Republic Beats Parkview 34-27 In Record Tying Gold Division Championship
The Republic Tigers outlasted the Parkview Vikings 34-27 to win the Gold Division championship Saturday night at the 67th Annual Greenwood Blue and Gold Basketball Tournament at JQH Arena in Springfield.
The combined 61 points ties for the lowest championship game total in Blue and Gold history (Branson beat Sparta 33-28 in 1952).
The tone of the game was set early, with Republic holding onto an 8-6 lead after one quarter. The Tigers were ahead 17-15 at the half, and 23-21 after three quarters.
Parkview tied the game 25-25, then later 27-27 when Nathan Reichart scored with 1:06 left in regulation. But moments later, Canyon Smith drained a three pointer to put the Tigers ahead 30-27 with 49 seconds remaining.
An offensive foul of the Vikings' Erik Durham with 37.8 seconds gave the ball back to the Tigers. Smith hit two free throws with 30 seconds to play, putting his team up 32-27. A travelling violation then cost Parkview with 23.8 seconds left and Republic hit two more free throws to seal the victory.
Cody Geiger's 12 points led the way for the Gold Division champs, while Durham's 17 points were tops for Parkview.
The Nixa Eagles survived a major challenge from the Ozark Tigers to capture their third straight Blue Division title.
Nixa won 61-55, taking the lead for good with 4:48 left in regulation after Ozark had tied the game 47-47.
A three pointer by Brett Krisik kept the Tigers close, 52-50 with 3:51 left, but Nixa hit free throws down the stretch to preserve the win.
Future Missouri State Bear Austin Ruder finished with 20 points to lead all scorers. He ends a four year Blue and Gold career with 247 points, placing him fourth on the all time tournament scoring list. Jalen Norman, who scored 11 for the Eagles, finishes with 228 points in his four years at the Blue and Gold, good for eighth place.
Bryce Dulin also had 11 points for Nixa. Korbin Evans had 17 points to lead Ozark, followed by Brett Krisik with 14 and Tyler Clanton with 12.
Nixa went up 17-10 at the end of the first quarter, but the Tigers fought hard to keep it close at halftime, 28-24. Nixa had a 46-40 lead after three.
Here's a recap of scores from the final round of the Blue and Gold Tournament, with seeds in parenthesis:
Blue Division Consolation Final:
Camdenton 33, Morrisville 22
Gold Division Consolation Final:
Spokane 42, Skyline 39
Blue Division Third Place Game:
(6) Mt. Vernon 76, (4) West Plains 44
Gold Division Third Place Game:
(6) Branson 71, (4) Bolivar 60
Blue Division Championship Game:
(1) Nixa 61, (7) Ozark 55
Gold Division Championship Game:
(2) Republic 34, (1) Parkview 27







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