Both Republic basketball teams are still among the top ten on the latest rankings by the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association. The latest poll was released Tuesday.
The Lady Tigers (12-2) have risen to #3 in Class 6. Incarnate Word Åcademy is #1 and Truman is #2. Raytown and Grain Valley, two teams Republic has beaten, are ranked #4 and #5 respectively. COC rival Nixa is #6. Park Hill South, Columbia Hickman, Columbia Battle, and Columbia Rock Bridge round out the top ten.
The Lady Tigers’ two losses are to Jefferson City Helias, ranked #1 in Class 5, and Carl Junction, ranked #4 in Class 5. Republic has also beaten Jefferson City (Class 5, #9) Strafford (Class 3, #1), El Dorado Springs (Class 3, #2), and Kickapoo (unranked but receiving votes in Class 6).
Republic will play Class 5 #3 West Plains and Class 6 #7 Park Hill South in the Nixa Invitational Tournament.
The Lady Tigers’ in-state opponents so far have a combined record of 104-52.
The Republic boys remain at #9 in the latest poll, despite a current 12-game winning streak. Staley, Nixa, and Oak Park are the top three. Lee’s Summit West, CBC, North Kansas City, Kickapoo, and Park Hill South are ranked four through eight, with Kirkwood at #10.
The Tigers have beaten Bolivar (Class 5, #9), Sparta (Class 3, #8), and Fatima and Blair Oaks (unranked but receiving votes in Class 4). Their only loss is to Springdale, Ark. in early December, ranked #7 among all classes by SBLive in Arkansas.
The Tigers’ in-state opponents have a combined record so far of 109-67.