Four days after setting the school single-game scoring record with 38 points against Carthage, Kaemyn Bekemeier out-did herself. Bekemeier exploded for 48 points, including 33 in the first half, to lead Republic past Willard 80-64 on the road Tuesday.
After falling behind early, Republic outscored Willard in each of the last three quarters to stay unbeaten in league play. Eight different players scored for Republic.
“It’s getting towards the end of the season. I think we’re flowing a lot better as a team. We’re gaining more confidence in ourselves and … we’re believing in each other a lot more. You can definitely feel it a lot more,” Bekemeier said.
The Lady Tigers finished with 11 three-pointers on 30 attempts. Bekemeier was 5-for-6 from long range. Republic was 30-for-57 from the floor. Bekemeier made 18 of 21 shots unofficially, for 86%.
Hope Schatz added two three-pointers, and she also had nine assists, seven rebounds, and two steals. Bekemeier pulled down nine boards to go with her 48 points.
Republic overcame a torrid shooting start by Willard from the outside. Willard made seven three-pointers in the first half, leading by as many as ten points as one time, 18-8. But a three-pointer by Hope Schatz and the fiery start by Bekemeier helped Republic get back in the game, cutting the lead to 19-16 at the end of the first quarter.
Bekemeier scored 20 points in the second quarter, while the rest of the team stayed cold from the floor. Only Schatz and Eternity Knotts made field goal attempts in the second quarter – but Republic had still grabbed a seven-point lead by halftime, 41-34.
In the second half, several other Republic players found their range. Rilynn Finley scored seven points in the third quarter to complement Bekemeier’s output. Misora Nambara, Molly Blades, and Knotts also added to the scoring in the third quarter. By the end of the period, Bekemeier had 40 points and had already broken her own single-game scoring mark.
“(Willard) focusing on me kind of got my teammates open, so honestly, at the end of the day, anything to win, I’ll do,” Bekemeier said.
In addition to the scoring record, Bekemeier’s 18 field goals broke the previous school record of 16, set by Kim Messier in 1988. Eighteen field goals in a game also tied Bekemeier for 19th all-time in Missouri (and third all-time among large-school players).
Bekemeier’s 33 points in the first half are the most ever in a half by a large-school player and tied for 26th all-time in Missouri.
Republic improves to 16-5 overall and 5-0 in the Central Ozark Conference. The Lady Tigers play at Joplin Thursday.
Republic Scoring
Kaemyn Bekemeier 48, Rilynn Finley 7, Misora Nambara 7, Hope Schatz 6, Eternity Knotts 4, Molly Blades 3, Miha Nambara 3, Alaina Norman 2