State 1B girls: Republic defeats Almira/Coulee-Hartline for first state title in 36 years
The hard work began a year ago, after the final buzzer sounded defeat for the Republic girls basketball team in last year’s State 1B title game.
It paid off on a sublime Saturday afternoon at the Arena, as the Tigers pounced on their first state championship in 36 years with a 51-29 win over Almira/Coulee-Hartline.
Republic coach Ted Torzewski saw it coming – really.
Losing the title to Colton last year “motivated us,” Torzewski said.
“They knew they had some work to do, and they put in the work in summer ball – they deserve it,” Torzewski said.
The hard work paid off at both ends of the floor against a Warriors team that was playing its fourth game in as many days and coming off an emotional dethroning of eight-time champion Colton the night before.
Republic senior guard Shania Graham scored a game-high 23 points and was 4 for 8 from long range, while ACH never got untracked.
The Warriors were 12 for 60 from the field and just 4 for 28 from beyond the arc.
“I thought this was going to happen,” Torzewski said. “I had this feeling that someone was going to get Colton, and if it wasn’t going to be us, I wished that it was ACH, because they have some nice kids and a great coach.”
After trailing 8-4 midway through the first quarter, Republic (25-2) took control with the first of two big runs.
By the end of the period, the Tigers were up 16-8. Layups by Graham and Carlie Rittel made it 20-8 before ACH finally ended an 8-minute scoring drought.
“I thought they were probably a little bit tired, and I thought we could zone them because of those legs,” Torzewski said.
The lead stretched to 29-16 at halftime as Republic shot 46 percent in the first half while the Warriors hit just 19 percent.
Republic scored the first five points of the third quarter to take command. A jumper by Lily Beckwith gave the Tigers their first 20-point lead midway through the third.
The issue was decided by the middle of the fourth quarter as the starters went to the bench to celebrate – along with most of the town of Republic.
“I’m speechless,” Graham said after the net-cutting ceremony as her teammates looked on. “This has been my dream, to get first in state.
“We have such a strong bond on and off the court – that’s what makes us strong,” said Graham, who also had nine rebounds and four steals.
There were other heroes for Republic, including Beckwith who added 14 points and Carlie Rittel with nine rebounds and three blocks.
ACH (23-5) got 10 points from Berlyn Hunt and 12 rebounds from Sarah Bradshaw.