The Lady Tigers overcame a nine point deficit in the fourth quarter, blew a six point lead in the first overtime period, then held on to beat Rogers, Ark., 52-46 in double overtime at the Stephanie Phillips classic in Springfield Saturday.
The final 16 minutes were a stunning turnaround for a team that looked lost offensively for the first three quarters of the game. The teams were tied 13-13 at halftime, and Rogers outscored Republic 15-6 in the third quarter to seemingly take control. But Republic responded with a 17-point fourth quarter to tie the game at the end of regulation. It was 36-36 going into overtime and 43-43 after the first overtime period.
Even after the offense heated up, the Lady Tigers finished the game shooting just 22% from the floor (13 for 58) and 16% from beyond the three-point arc (4 for 25).
Brylee Manes led Republic with 21 points. It was her second game in a row with 20+ points. Taylor Fergen had 13 points. Allyson Barrett had eight, including a huge three-point play with the Lady Tigers trailing by a point in the second overtime. Barrett took the ball up the lane hard to the rack, hit the shot, drew the foul, and made her free throw. The Lady Tigers never trailed again.
Megan Branstetter finished the game with six points. Madi Beckham had four.
Taylor Fergen was named to the all-tournament team.
The win completed an undefeated run through the Stephanie Phillips Classic for the Lady Tigers, who previously had beaten Olathe (Kan.) East and Aurora. Republic is now 4-2 overall and has won three straight games.
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Player of the Game
When the Lady Tigers were stymied on offense, Brylee Manes came up big on defense to keep them in the game. When they needed offense down the stretch, she provided that, too. Manes finished with 21 points and played a standout role on defense to earn today’s Player of the Game honor.
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