Before Republic’s rematch with Nixa Tuesday, coach Tim Brown hoped the game would be similar to the teams’ first meeting. Nixa won a close game for the Blue & Gold Tournament championship, but the outcome turned on a couple of big moments in the fourth quarter and could have gone either way. Brown hoped his Tigers could dictate the tempo again, but get the fourth quarter breaks to come out on top this time.
He got the first half of his wish, but the Eagles made the plays and got the breaks in the fourth quarter again, pulling away for a 57-46 win at Republic.
“I was proud of our kids. I thought we battled. We did what we needed to do to be tied [in the fourth quarter],” Brown said.
The Tigers and Eagles battled back and forth through the first three quarters. Republic closed an eight-point deficit to tie the score 38-38 at the end of the third period, and they took the lead briefly, 40-39, in the fourth. But during a crucial 30-second stretch, Nixa scored six consecutive points to take a two-possession lead.
It started with a five-second call against James Rexroat, giving Nixa the ball with the score tied 40-40. As Rexroat turned to walk back up the court, he bounced the ball behind him toward an open area of the court. The official issued a technical foul, and Nixa took advantage. The Eagles sank two free throws, scored on the ensuing possession, then forced another turnover and scored again. With 4:00 remaining, a tie score had turned into a six-point margin.
Brown didn’t comment on the technical foul call directly, but agreed it was an important moment.
“Being down five is not really a great thing for us with three minutes to go, and I wish we would have had the opportunity to at least match it after they got the ball back (after the five-second call),” he said.
Nixa had led most of the first half, taking a 15-10 edge after the first quarter. Republic cut the lead to 29-26 at halftime, led by Brenley Hagewood’s 16 first-half points. The Tigers climbed back into the game in the third quarter, and when Jordan Douglas swished a three-pointer with 1:30 remaining, it tied the score 38-38.
Hagewood led Republic with 24 points, and he was the only Tiger in double figures. He was also the only Republic player to make a field goal in the fourth quarter. Rylee Tan sank two free throws late in the game, but Nixa outscored Republic 19-8 over the final eight minutes to earn the win.
Nixa improves to 15-5 and stays unbeaten in the Central Ozark Conference at 4-0. Republic falls to 12-9 overall and 2-2 in the conference. The Tigers host Webb City Friday.
Score by Quarters
Nixa 15 14 9 19 – 57
Republic 10 16 12 8 – 46
Individual Scoring
Brenley Hagewood 24, Jordan Douglas 9, James Rexroat 9, Rylee Tan 2, Davin Parks 2