SWMO Showdown: Kickapoo vs. Republic Top Five Stars

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Girls Hoops Missouri had the opportunity to watch a prime-time matchup in the SWMO area between 21-0 Kickapoo against visiting Republic, who came into the game with a 19-3 record.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Republic played a very strong first quarter and had a 15-14 lead at the end of the period. Kickapoo took control of the game with a 12-0 run between the end of the first quarter and the start of the second quarter to take 24-15 lead. The Chiefs led by as many as 11 points in the fourth quarter before Republic mounted a late rally. Kickapoo was able to hold on for a 44-37 victory to remain unbeaten at 22-0. Kickapoo is enjoying another tremendous season as they follow up on its third-place finish in the Class 6 state tournament last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a look at the Top Five Stars from the Kickapoo-Republic game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>NO. 1 STAR: [player_tooltip player_id='849007' first='Anaya' last='Perry'] (Kickapoo)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 5'9" 2027 guard scored a team-high 14 points while also playing a strong defensive game with her on-ball pressure on opposing ball handlers. She was slashing in the lane on athletic drives and she also hit a step-back 3-pointer off the dribble. She was also disruptive on defense with a number of deflections and steals as she used her athleticism and good instincts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>NO. 2 STAR: Cora Cutbirth (Republic)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 5'7" 2027 forward scored 15 points to lead the Tigers. She is an undersized post player who plays much taller than her height. She is physically strong and she works hard to get good position inside. She also scored on offensive putback and a good rim-run in transition. Late in the game, she knocked down a pair of short jumpers with a nice touch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>NO. 3 STAR: [player_tooltip player_id='405120' first='Lexi' last='Ringgold'] (Kickapoo)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6'1" 2026 forward contributed eight points, but she also had a strong defensive presence with her height and length inside. She blocked a couple of shots and altered numerous others inside. She also stole a few passes headed into the post. Her scoring picked up in the second half as she made a couple of short jumpers in the lane in the mid post area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>NO. 4 STAR: [player_tooltip player_id='433312' first='Awbree' last='Berning'] (Republic)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 5'10" 2026 forward scored 11 points on the evening. She was tough to stop when she was able to get to her dominant left hand on the drive. She was able to get some tough buckets on the move. She got the Tigers off to a good start with a pair of straight line drives in the first quarter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>NO. 5 STAR: [player_tooltip player_id='1117242' first='Ari' last='Warren'] (Kickapoo)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2027 guard scored eight points as she provided some instant offense off the bench in the first half. She knocked down back to back 3-pointers and then she followed up with a nice drive in the lane for a bucket as she attacked the close out very well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->