Lady Tigers split conference games — top Ozark in OT, fall to ranked Nixa

Cora Cutbirth scored a career-high 20 points in Republic’s overtime win over Ozark. (Photo by Steve Rackley)
Republic’s girls basketball team earned an overtime victory over Ozark Monday before falling to state-ranked Nixa Thursday.
In Monday’s 53–49 overtime win, Republic led by 10 points entering the fourth quarter before Ozark rallied. The Lady Tigers sealed their fifth win in six games with clutch plays down the stretch.
Sophomore Cora Cutbirth led Republic with a career-high 20 points. Sammi Watson added nine points, including two three-pointers in the first quarter that helped Republic build an early 17–8 lead. Paelyn Gilmore and Josie Stalzer each hit key three-pointers at the end of the first and third quarter, respectively.
Ozark mounted its comeback with four three-pointers in the fourth quarter, putting together a 12–0 run to take a 41–39 lead. Senior Lanney Strong ended the run with a driving basket, and the teams finished regulation tied at 43.
In overtime, Gilmore made a crucial defensive play with 50 seconds remaining and Republic leading by two. She split two defenders to knock the ball away, and after a missed free throw, Cutbirth grabbed an offensive rebound and scored to seal the win.
“They shot the ball well… they knocked down several threes and just got the momentum and kind of got us out of sorts,” coach Tori Mooneyham said. “We missed 14 free throws. We missed six in overtime, so we kind of hurt ourselves a lot just with that.”
Thursday, Nixa’s full-court press overwhelmed Republic early in a 48–36 Lady Eagles win. Republic fell behind 17–1 and couldn’t recover, despite battling back to within single digits several times.
“Their press hurt us worse than I thought (it would),” Mooneyham said. “When you get out there on the floor, you realize how long and lanky they are. They trapped that first pass and we just struggled with that.”
Strong led Republic with 10 points. Ceely Young and Brooke Teter scored 11 each for Nixa, which earned its first win over Republic after four straight losses in the series.
Republic fell to 5–7.
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