Republic Lady Tigers win Stephanie Phillips Classic, Heinzler-Harmon honored with Filbert Five, and Tigers rip Bolivar

The Republic girls basketball team won three consecutive games at Kickapoo High School to win the championship of the Stephanie Phillips Classic. The Lady Tigers beat Blue Springs South, Columbia Battle, and Jefferson City on their way to the title.
Republic 49, Blue Springs South 36
Republic opened the tournament with one of its best halves of the season, jumping out to a 19-point lead against Blue Springs South on the way to a 49–36 win. The Lady Tigers had two 11–0 runs and another 9–0 run in the first half.
Republic’s offense hit the skids in the second half, and the Jaguars climbed back into the game, pulling to within five points on two occasions in the fourth quarter. But Republic’s defense held the Jaguars at bay, and four straight points by Alaina Norman helped seal the win. Molly Blades led Republic with 15 points.
Republic 51, Columbia Battle 49
Columbia Battle trailed by eight points with just over two minutes remaining, but had a chance to win it at the buzzer before Republic escaped with a 51–49 victory. Republic turned the ball over twice in the final 15 seconds to give Battle a final crack at the win, but a three-point shot at the buzzer bounded away to help Republic win its second game of the tournament. Misora Nambara scored 14 points, Molly Mason had 13, and Blades scored 10.
Republic 47, Jefferson City 34
Republic clinched the tournament championship with a convincing win over Jefferson City, Saturday. The Lady Tigers held the Lady Jays to 14 points in the first half. Lanney Strong and Molly Mason came off the bench to score 10 points and eight points, respectively.
The win improved Republic’s record to 5–2. Coach Kris Flood said he thinks the team will continue to improve from here.
“I still think there’s more things we can get better at, and they’ll grow,” said Flood. “They’ll get better and more accustomed to what we’re trying to do. I like the direction we’re heading.”
Republic standout Alice Heinzler Harmon honored for basketball career with Filbert Five
Former Republic basketball standout Alice Heinzler Harmon received the Filbert Five Award from the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, honoring her contributions to the sport in high school and college.
“Southwest Missouri, in women’s basketball and men’s basketball, is definitely a sweet spot. Just looking back at who has received this award, the talent’s high. There are faces where I’m like, ‘Wow, I didn’t realize they got [the award] as well.’ So I definitely feel honored and am just enjoying the day,” Harmon said.
During her tenure at Republic, Harmon was a two-time all-state selection in 2012 and 2013. Her performance was pivotal in leading the Lady Tigers to a state championship in 2012.
“Growing up in Republic and starting at a young age, building those fundamentals with the Lady Tiger basketball program was crucial. Everybody knows it around here,” Harmon said. “It’s nostalgic, competitive, tough. It’s something to be proud of, to be a Lady Tiger.”
After her high school career, Harmon continued to excel at College of the Ozarks and later at Drury University. She led the Lady Bobcats to a second-place finish in the NAIA Tournament. At Drury, she scored 1,078 points in three seasons as the Lady Panthers reached the NCAA Division II Sweet 16 three years in a row.
Republic rips Bolivar in final pre-Christmas game
Republic never trailed in a 75–40 win over Bolivar at home Friday. The Tigers scored the first six points of the game, led 19–10 at the end of the first quarter, and blew the game open from there.
Davin Parks scored a career-high 15 points for Republic. He was one of five players in double figures for the Tigers. Brenley Hagewood scored 11 points, Cason Bekemeier, Aslan Ebisch, and C.J. Uhl had 10 each.
Bekemeier scored seven of his 10 points to lead the onslaught, helping Republic build a 40–22 cushion by halftime. In the third quarter, Hagewood scored seven of his 11 points. It was 64–37 when the fourth quarter began, and the Tigers outscored Bolivar 11–3 in the final period.
Earlier in the week, Republic beat Hillcrest at home 62-60. Uhl scored a career-high 15 points in that win, as Republic overcame a five-point halftime deficit to beat the Hornets for the second time this season.
The two wins last week gave Republic a three-game winning streak, and the Tigers improved to 5–3. Republic is off until Dec. 26, when it opens the Blue & Gold Tournament against Buffalo.