As much as Republic may have controlled the scoreboard in the second half Thursday night, Waynesville did even more so in the opening half and WHS held on for a 48-43 non-conference win on Tiger Court.  Republic held a 13-point edge in the final two periods, including an uncomfortable (for Tiger fans) 21-11 advantage in the final eight minutes, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Waynesville’s big initial lead.

After Republic scored the opening basket,  Waynesville went on the run-of-all-runs, scoring 23 straight points into the second period before Republic hit a pair of free throws. The Tigers held a 27-9 advantage at halftime, but Republic’s determined second half play nibbled away at the lead.  A Republic basket with 44.6 seconds remaining made it a two-possession game, but Waynesville’s Juwan Morgan hit a pair of free throws moments later  to put the game out of reach.  Morgan was the only Tiger to score in double-figures with 15.  He added two fourth-quarter blocked shots to keep Republic just out of reach.  The Tigers were their own worst enemy at the free throw line, netting just 12 of 23 shots.  Still, they moved their record to 13-3 on the season.