By JEREMY McGUIRE
Hays Post

Girls:  Hill City 55, TMP 42

TMP took an early lead against Hill City, 4-3, and that’s when the Lady Ringnecks ratcheted up the pressure.  They would finish the quarter on a 12-5 run and never trail again.  Hill City built a 27-15 lead at halftime.

In the third quarter the Lady Monarchs had issues offensively and defensively and Hill City took advantage building their lead to 19 at 40-21.  TMP would mount a comeback going on a 10-1 run into the early part of the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 10.  Hill City pulled away from there as their lead never dipped below double digits getting the 55-42 win.

Conner Keith led the way with 20 for the Lady Ringnecks.  Megan Koenigsman was the lone Lady Monarch in double figures with 11.  Hill City improves to 2-0 overall and 2-0 in the Mid Continent League.  TMP drops to 2-2 overall and 1-0 in the MCL.  The Lady Monarchs will be back at home on Tuesday night to take on Victoria.

ROSE MCFARLAND INTERVIEW

GIRL’S HIGHLIGHT

Boys:  TMP 62, Hill City 47

TMP used a 9-0 first quarter run to establish a lead they would never relinquish in a 62-47 win over Hill City on Friday night at Al Billinger Fieldhouse.  The Monarchs led by double digits for most of the first half before Hill City buried a couple of late three pointers to cut the TMP lead to 31-23 at the half.

Defense was the story most of the game and the beginning on the third quarter was no different.  Both teams went scoreless for the first four minutes of the quarter before TMP’s Jared Vitztum broke the ice with a two point bucket. The two teams would continue to battle with the Monarchs holding an eight point lead, 40-32, going into the fourth quarter.

TMP would put the game away with a strong fourth quarter, outscoring the #8 ranked team in 2A 22-15 to help pick up the 15 point win.  Vitzum led TMP with 27 points and Peyton Hoffman added 11.  Hill City’s Tate Bucholz led the charge for the Ringnecks with a 12 point performance.  The Ringnecks’ leading scorer, Claiborne Kyles, was held to eight points with his first points coming at the 3:16 mark of the fourth quarter.

Hill City drops to 1-1 overall and 1-1 in the Mid Continent League.  TMP improves to 2-2 and 1-0 in league play.  The Monarchs will be at home on Tuesday night to take on the Victoria Knights.

JOE HERTEL INTERVIEW

BOYS’ HIGHLIGHTS