By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
While a 15-12 season at Republic might seem a bit uncharacteristic, Lady Tigers head coach Kris Flood, was pleased with his team’s finish after a rough start to the season. The Lady Tigers fell to Nixa in the district title game
“Considering that we started the year 2-7, I thought the kids bounced back extremely well once we hit the Pink and White classic and we started playing much better,” Flood said. “The beginning of the year schedule was very demanding but I thought the team fought through it as we did finish up going 13-5 the rest of the way.”
Republic graduated a trio of starters in Brylee Manes, Megan Branstetter and Morgan McGuire.
Manes is continuing her basketball career at USML in St. Louis.
Despite losing three starters, the Lady Tigers have plenty of returning leadership and experience.
Republic returns a pair of senior starters in 5-foot-5 Halli Bartlesmeyer (10.7 ppg, 2 apg) and 5-foot-7 Avylina Powell-Qualo (10.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg).
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“(Bartlesmeyer) was one of our most consistent shooters from last year, and we hope this can continue,” Flood said. “Powell-Qualo is a very athletic kid that could see her roles expanded this year.”
Republic’s other returners include a trio of seniors in 5-foot-5 Lacee Walcher, 5-foot-7 Jade Kirby and 5-foot-7 Anna Bell.
Newcomers to the varsity roster include 5-foot-6 junior Shealyn Barrett, 5-foot-5 junior Delaney Smith, 5-foot-9 junior Carle Ward and 5-foot-6 sophomore Clara Fronabarger.
“This core group of underclassmen gives us great depth and athleticism,” Flood said. “I would expect them to contribute this year for us to have success.”
Entering his 20th season of coach, all with Republic, Flood has his team poised for another challenging schedule, with no home games until January.
“Expectations are always high,” Flood said. “(Our biggest challenge) will be the fact if the kids can survive a very tough schedule, especially at the beginning of the year.”
For the Lady Tigers to succeed, especially with limited size on the roster, they must maximize strengths in other areas.
“We hope to take advantage of our quickness,depth and athleticism,” Flood said. “We will not have much height, so we will need to really rely on all three. Team defense will need to be strong and, hopefully, hope that we can get consistent scoring.”
If Republic is able to mesh its team chemistry quickly, Flood believes the team will be able compete with anyone.
“I believe we will always compete night in and night out so we will always be in games,” Flood said. “Again it will come down to consistent play and hard work to be successful.”
Following a Nov. 14 jamboree with Rogersville, Mountain View and Thayer, Republic opens its season Nov. 19 at Lee’s Summit West.
