WaKeeney – For the second straight year the TMP Monarchs and the Phillipsburg Panthers faced off in the Mid-Continent League Tournament Championship game and for the second straight year Phillipsburg was able to pick up the victory.

After the Monarchs took an early 4-3 lead Phillipsburg answered with a 16-2 run to build a 19-6 lead after the first quarter, a lead they would never relinquish on their way to a 60-46 win Saturday in WaKeeney.

Bill Meagher postgame interview

Leading 19-6 after one the Panthers turned the 16-2 run into a 23-4 run and led TMP 26-8 with 6:40 to play in the second quarter.

Phillipsburg pushed their lead to 15 on two separate occasions in the second quarter, the final time at 30-15. The Panthers led 41-25 at the break.

TMP cut the deficit to 10 at 47-37 on a Jack Johnson field goal with 1:35 to play in the third quarter but they would get no closer as they fall 60-46.

Jared Mayers was one-of-two players to score in double-figures with 16. Jackson Schulte chipped in 13.

Phillipsburg’s Trey Sides finished with a game-high 22. Austin Miller added 16.

Game highlights

TMP drops to 8-5 on the season while the Panthers improved to 10-2.

TMP will host Abilene on Friday.