The Republic Tigers broke open a close game by holding McDonald County scoreless for the first 5:20 of the fourth quarter on the way to a 50-42 win Friday night at MCHS.
"Offensively and defensively, they are one of the more disciplined teams we have seen," said coach Trent Barratt. "Coach (Trevyor) Fisher does a great job. It was tough for us to get open looks offensively. Defensively, they got shots they wanted and they were able to convert."
Both teams hit their first three shots of the game, including three-pointers by McDonald County's Max Dill and Daton Aubrey, before Republic's Treydon Rackley finally missed a jumper midway through the first period.
Dill closed out the quarter with a steal and a layup just before the buzzer to give McDonald County a 16-13 lead at the end of the first quarter. Republic opened the second quarter with an 11-2 run to build a 24-18 lead late in the period before Aubrey hit a short jumper and Dill a trey to bring the Mustangs within 26-23 at halftime.
Aubrey's driving layup early in the third quarter tied the game at 29-29. The game was then tied at 31-31, 33-33 and 35-35 before Republic's Tristan Ollar scored to end the quarter with the Tigers holding a 37-35 lead.
Republic scored 10 points during the Mustangs' over-five-minute dry spell at the start of the fourth period to take a 47-35 lead. Dagan Stites' basket ended the McDonald County drought with 2:40 left in the game to cut the Tigers lead to 10. Aubrey's second trey of the game got the Mustangs to within seven at 49-42 in the final minute, but McDonald County could get no closer.
Aubrey finished with 18 points and Dill 10 to lead the Mustangs. Rounding out the scoring for McDonald County were Dagan Stites with five points, Drew Harmon and Billy Leach four each and Kole Keith hit one of two of the Mustangs' only free throw attempts for one point.
"We started the first quarter by attacking and they picked up three or four quick fouls," Barratt said. "We got wide-open kick-out shots, but we kind of got away from that. Defensively, they pack the paint and they make you hit perimeter shots and they didn't fall for us tonight."
Republic was led by Ollar with 12 points and Mitchell Coiner with 11.
McDonald County drops its second consecutive game for the first time this season to fall to 13-5 for the year while Republic improves to 12-3.
"I told the kids we have to come out against quality teams and put four quarters together," Barratt said. "I felt like we didn't do that tonight. We go in down three at half -- right where you need to be against a quality team, but we didn't execute in the fourth quarter."
Junior Varsity
Republic added a 46-32 win in the junior varsity contest. The teams were tied 7-7 at the end of the first quarter before the Tigers broke the game open with an 18-7 advantage in the second quarter to take a 25-14 lead at halftime.
Peyton Barton scored eight points to lead McDonald County. Rounding out the scoring for the Mustangs were Noah Jones and Devon Aubrey with six points each, Cooper Reece with five, Rustin Lett three and Cole DelosSantos and Grant Cooper two each.
McDonald County hosted Carthage on Jan. 26 before they head to Seneca on Jan.28 for a Big 8 Conference contest. The Mustangs return home on Jan. 29 to celebrate homecoming against the Neosho Wildcats.
Sports on 01/28/2016