By Tyler F. Thompson (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Ask any coach at the Blue and Gold and one commonality exists.
Second-round games can be pitfalls.
The Republic Tigers, after narrowly defeating West Plains, 54-53 in overtime on Friday, used the tutorial for Saturday’s semifinals tilt where they routed the Willard Tigers 68-33 in the Gold Division semifinals: setting up the championship tilt against Bolivar at 7 p.m. Monday.
“I think we were more hungry than we were yesterday. Taking nothing away from West Plains, because they played a super good game,” said 6’0” junior Brenly Hagewood. “We definitely didn’t play our best yesterday, and I think that made us hungrier today to show it. We are not to be messed around with.”
Republic — in pure Republic fashion — hit on all cylinders.
From the paint to rotations to draining shot after shot from the perimeter, it was clear the Tigers meant business against their Greene County neighbor to the north.
“We are a good team, and when every cylinder is firing, we are an extremely good team. I want to thank my teammates for playing their butts off. We feed off each other,” said Hagewood.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
Last year, the Tigers fell to Nixa 59-48 in the Blue Division championship which, according to Hagewood, simply poured fuel on an already high-octane fire.
“We played a really good game [last year]. That was a dogfight the entire game and, after that loss, it really put a sour taste in my mouth,” Hagewood said.
The Tigers connected for 12 points from beyond the arc to open play in the first quarter, running away with the 24-13 lead.
By halftime, the lead stretched to 44-21.
Tim Brown is in his seventh year at Republic “challenged” his defense heading into the Willard game.
“We really challenged our kids defensively to be better. I really feel we have taken strides the past couple of weeks defensively, and I thought tonight was another prime example of that,” Brown said.
The Tigers were monsters on the glass, converted second-chance points, scored at will and never allowed Willard to find any rhythm: a recipe for championship success.
Added Brown: “The kids did an awesome job tonight, flying around, and guarding the 3-point line. They [Willard] are such an explosive offensive team and put you in bad closeouts and do a great job of attacking that. Offensively, we flowed a lot better tonight.”
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO OF THE GAME
Republic allowed 12 points in the final 16 minutes of action.
Scoring for Republic: Brenley Hagewood – 25 (led all scorers); Ryder Davis – 12; Trenton Coleman – 4; Brody Blades – 10; Keiran Govan – 2; Kaden Howard – 3; CJ Uhl – 10; Davin Parks – 2.
Scoring for Willard: Braxton Boyer – 8; Jude Wallace – 5; J.J. Huskisson – 7; U. Huskisson – 5; Blake Daughtery – 4.
