senior Lexi Rubel handled the bulk of the scoring for Notre Dame, and she led all scorers with 29 points. Rubel was the only player to score for the Bulldogs in the fourth quarter and the overtime period. She scored ten of her 29 during that 12-minute stretch.
Bekemeier led Republic with 19 points. Alaina Norman joined her in double figures with 11.
The Lady Tigers were playing short-handed, with Miha and Misora Nambara unavailable. Alex Price and Eternity Knotts both got their first varsity starts.
Cape Notre Dame, ranked 4th in Class 5, is now 10-2. The Lady Tigers fall to 8-5.
Republic will play at 5:30 Friday against Norfork, Ark. Norfork lost to West Plains in overtime Thursday, 54-52.
Republic Scoring:
Kaemyn Bekemeier 19, Alaina Norman 11, Rilynn Finley 9, Hope Schatz 5, Eternity Knotts 1