By the Numbers – Fall Week 8 Edition

Years since Republic volleyball’s last conference championship, a stretch the Lady Tigers ended Thursday with a 21-25, 25-20, 19-25, 25-14, 17-15 win over Webb City to win the COC West. Republic last shared the COC title in 2011. Webb City led 14-13 in the fifth set, one point from the match, and Kate Mitchell had the kill that put Republic ahead 16-15 and the ace that ended it. Reese Finley finished with 22 kills.

Carries for Republic in a 33-14 win over Webb City on Oct. 9, and zero passes. The Tigers never punted, went 5-for-5 on fourth down and scored a touchdown on every one of their five full drives, all of which went at least 10 plays. The first one started at their own 1 and went 99 yards in 20 plays.

Rushing touchdowns for Nolan Lashley through seven games, two short of the school record of 26 that Jerney Jones set in 2015. Lashley, in his first season at running back, has 1,199 rushing yards and scored four times against Webb City.

Braeden Fergason’s winning time in the 200-yard freestyle at the COC West meet Thursday, 3.90 seconds faster than his previous best. Fergason is the first freshman boy in Republic history to win an individual event at the conference meet. He also finished third in the 100-yard butterfly.

Wins for the Lady Tigers, tying the program record for a season. Republic finished 16-2 after Nixa won the Class 3 District 5 final 5-4 on Wednesday. The Lady Tigers came back from 4-2 down to tie it, and Nixa won the last match in a third-set tiebreaker. Republic had won 14 straight before that.

Straight trips to the state tournament for senior Jenna Smith, who shot 83 at districts on Oct. 7 and tied for eighth to make all-district for the first time. Smith birdied the 16th hole right after a double bogey on 15. The Class 4 state tournament is Oct. 19-20 at Rivercut Golf Course in Springfield.

Strikeouts for Kendra Goeke in five innings of a 9-0 win at Glendale on Oct. 12. Glendale’s only hit off her was a two-out double in the first inning, and nobody else reached base. Maddie Taylor hit a two-run homer, and Myleigh Mooneyham was 3-for-4 with two doubles.

Lucas Riffe’s personal best at the COC Championships on Friday in Nixa, where the junior finished ninth in the West race. Five of Republic’s seven varsity boys ran personal bests, and Zoey Johns led the Lady Tigers in 19th. The Class 5 District 2 meet is Oct. 31.