Awbree Berning scored 18 points as Republic rallied from an early six-point deficit to beat Webb City 50–43 on Thursday, opening Central Ozark Conference West play with a road win despite playing short-handed.
The Lady Tigers (15-3) played without starter Addie Brown, who was out with an illness, and used just six players on the road. It didn’t matter.
“I’m proud of all of them,” Republic head coach Tori Mooneyham said. “We played that game without a starter and that’s hard to do. We didn’t sub a whole lot tonight.”
Cora Cutbirth scored the game’s first four points, and Josie Stalzer pushed the lead to 6-2 before Webb City answered. The Lady Cardinals closed the first quarter on an 9-0 run — Abby Sargent, Brecklynn Sargent and Whitlee Keith all scored during the stretch — to take a 15-9 lead into the second.
Webb City’s run eventually reached 11-0, stretching the lead to 17-9 early in the second quarter. Republic answered with three-point shooting — Kinley Kilburn, Berning and Charlie Hagewood each hit one — and Cutbirth scored inside to pull the Lady Tigers within 22-21 at halftime
Republic opened the third quarter on an 8-0 run to take its first lead since the opening minutes. Berning scored inside, Cutbirth hit a free throw, then Cutbirth scored again and Berning converted another basket to make it 28-24.
Webb City briefly regained the lead at 29-28 on a Brecklynn Sargent bucket and an Abby Sargent three, but back-to-back threes from Kilburn and Paelyn Gilmore gave Republic a 34-29 edge entering the fourth.
Republic pushed the lead to 38-32 early in the fourth, and Webb City never got closer than two the rest of the way. Each time the Lady Cardinals trimmed the deficit, Berning had an answer.
Berning finished 4-of-6 from two, 2-of-3 from three and 4-of-4 at the line. Mooneyham said the senior’s steadiness was as valuable as her scoring.
“Awbree is a very consistent player,” Mooneyham said. “She keeps us composed at times. She handles the ball well. She doesn’t turn it over a lot. She’s just someone you want on the floor at the end of a game. Someone you can count on.”
Mooneyham said Berning’s size also helped Republic handle Webb City’s press, a role typically filled by point guard Stalzer.
“The thing with Josie is she’s so small that sometimes presses are hard, not because she doesn’t have the quickness, but when … you’ve got to pass, Awbree has that little bit of size and keeps us composed,” Mooneyham said.
Late in the fourth, with Republic holding the ball, Berning took it to the basket and scored.
“I’m not going to lie, when we were kind of stalling and she took the ball to the basket, I remember saying, ‘You better make it,’ and she finished,” Mooneyham said.
Cutbirth added 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting. Kilburn hit two threes for six points. Abby Sargent led Webb City (13-6) with 19 points, and Brecklynn Sargent added 12.
“In the past, we’ve gotten tired sometimes and these kids, they were ready to play,” Mooneyham said. “I felt good coming out of the locker room. I felt like they were locked in, and that showed by the fact they didn’t get tired. They played to the end.”
Republic’s 15-3 start is the best for the program since 2022-23, when the Lady Tigers started 15-3 on their way to a 26-4 record. The Lady Tigers host Lebanon on Friday night. (No live coverage of that game.)
Score by Quarters
Republic 9 12 13 16 — 50
Webb City 15 7 10 11 — 43
Scoring
Awbree Berning 18, Cora Cutbirth 14, Kinley Kilburn 6, Paelyn Gilmore 5, Josie Stalzer 4, Charlie Hagewood 3.
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