Republic freshman Kaemyn Bekemeier earned a spot on the Class 5 All-State basketball team selected by Missouri’s high school coaches. Bekemeier averaged around 15 points per game, but averaged 19.4 after joining the starting lineup in January. She also pulled down 5.5 rebounds per game.
Republic’s bid for a second consecutive appearance in the girls basketball final four fell just short Saturday in a 59-55 loss to Columbia Rock Bridge in overtime at the state quarterfinals.
The first time the Republic Lady Tigers played Willard this season, almost nothing went right. The second time, with a district title up for grabs, almost nothing went wrong.
For the second time this season, Joplin got the breaks and made the plays in the final minutes to beat Republic. This time, it was for a district championship in a 55-54 victory. After Joplin’s Zach Westmoreland made one of two free throws, Republic had a final good look at the basket.
It took about half the game to get going, but Republic eventually asserted its superiority in a 51-34 win over the host team, Carthage, in the girls basketball district semifinals Monday. Republic outscored Carthage 15-2 in the opening minutes of the third quarter to pull away.
The regular season has come to end for the Willard High School girls and boys basketball teams, as the Lady Tigers knocked off Branson, and the Tigers lost to Branson and Logan-Rogersville.
The Republic Tigers basketball team closed its regular season with a win at home on Senior Night, 63-56 over Ozark. It was a big night for Republic basketball, because in addition to honoring five seniors, the Tigers also surpassed two individual milestones.
The 2019-20 basketball season has come to an end for both the Ash Grove High School girls and boys basketball teams, as the Lady Pirates lost in the semifinals against Skyline, while the boys lost in the first round against Skyline in the Class 2, District 13 tournament in Weaubleau.
