Lady Bulldogs Struggle to Find Points in Loss to Republic
- RoMoAthletics
- Jan 20
- 4 min read
January 20th, 2026
The gauntlet of top level talent continued on Monday night as the Lady Bulldogs head to Republic to face another Class 6 opponent who is receiving votes in the state rankings. As the Lady Bulldogs adjust to a season without their 20 point per game scorer, All-State Jr guard Rylee Dodson, they are finding ways to make up for that production.
While the Lady Bulldogs were able to extend their defensive pressure to hold Republic under their season average, the Lady Bulldogs were not able to manufacture the necessary points in the 4th quarter to get the victory and fall to 9-6 on teh season.
Adjusting the Game
Last time we talked about the Lady Bulldogs having to find a new identity without Dodson.Having to replace the points is hard enough, but it’s how she was able to get those points. She is an athletic guard who has elite speed to get out on the break and get easy buckets. She also shot 58% from behind the arc and missing that not only changes how the Lady Bulldogs score, but how other teams defend.
Offensively, Rolla is 20 ppg lower than their season average in the 3 games without Dodson. To be fair, that is also against state ranked opponents, but it is the reality of where the team currently stands.
The adjustment that is currently underway seems to be to move away from the up-tempo style and move into a more controlled approach which I view more as an “intentional” approach. They will grind it out defensively to limit their opponents shot attempts and control the boards. Then, offensively, they will attempt to slow down the pace to minimize opportunities for the defense but also to be efficient with their shot attempts.
It may not be the most exciting game to watch, but it is a band-aid until this team gains the confidence to hit big shots and consistently score the basketball. It will come for this team as there is a ton of talent and potential that is having to overcome some adversity.
Executing the Game Plan
Rolla was able to control the pace of play in the opening period as 4 players scored to take a 9-8 lead going into quarter 2. The slow pace continued for the Lady Bulldogs as they only mustered 8 points in the 2nd quarter and ended up trailing 17-20 going into half time.
Coach Parker was pleased with the performance by his team in the first half. “I thought defensively we did a good job for the most part, We had just a few possessions where we had a let down.” 5’8” Sr guard Mariah Watkins and 5’10” Fr guard Bella Campbell each posted 4 points in the 1st half to pace the team.
That defensive effort continued in the 3rd quarter, holding Republic to 7 points and 6 points by Watkins and 4 points off the bench by 5’10” So forward Riley Hollis, who splits time on junior varsity, squared it all up heading into the final period all tied up at 27.
The Lady Bulldogs were not able to keep Republic contained as they knocked down 3 from deep on their way to an 18 point quarter. In all, Republic hit 5 3-pointers to only 1 for the Lady Bulldogs in the opening period by 5’10” So forward Madison Hutton.
The new approach had them in a position to win, but against top level competition, there is little wiggle room for missed shots and turnovers. “Offensively we missed some easy opportunities that we have to do a better job converting,” observed Parker after the game.
The Wrap Up
Talking with Coach Parker, consistency seems to be the key word for his Lady Bulldogs. It’s what they need to demonstrate to make that post season run. The challenge is that consistency is always in talking about the game, but also in the approach to the game. “We did a good job of taking care of the ball but the turnovers we did have were in crucial times leading to easy buckets for them.”
Watkins was the only Lady Bulldog to reach double figures, pouring in 17 points. Campbell finished the game with 10 boards while 5’10” Fr forward Rylee Anderson finished with 6. As a team, the free throw shooting continues to be an area of focus as they went 5-10 from the line. The margin for error is thin with the new look Lady Bulldogs.
Next Up
Monday January 22nd at home vs California Pintos (9-6)
California is a Class 4 high performer
Head to Head Match-Ups
Helias Catholic: Rolla won 52-38, California lost 51 - 73
STATS Rolla 38, Republic 45
The individual scoring (FG-FT-TP):
Rolla (9-6): Hutton 1-0-3, Watkins 7-3-17, Fontenot 1-0-2, Deremo 1-1-3, Campbell 3-0-6, Hollis 2-0-4, Anderson 1-1-3
Republic (10-3): Gilmore 4-0-9, Stalzer 1-4-7, Brown 5-0-13, Cutbirth 5-2-12, Kilburn 2-0-4
The score by periods:
TEAM Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 F
Rolla 9 8 10 11 38
Republic 8 12 7 18 45
STATS Rolla JV 50, Republic JV 49 in OT
The individual scoring (FG-FT-TP):
Rolla JV(13-0): Martia 4-1-11, Fleming 3-1-8, Fontenot 2-0-4, Northup 1-0-2, Hollis 8-5-21, Wilson 2-1-5
Republic JV:Pullan 3-3-10, Guess 4-0-8, Quessenberry 5-0-14, Chukwa 5-1-11, Coleman 1-2-4, Kilburn 1-0-2
The score by periods:
TEAM Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 OT F
Rolla JV 16 10 13 9 2 50
Republic JV10 6 15 16 0 49
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