Lady Tigers win three straight after opening game loss

The Republic Lady Tigers opened their season with the toughest game they’re likely to play all year, but followed up that up with three consecutive wins to improve to 3-1.
Republic’s first opponent of the season was Incarnate Word Academy, defending Class 6 state champion and pre-season #1 team in Missouri. And the Red Knights played like it in their game Thursday at the Stephanie Phillips Classic at Kickapoo High School. After Republic grabbed a 10-7 lead through the first five minutes, Incarnate Word turned on the jets, outscoring 48-14 in the final 11 minutes of the first half to grab a 55-24 lead at halftime. The Red Knights cruised from there, winning 80-47, but coach Kris Flood said he was pleased with his team’s hustle throughout the game.
“I thought they played with a lot of effort,” coach Kris Flood said of his team. “They kept playing hard. It’s one of those match-ups where, when you see them in person, it’s a little bit different than what you see on film. They’re just so physically strong, and they can run two or three kids in and they don’t lose a beat.”
At halftime, Flood said he challenged his team to look for small victories, including outscoring Incarnate Word for at least a quarter. And Republic did that in the third, outscoring the Red Knights 19-17 over the next eight minutes.
“We knew it was going to be a hard game, especially with it being our first game. We’ve got kids who are still (new) in a game situation... so it’s going to take some time. But we’ve got a chance to bounce back tomorrow against Central and Saturday with Jeff City,” Flood said.
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Republic rebounded from the loss Friday by beating Springfield Central. The Bulldogs led for the first 15 minutes of the game, but when Republic took the lead, it took control for the rest of the night. The Lady Tigers used a 26-2 run early in the second half to take control of the game. The night was highlighted by Kaemyn Bekemeier’s 1000th career point. She finished with 28. (See related article.)
Saturday, Republic put together its most complete effort of the season to that point, whipping Jefferson City 63-37. Bekemeier led the Lady Tigers in that one with 28. The win gave Republic a 2-1 record at the Stephanie Phillips Classic.
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The Lady Tigers opened their home season against unbeaten El Dorado Springs, Monday. Point guard Hope Schatz made two three-pointers in the opening minute and finished with a career-high 17 points to lead Republic to a 63-55 win. Bekemeier was also in double figures with 11.
“Heck of a way to come out and start the game,” coach Kris Flood said of Schatz’s performance. “Two threes back-to-back – we couldn’t ask for more than that. I think it kind of eased us a little bit and got us headed in the right direction.”
Republic led by 17 points at halftime, 42-25, and eventually pushed the lead to 21 before El Dorado Springs shot its way back into the game. The Lady Bulldogs cut the lead to seven points in the fourth quarter, but never got any closer.
“We had done such a great job in the first half, it gave us a little cushion,” said Flood. “Not that we didn’t have good looks (at the basket), it was just that some of those looks weren’t falling like they did in the first half. We had some untimely turnovers, but we hit enough free throws to keep it right where it was.”
Republic is 3-1 through four games, and will host state-ranked rival Kickapoo, Thursday.