Lady Tigers’ season ends in district semifinal against Kickapoo

Republic’s girls basketball season came to a close Saturday in a 57–21 semifinal loss to Kickapoo in the Class 6 District 5 tournament at Ozark. The defeat followed a convincing 69–45 victory over Ozark in the quarterfinals just two days earlier.
The Lady Tigers had improved throughout the season, rebounding from an 0–5 start to finish with an 18–10 record.
In Thursday’s quarterfinal win, Republic controlled the game from the opening tip against Ozark. The Lady Tigers led 17–14 after one quarter before extending their advantage to 34–20 by halftime.
“We executed the plan well,” coach Tori Mooneyham said after the quarterfinal victory. “I felt like with us switching (on defense), we kind of gave Ozark some fits where they couldn’t get to the basket.”
Republic’s defense limited Ozark to just six points in the second quarter. Paelyn Gilmore led Republic with 20 points, including two three-pointers and 10 free throws. Lanney Strong and Cora Cutbirth each contributed 16 points.
The Lady Tigers built their lead in part through strong interior play. Cutbirth was active early, grabbing rebounds that led to scoring opportunities.
“If she can get going with the rebounds, typically, then the points follow,” Mooneyham said of Cutbirth. “We got some easy baskets tonight. We got some points down low, and that’s something that we don’t always do.”
Republic out-rebounded Ozark, unofficially, 21–13.
Against Kickapoo on Saturday, the Lady Tigers couldn’t find an answer for the Lady Chiefs’ aggressive defensive schemes. Republic managed just two field goals in the first half — both three-pointers from senior Sammi Watson.
Kickapoo led 14–3 after the first quarter and 28–7 at halftime. The Lady Chiefs extended their lead to 50–15 after three quarters.
“Obviously it wasn’t the way we wanted to end. I don’t feel like that game is a very good representation of how far we have come throughout the season, so it was disappointing to lose like that,” said Mooneyham. “I told them you have to learn from it. We have a lot of kids coming back and returning next year, and when you get to the district level, the teams that take it to the next level are the teams that advance.”
The semifinal marked the third time Republic faced Kickapoo this season. After losing by 21 in the first meeting, Republic had narrowed the gap to just eight points in their second encounter. But Kickapoo unveiled new defensive strategies in the district semifinal.
“(Kickapoo coach Leslie Hanchey) threw some things at us that she did not last time. That pressure got us—their press, their half-court press, just some things that we didn’t handle well,” Mooneyham said. “And teams that have pressured us like that throughout the year, we have struggled with. We didn’t see that out of her last game, and she brought all the weapons tonight.”
Watson led Republic with six points in her final game. Fellow senior Strong added four points. Kaylee Cornelsen, the third senior on the roster, was sidelined with illness.