HOISINGTON – The TMP-Marian Monarchs opened the game on a 9-2 run and had three players score in double-figures as they beat Smoky Valley 60-35 Saturday to claim the 3A sub-state championship.

Bill Meagher postgame

It took both teams a couple of minutes to get their offense settle in before Smoky Valley grabbed an early 2-0 lead. That would be there only lead of the day.

After they were held scoreless for the first 2:15 of the game Ryan Karlin converted on a layup that sparked a 9-1 run for the Monarchs to end the first quarter with a 9-3 lead.

Karlin hit his second first-half three to open the second quarter as the Monarchs outscored Smoky Valley 9-3 to open the second quarter. A Jared Mayers field goal helped the Moanrchs build a 12-point lead with under five minutes to play in the first-half. TMP’s largest lead of the first-half came at the break at 24-10.

Coming out of the halftime break Mayers scored the first five points of the quarter helping the Monarchs build a 29-10 lead.

Smoky Valley was able to trim the deficit to 13 lead in the third but a late field goal by Bryce Seib gave TMP a 39-24 lead through three quarters.

In the fourth quarter it was Carson Jacobs’ turn to lead the Monarchs, he scored eight straight to open the quarter to put TMP back up by 17.

The Monarchs extended their lead in the fourth quarter and went on to pick up the 60-35 win.

Game highlights

Mayers lead the Monarchs with 17 points and a game-high 10 rebounds while Karlin added 14 and Jacobs had 12.

The Monarchs improve to 13-11 with the win and are headed back to the 3A state tournament in Hutchinson next week.