It took more than three minutes for Republic to score its first points during a home game against Springfield Kickapoo Friday, and the Kickapoo defense kept up the pressure all night. The Chiefs frustrated Republic with tight half-court defense on the way to a 59-37 win.
Both teams excelled defensively in the first half. The difference was the long-range shooting of Kickapoo’s guards. When Republic limited the Chiefs’ inside game, Kickapoo guards stepped out to make five three-pointers before halftime, building a 25-16 lead. The Tigers scored just five points in the first quarter, all of them by Brenley Hagewood.
In the second quarter, Kickapoo led by as many as 14 points before Republic rallied behind a solid quarter by forward James Rexroat. He scored six points in the quarter and the Tigers cut the scoring margin to single digits by halftime.
Republic got the ball first in the second half, with an opportunity to get back into the game. But the Tigers failed to score, and Kickapoo started the half with a 9-0 run to put the game away. The Chiefs led 41-26 at the end of the third quarter and extended the lead to as many as 24 points on two occasions.
Rexroat and Hagewood led Republic with 12 points apiece.
Kickapoo improves to 15-1. Republic is 9-6. The Tigers are off until next Thursday, when they open the Bolivar Liberator tournament against Camdenton at 4:00.
Score by Quarters
Kickapoo 13 12 19 15 – 59
Republic 5 11 10 11 – 37
Individual Scoring
Brenley Hagewood 12, James Rexroat 12, Rylee Tan 4, Davin Parks 4, Aslan Ebisch 3, CJ Uhl 2