Girls: TMP 49, Hill City 43
HAYS, Kan.-The TMP Lady Monarchs were happy to get back home on Friday night and it showed as they raced out to a 9-0 lead against Hill City at Al Billinger Fieldhouse. Hill City did not panic as they would close the quarter on an 8-2 run to make it a one possession game at 11-8. TMP scored the first two points of the second quarter and that’s when the Lady Ringnecks came to life and closed the half on a 13-6 run to take a 21-19 lead at the break.
TMP was able to chip away at the Hill City advantage in the third quarter as the two teams exchanged leads throughout the period with the Lady Monarchs holding the 34-28 advantage. TMP would not give up that lead as the pick up the 49-43 victory. Kayla Vitztum scored a team high 18 points for the Lady Monarchs and Jillian Lowe added 14, seven of those in the first quarter. Ellie Keener was the only Lady Ringneck in double figures as she scored 14.
Hill City drops to 1-1 on the year and 1-1 in the Mid Continent League. TMP is not 3-1 on the season and 1-0 in the MCL. They will host Victoria on Tuesday.
GIRLS HIGHLIGHTS
ROSE MCFARLAND INTERVIEW
Boys: TMP 64, Hill City 40
HAYS, Kan.-TMP and Hill City had a hard time getting their respective offenses going early as the Ringnecks used a 8-0 spurt to take a 12-10 first quarter lead. The Monarchs turned the tables in the second quarter. With the game tied at 15 points each TMP scored the next 14 points to take command of the Mid Continent League matchup. Led by nine points apiece from David McFarland and Creighton Renz TMP grabbed a 31-19 lead that they would not give up the rest of the way.
TMP quickly escalated the lead to 20 and as high as 30 in the third quarter. The Monarchs led 55-28 at the close of the third quarter and cruised to a 64-40 victory. Garrett Handley led Hill City with 19 points and David McFarland countered with 19 to lead TMP.
Hill City falls to 0-2 on the season with both of those losses in league play. TMP is now 2-2 and 1-0 in the MCL as they will face off with former MCL member Victoria on Tuesday in Hays.
BOYS HIGHLIGHTS
JOE HERTEL INTERVIEW