Republic set the tone immediately Thursday night and never let Nixa into the game, riding Cora Cutbirth’s career-high 21 points to a wire-to-wire 60–43 win at home.
Paelyn Gilmore drilled a three on Republic’s first trip, and the Lady Tigers backed it up with pressure defense that kept Nixa playing uphill all night. After a brief 7-7 tie late in the first quarter, Republic ripped off a 7-0 run to take control and closed the quarter up 20-10.
“I felt like the girls came out ready to play,” coach Tori Mooneyham said. “We had a talk before the game, and I reminded them, I said, ‘Girls, you’re 8-2. It’s time to play like you’re 8-2. Play with that kind of confidence.’ And I feel like they did tonight.”
Nixa’s only sustained push came early in the second quarter, when Taylor Wood scored twice to cut the lead to six. Republic answered immediately. Gilmore knocked down back-to-back threes, and the Lady Tigers continued to turn defensive stops into offense. The closing minute of the half put the game firmly in Republic’s control: Chloe Pullan scored through contact, missed the free throw, and Cora Cutbirth followed with a putback. Republic went to halftime up 35-19.
“When we hit that first three, you could almost breathe,” Mooneyham said. “It seems like every time we miss that first shot, we struggle the entire game. So to see that first three go in was just huge.”
The third quarter was more even, with fouls slowing the pace. Nixa scored the first four points to trim the margin to 12, but Kinley Kilburn answered with a three, and Republic’s defense kept the Lady Eagles from stringing together stops and scores. Josie Stalzer set the tone on that end with deflections and steals that prevented any momentum shift.
“I thought overall we got a lot of stops and got a lot of steals,” Mooneyham said. “Defense can create your offense and give you that energy, and I think that’s what happened tonight.”
Pullan opened the fourth quarter with a three to erase any doubt, and Cutbirth continued to score inside and at the line as Republic pushed the lead to 20 at 54-34. The Lady Tigers then worked the clock against Nixa’s press and closed it out.
Cutbirth led Republic with a career-high 21 points. Gilmore finished with 12 on four three-pointers. Wood led Nixa with 19 points.
Republic improved to 9-2 and has won five of its last six against Nixa. The Lady Tigers travel to West Plains on January 12.
Score by quarters
Nixa Lady Eagles 10 9 13 11 — 43
Republic Lady Tigers 20 15 12 13 — 60
Individual scoring
Republic: Cora Cutbirth 21, Paelyn Gilmore 12, Charlie Hagewood 8, Josie Stalzer 7, Chloe Pullan 6, Kinley Kilburn 5, Awbree Berning 1.
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