Republic’s defense suffocated Joplin Thursday night, holding the Lady Eagles to 19 percent shooting in a 61-20 road victory that extended the Lady Tigers’ winning streak to 10 games.
Joplin actually grabbed the early lead. Alissa Owens hit a three-pointer to cap a 5-0 run and put the Lady Eagles up 7-4 in the first quarter. But Republic locked in defensively from that point forward, and Joplin never found an answer.
The Lady Tigers closed the first quarter on a 7-0 run — a bucket from Awbree Berning, a layup from Kinley Kilburn, and a three from Addie Brown — to take an 11-7 lead. Joplin managed just six points in the second quarter and three in the third as Republic’s defense tightened its grip.
The third quarter was the backbreaker. Republic outscored Joplin 19-3 in the period, running off 14 unanswered points to blow the game open at 45-16. Kilburn, Berning, Cora Cutbirth, and Paelyn Gilmore all scored during the run, with Gilmore connecting from beyond the arc.
For the game, Joplin shot 6-of-25 from two-point range and 1-of-11 from three. The Lady Eagles made just seven field goals total.
Republic’s offense, meanwhile, was efficient. The Lady Tigers shot 45 percent from the field and knocked down eight threes at a 40 percent clip. Kilburn led all scorers with 13 points. Cutbirth added nine, going 5-of-7 from the free throw line, and Charlie Hagewood hit a pair of threes for eight points.
Payton Cunningham and Owens each scored seven for Joplin.
The win sets up a marquee matchup Monday at Kickapoo, where Republic (19-3) will face an unbeaten Lady Chiefs squad. Joplin fell to 8-13.
Score by Quarters
Joplin 7-6-3-4—20
Republic 11-15-19-16—61
Republic Scoring
Kinley Kilburn 13, Cora Cutbirth 9, Charlie Hagewood 8, Awbree Berning 7, Paelyn Gilmore 6, Addie Brown 5, Chloe Pullan 5, Josie Stalzer 3, Libby Steele 3, Jordin Quessenberry 2
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