Republic scored 11 consecutive points in the first quarter, and that dominant stretch made the difference in a 61-48 win over Harrison, Ark., Friday. The win puts the Lady Tigers into the championship game of the Willard Lady Tiger Basketball Classic.
Republic led throughout the game, but never managed to pull away from the Goblins after the early 11-0 run gave them a 17-7 lead. Republic stretched the lead to 12 points at 21-9 a short time later, but Harrison hung around until the fourth quarter.
Kaemyn Bekemeier led Republic with 26 points. Misora Nambara added 10, and so did Lauren Chastain, who scored all of her points from the free throw line.
The Lady Tigers led 17-9 after the first quarter, but the teams were even in the second. Each scored ten points, and the score was 27-19 at halftime.
Harrison scored the first five points of the second half to close the gap to three at 27-24, but that as close as the Goblins would get the rest of the night. Republic answered with a 5-0 run of its own to regain control and took a 42-36 lead into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth, Republic scored on its first two possessions, pushing its lead to 46-36, and the Lady Tigers salted the game away at the free throw line. Both Bekemeier and Chastain made five free throws in the final period, and Nambara made two. Republic outscored Harrison 19-12 in the final eight minutes to secure the win.
The Lady Tigers are 2-0 despite a cold shooting start to the season. After going 1-for-14 from three-point range in their first game, Republic again made only one three-pointer against Harrison.
Republic will play Blue Springs or Willard in the championship game Saturday at 6:00 pm. Republic Tiger Sports will broadcast the game live from Willard.
Scoring by Quarter
Harrison 9 10 17 12 – 48
Republic 17 10 15 19 – 61
Individual Scoring
Kaemyn Bekemeier 26, Misora Nambara 10, Lauren Chastain 10, Alaina Norman 8, Molly Mason 4, Hope Schatz 3