Republic honored seniors Awbree Berning and Addie Brown before Tuesday’s home finale, then sent them off with a 77-17 blowout of Parkview.
Head coach Tori Mooneyham, who has coached both players since their freshman year, praised the pair for their growth and commitment.
“Just two tremendous kids, good student-athletes. Fun to be around,” Mooneyham said. “I’ve really been fun to watch them grow over the four years and be a part of what we’re trying to do here.”
Mooneyham said Brown is a natural shooter whose versatility has allowed the team to use her inside and on the perimeter. “She has probably one of the most prettiest shots I’ve ever seen,” Mooneyham said. “She’s a very versatile player. … Just a sweet kid, so appreciative of everything, just so kind and kind-hearted.”
Berning, Mooneyham said, is one of the most improved players she’s coached. “She played on the freshman team probably more than JV her freshman year,” Mooneyham said. “She’s very disciplined. I don’t think … a lot of people see everything she does, only a coach sees it, but she does everything you ask of her, whether it’s blocking out, whether it’s jumping to the ball. … I feel like because of that, she has really become the player that she is.”
Berning finished with seven points in the win.
On the court, junior Paelyn Gilmore stole the show with a record-breaking night. Gilmore hit three three-pointers in the first quarter as Republic jumped ahead 23-8, added a fourth in the second, then buried four more in the third to tie the school record of eight in a game, previously held by Hope Schatz. Early in the fourth quarter, Gilmore drained her ninth to break the record. She finished with 29 points.
Cora Cutbirth scored 18 points, 12 in the opening quarter, as Republic built its 23-8 lead. The Lady Tigers outscored Parkview 20-5 in the second quarter to take a 43-13 halftime lead, then put together a 26-1 third quarter to remove all doubt.
Republic closes the regular season at 21-4 and enters the district tournament as the No. 2 seed behind No. 1 Kickapoo. The Lady Tigers open district play at 7 p.m. March 2 against No. 7 Waynesville at Republic.
Score by Quarters
Parkview 8 5 1 3 – 17
Republic 23 20 26 8 – 77
Republic Scoring
Paelyn Gilmore 29, Cora Cutbirth 18, Josie Stalzer 8, Awbree Berning 7, Charlie Hagewood 5, Kinley Kilburn 5, Libby Steele 3, Jordan Coleman 2
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