Republic trailed 12-6 after a sluggish first quarter, but a 12-0 run bridging the first and second quarters flipped the game for good. The Tigers beat Carthage 43-27 on Thursday, picking up their 16th win two days after a tough loss at Kickapoo.
Keiran Govan scored six of his game-high 18 points during that decisive stretch, which included a dunk that gave Republic its first lead. He added 10 fourth-quarter points — attacking the basket repeatedly — as the Tigers pulled away from a 27-21 lead entering the final period.
Carthage opened with an 8-0 run, getting a three from Jonah Barrett and another from Cooper Jackson before Republic called timeout. Slater Howard’s three cut it to 10-6 at the end of the quarter, and the Tigers’ defense took over from there. Republic held Carthage to five second-quarter points and six in each of the final two periods.
Brody Blades added 11 points and Slater Howard contributed two three-pointers.
Carthage shot 22 percent from the field — 10-of-46 — and went 3-of-23 from beyond the arc. Barrett was 1-of-13 from three. Republic wasn’t much better from deep at 3-of-17, but shot 60 percent inside the arc and outscored Carthage 30-14 on two-point field goals.
Republic (16-8) plays at Willard on Tuesday.
Score by Quarters
Carthage 10-5-6-6 — 27
Republic 6-15-6-16 — 43
Republic Scoring
Keiran Govan 18, Brody Blades 11, Slater Howard 6, Trenten Coleman 4, AJ Uhl 4
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