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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Tigers rediscover their roar

J.D. Larson Correspondent

John Wooden might not approve of it, but John Gianukakis’ practice methods got the job done.

After the Republic Tigers lost to Northwest Christian on Wednesday, their coach pulled out a strange practice plan.

“We shot for 30 minutes, then they came over to my house and played Xbox until 9:30,” Gianukakis said. “Then, I kicked them out.”

Friday, Republic looked more like the team ranked No. 1 all year, blasting Liberty 68-45 in a District 7 B loser-out, winner-to-state game at Mead High School.

Zach Gianukakis, John’s son, led the Tigers (24-2) with 21 points, and his brother Derek added 12 for Republic. Senior forward Gaeb Giddings had eight points and seven rebounds, making a difference in the paint after being saddled with early fouls against NWC.

“Our backs were against the wall,” Giddings said. “On Wednesday, we weren’t ready to play. Tonight we knew we had to get it done. Nobody has to tell us we had to play well.”

Republic left little drama after a first quarter that saw it hit 9 of 12 shots to take a 21-5 first-quarter lead. Zach Gianukakis, fighting shin splints, had 10 in the quarter.

“We had more energy tonight for some reason,” John Gianukakis said. “For some reason, we were tired against Northwest Christian. If we hit a couple of early there like we did tonight, maybe it’s different.”

Andy Hodgson led Liberty (15-12) with 19 points. Tyler Orestad had eight points, seven rebounds and five assists for Republic.

Liberty closed within 12 points in the third quarter, but Republic ran off a string of nine straight possessions with points to build a 54-34 lead at the end of the third.

During that stretch, as happens when Republic is at its best, five different players scored.

With the win, Republic moves into the district third-place game against Selkirk today at 1:45 p.m. at Mt. Spokane.

“Tomorrow doesn’t mean that much,” John Gianukakis said of the game against the Rangers, a team Republic has already beaten twice this year. “Maybe it will get us on a roll.”

Republic earned its second straight state tournament berth with the win. Last year, the Tigers won the state championship.

“Starting Wednesday, we have to win four games,” Gianukakis said. “It doesn’t matter how you get there.” Despite improving, Gianukakis admits this time isn’t quite at the level it can be.

“We’re not quite there,” he said. “We haven’t played our best ball yet.”

Selkirk 52, Wellpinit 51

Selkirk’s Clint March hit 1 of 2 free throws with 4.3 seconds left and a 3-pointer by Wellpinit’s Preston Wynne spun out at the buzzer as the Rangers advanced to state for the second straight year by holding off the Redskins in a loser-out contest at Mt. Spokane HS.

March was fouled by Norbert Abrahamson on a shot just outside of the left elbow in an intense, fiercely competitive game that saw neither team lead by more than three in the fourth quarter.

March finished with 12 points and eight rebounds, and Travis Zimmerman had eight points and 13 rebounds for the Rangers.

Selkirk (17-9) was able to hold in check Wynne, Wellpinit’s leading scorer, for most of the game. Wynne finished with 18 points and nine rebounds, but he was 5 of 26 from the field, four of those 3-pointers. T.J. Flett added 10 on 4-of-7 shooting for Wellpinit (15-12).