Tigers end regular season strong with COC West title/ Lady Tigers complete perfect conference run with COC West title

Tigers
Republic’s basketball team captured the Central Ozark Conference West division championship with a perfect 5–0 divisional record after defeating Parkview 49–45 on Friday night. The victory capped a memorable week that also featured Brenley Hagewood’s career-high 40-point performance during Tuesday’s senior night celebration against Willard.
The Tigers honored five seniors – Hagewood, Ryder Davis, Kaden Howard, CJ Uhl, and Davin Parks – before Tuesday’s game, then rolled to a 76–52 victory behind Hagewood’s impressive night.
Hagewood scored 13 points in the opening period against Willard, added seven more in the second quarter, then exploded for 20 points in the third quarter alone. His 20-point quarter ties him for 22nd in the Missouri State High School Activities Association online record book for points in a single quarter.
“I just wanted all the seniors to do something big,” Hagewood said after the Willard game. “Some got their chance to start for the first time or second time, and I thought that was a big thing. Those are my guys, people I’ve grown up with my whole life.”
In Friday’s championship-deciding matchup, Republic endured a battle that featured 12 lead changes and 10 ties. The Tigers fought back from a four-point halftime deficit to secure the conference title.
“This was a big-time atmosphere. Call them grinders—it was a big-time grinder,” Republic coach Tim Brown said. “That four-point deficit seemed like a lot in this game, and we found ourselves down four a couple times.”
Hagewood led Republic with 25 points against Parkview, including five three-pointers. He sparked a key sequence late in the third quarter, blocking a shot on defense before sinking a three-pointer that cut Parkview’s lead to one point. Uhl added 10 points, while Brody Blades converted four critical free throws in the fourth quarter.
With the win, Republic improved to 22–4 on the season. The Tigers now turn their attention to the district tournament at Nixa, where they’ll face Ozark on Wednesday night.
 
Lady Tigers
Republic’s girls basketball team claimed the Central Ozark Conference West Division championship Thursday with a 54–16 victory at Parkview, capping a perfect season in divisional play. The title followed a 56–32 Senior Night win over Willard earlier in the week.
Republic’s trio of seniors - Sammi Watson, Lanney Strong and Kaylee Cornelsen - combined for 32 points in their final home appearance Tuesday against Willard. The Lady Tigers controlled the boards throughout the contest, out-rebounding Willard 36–18 and approaching the school record of 43 rebounds set in 1989.
“That’s something that we’ve spent several years working on,” said coach Tori Mooneyham about the rebounding effort. “If you rebound and control the possessions of the game, it can change a game. And so these kids have really bought into that.”
Watson led with 17 points on three three-pointers, Strong contributed 12 points, and Cornelsen added three points in the fourth quarter. Republic took control with a 19–3 second-quarter surge against Willard, building a 33–13 halftime advantage.
On Thursday, Republic secured the championship at Parkview by racing to a 22–2 first-quarter lead. Strong led with 16 points while eight other players scored in a balanced offensive effort. Republic’s defense forced 26 Parkview turnovers while committing just eight of their own.
“I’m proud of them. I think that they earned it,” Mooneyham said. “We had a really rough start to the season and that was hard on them, but they never quit.”
The victories cap a big turnaround for Republic, which started the season 0–5 but has gone 17–4 since. The Lady Tigers finish the regular season at 17–9 overall.