Republic swept through the Blue & Gold Tournament with four straight wins to capture the championship of the Blue Division. Along the way, senior Ahlante Askew led Republic in scoring four times. But his biggest night came in the semifinal against Hartville.
With Republic trailing by three points and time running out in regulation, Askew launched a shot from nearly 35 feet, splashing it into the net to force overtime.
“I was supposed to drive and kick. It didn’t really work out like that. I just stopped where I had space and shot the ball and it went in,” Askew said.
In the overtime, Republic outscored Hartville 10-4, earning a spot in the championship game. Askew finished with 22 points, and it was Republic’s Blue & Gold Performance of the Week.