Republic won two of the three doubles matches and swept the bottom half of the singles lineup to beat Branson 5-2 Tuesday in the Class 3 District 5 semifinals.
Elaina Antonuk and Marlee Vasquez won 8-2 at #2 doubles, and Aubree Tinsley and Leighton Riffe won 8-3 at #3. Claire Norris and Abigail Bremer lost 8-5 at #1 doubles, and Republic went into singles with a 2-1 lead.
Vasquez won 6-1, 6-2 at #4 singles, Tinsley won 6-2, 6-3 at #5 and Riffe won 6-1, 6-2 at #6. Branson’s Ellice Kembell beat Norris 6-0, 6-2 at #1 singles.
Antonuk was leading 6-3, 5-2 at #2 singles and Bremer was leading 6-1, 4-3 at #3 when Republic got its fifth win. Postseason team matches end as soon as one team reaches five, so neither match was finished.
It was Republic’s second win over Branson in nine days, after a 6-3 win on Oct. 5 that closed the regular season.
The top-seeded Lady Tigers play Nixa for the district title this afternoon at 4 pm, weather permitting. Nixa beat Republic in the district final last year, and Republic beat Nixa 6-3 on Sept. 15.
Game page →Republic is 16-1 and has won 14 straight. Their 16 wins match the best win total on record for the program.
The Lady Tigers are looking for their first district championship since 2020, when they went to the Final Four for the only time in program history.
Republic vs Branson Scores
#1 doubles: Norris/Bremer lost 5-8
#2 doubles: Antonuk/Vasquez won 8-2
#3 doubles: Tinsley/Riffe won 8-3
#1 singles: Norris lost 0-6, 2-6
#2 singles: Antonuk led 6-3, 5-2 (unfinished)
#3 singles: Bremer led 6-1, 4-3 (unfinished)
#4 singles: Vasquez won 6-1, 6-2
#5 singles: Tinsley won 6-2, 6-3
#6 singles: Riffe won 6-1, 6-2
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