Republic outscored Nixa 27-16 over the final 12 minutes to roar from behind and win a pivotal Central Ozark Conference game at home Monday, 59-58. The Lady Tigers trailed by 12 points in the first half and by 10 points at the midway point of the third quarter before mounting their comeback.
Three different players finished in double figures for Republic, led by Misora Nambara with 19. Lanney Strong had 14 and Alex Price added 11 for the Lady Tigers, who stayed unbeaten in league play with their fourth win. Republic has won eight games in a row overall.
Monday night, Nixa bolted to an early lead with a balanced scoring attack. Laila Grant, Karis Ferguson, and Brooke Teter all had six points in the first quarter to help the Lady Eagles grab an 18-14 lead. In the second quarter, the Lady Eagles showcased their versatility on offense, getting points from a set of three different players. They ran their lead to as many as 12 points at 31-19. Republic cut the lead to seven at halftime, 35-28.
Alex Price had a strong first half to help the Lady Tigers stay within striking distance. She made two three-pointers and finished the half with nine points.
Out of the halftime break, Republic cut the lead to five almost right away, only to see Nixa stretch it back to 10, 42-32, with 4:00 left in the third quarter.
That’s when Republic began to lean on Alaina Norman inside to spark its comeback. Molly Blades lobbed the ball down to Norman for a layup with 3:53 left in the quarter to cut the lead down to eight. On the next possession, Lanney Strong fired the ball to Norman in the middle of the lane, and Norman pivoted around a defender, made a layup, drew a foul, and converted the free throw. That made the score 42-37 and gave Republic new life.
When the Lady Tigers scored the last seven points of the quarter, including a three-pointer by Nambara just ahead of the buzzer, they led for the first time all night, 47-46.
In the fourth quarter, both teams missed chances to take a small measure of control. Turnovers and missed free throws on both ends kept the game tight. With Republic leading 56-55, Nixa’s Teter grabbed an offensive board, but Lauren Chastain poked the ball away and Norman grabbed it. Nambara drew a foul and made two free throws to put Republic ahead 58-55.
Nixa’s Taylor Wood made two free throws with 12.4 seconds remaining, cutting Republic’s lead to 58-57. Nixa forced a turnover in the backcourt, but missed an open layup that would have given the Lady Eagles the lead. Wood got the rebound, drew another foul, and made a free throw with 3.4 seconds remaining.
Wood missed her second free throw, and the game would likely have gone to overtime — but Wood fouled Nambara after Nambara grabbed the rebound. That allowed Nambara to shoot free throws instead of rushing the ball up the court. Nambara made one free throw to put Republic back ahead 59-58, and Nixa was unable to get off a good shot at the end of the game.
Nixa falls to 15-6 overall and 3-1 in the COC. The Lady Tigers improve to 15-4 and 4-0. Republic will host Webb City next Thursday.
Score by Quarters
Nixa 18 17 11 12 – 58
Republic 14 14 19 12 – 59
Individual Scoring
Misora Nambara 19, Lanney Strong 14, Alex Price 11, Alaina Norman 8, Lauren Chastain 5, Molly Mason 2
