Some of Republic’s most memorable boys tennis matches of the past 15 years have involved showdowns with Branson. And even though the Pirates have departed the Central Ozark Conference, that rivalry proved to have plenty of juice Thursday afternoon in Republic.
Republic snapped a five-year drought against Branson, securing a thrilling 5-4 victory that wasn’t decided until the final match. The day of tennis came down to a single court Thursday, as Republic junior Nathan Henry found himself in the spotlight with the Tigers’ fate in his hands.
Republic had trailed 4-3 before freshman Lucas Riffe sparked hope with a comeback victory at No. 1 singles, knotting the score at 4-4. That’s when Henry stepped up in the decisive match, weathering his opponent’s rally in front of an unusually large crowd and pulling away for a win.
“I saw Lucas won, so I knew I had to really bring it in there for the team,” Henry said. “And I was able to rally back and win a few in a row.”
As Henry’s match intensified, several dozen spectators gathered around the court, creating an atmosphere rarely seen in regular-season high school tennis.
“It was very intense. It didn’t matter who won the point. There was a bunch of cheering for either side,” Henry said. “I knew I just had to keep my head down. Even if I lost one, move on to the next, and the next one after that.”
Henry pulled away for an 8-5 victory, clinching the team win and sparking a celebration on the court among his teammates. The Tigers had not beaten Branson since 2019.
The win improved Republic’s record to 7-3.
