By JEREMY McGUIRE
Hays Post

TMP 55, Wellsville 40

HUTCHINSON, Kan-TMP trailed early but not often in the their 55-40 win over Wellsville in the opening round of the 3A State Basketball tournament in Hutchinson Thursday night. The Lady Monarchs were able to grab a 17-13 lead after the first quarter of play. TMP was able to continue their late first quarter success in to the second quarter.

The Lady Monarchs saw their lead cut to two midway through the quarter but that’s when the number two ranked team in the state kicked it into gear. They would finish the half on an 8-0 run thanks to some domination on the boards from Savannah Yost and Kayla Vitztum and some timely shots from Adell Riedel and Bailey Lacy. TMP would have a double digit lead, 28-18, at the break.

The third quarter was a slow start for TMP as it took them just over three and a half minutes to score. But it didn’t seem to matter as Wellsville couldn’t find the bucket either. The Lady Eagles cut the TMP lead to 28-20 and again the Lady Monarchs responded with a 9-2 run to end the quarter and they took a commanding 38-23 lead into the fourth quarter.

TMP expanded that lead to 20 points in the final quarter before settling for the 15 point win. Wellsvile was led by Sydney Dwyer wit 20 points and Demi Aamold with 11. The Lady Eagles finish their season at 18-5. TMP had nine players score led by 17 from Vitztum and 10 each from Jillian Lowe and Aubrey Koenigsman. Vitztum and Yost also pulled down 12 rebounds each.

The Lady Monarchs, the number three seed, improve their record to 21-2 and will play the seventh seeded Royal Valley Panthers who upset second seeded Nemaha Central 51-48. That game will tipoff at 3pm Friday afternoon.

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