By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Midway through last season, not much was going right for the Republic Tigers.
All the issues – players out, other players in unfamiliar roles, lack of team chemistry – forced the Tigers to call a team meeting.
Coach Tim Brown tried to put a positive spin on the situation.
Eventually, through the law of averages, things had to turn in Republic’s favor. Right?
“I said, ‘I don’t know why we’re going through this. But I’m going to predict some big things to come. We may be going through this so we can win a Blue and Gold championship next year,’” Brown said. “Those growing pains are with it if you use them to make something positive.”
This week certainly qualifies as a positive one.
Republic earned its seventh Blue and Gold Tournament championship all-time, and first since 2016, with a 51-46 victory over Sparta on Thursday night at Great Southern Bank Arena in Springfield.
Senior point guard Alante Askew led the way in the Blue Division finals, going for 22 points and sealing the victory with free throws down the stretch.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
In the final seconds, with victory secured, Brown took Askew out of the game to a standing ovation. Player and coach embraced on the sidelines.
“It’s a special moment we shared,” Askew said. “We talked about it last year: Bringing this championship home. It’s a really special moment between me and him.”
Askew has been a four-year starter under Brown. Askew and the Tigers (10-1 overall) seem to have found their identity after a rocky 2021-22 season.
“To have the lead and feel comfortable taking him out so he can get the ovation and recognition he deserves was pretty special,” Brown said. “I can’t say enough about all our guys. We had guys step up all tournament and that’s what it takes to win a tournament like this.”
Sparta, the small-school darling of this year’s tournament, didn’t go down without a fight.
Sparta trailed by 10 in the third quarter before roaring back in the fourth. Jacob Lafferty, who finished with a game-high 24 points, converted a steal into a thunderous two-hand dunk that brought the Trojans within 42-41 with 1:40 remaining.
“It’s hard to respond when a team makes a run like that,” Brown said. “There were a lot of people cheering for Sparta tonight.”
Askew and Aslan Ebisch helped the Tigers hold off the Sparta rally. Republic went 11-for-12 at the free throw line in the fourth quarter.
“The atmosphere was great,” Askew said. “Everybody against us. That’s kind of how we wanted it. We knew (Sparta) would give everything they had. We had to be prepared for that.”
Brown, who won two Blue and Gold championships in the mid-2000s as a player at Logan-Rogersville, now has his first such championship as a head coach.
“It’s a lot more special as a coach,” Brown said. “As a player, you take it all in but you don’t realize how hard it is. It means so much more as a coach because you’re sharing it with so many people. We have three assistants on staff who have state championship rings. They had never won the Blue and Gold. That tells you how hard it is.
“There are only so many championships that bond teams forever. This is one of them.”
For his career, Askew finished with 222 points in the Blue and Gold Tournament. He’s only the 25th player in tournament history to reach the 200 Point Club.
“It’s not something I expected,” Askew said. “Assists record, maybe. But scoring?
“I’ve gained more confidence over the years. Coach Brown has given me more confidence. And my teammates trust me.”
Republic 51, Sparta 46
Republic 7 17 10 17 — 51
Sparta 10 13 3 20 — 46
Republic (10-1 overall) – Ahlante Askew 22, Renley Hagewood 8, Aslan Ebisch 8, James Rexroat 6, Khamari Edwards 4, Isaiah Nabors 3
Sparta (9-3 overall) – Jacob Lafferty 24, Dexter Loveland 9, Kavan Walker 8, Walker Loveland 2, Rowdy Ball 2, Mason Letterman 1
Up next: White Division Championship – Republic vs. Grain Valley, 6 p.m., Friday at O’Reilly Family Event Center; Kickapoo vs. Cabot, Ark., 2:30 p.m. (third-place game).
