By JEREMY McGUIRE
Hays Post
Girls: TMP 39, Hill City 27
PLAINVILLE, Kan.-A battle of ranked teams proved to be as good as expected as TMP picked up a win over Hill City in the semi-finals of the Mid Continent League Tournament. The Lady Monarchs scored the first seven points of the contest but Hill City settled in and outscored TMP 6-2 to close the first quarter. The Lady Ringnecks would take a one point lead (15-14) late in the second quarter but TMP would close the first half door with a 5-0 run to lead 19-15 at halftime.
Defense was the name of the game in the second half. TMP held a powerful Hill City offense to only one point in the third quarter and 12 points total in the half. Carrie Kennedy was the only Lady Ringneck in double figures as she scored 11 for Hill City who drops to 7-2 on the season and will face Stockton in the MCL 3rd Place game on Saturday.
Kayla Vitztum scored 20 to lead TMP. The Lady Monarchs improve to 11-1 on the season and will face Smith Center in the championship game Saturday evening in Plainville.
ROSE MCFARLAND INTERVIEW
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
Boys: TMP 65, Plainville 49
PLAINVILLE, Kan.-Friday night’s MCL Tournament semifinals was a game of runs for both teams. Plainville started the game on a 11-3 run and a Joe Hertel time out changed the momentum. Out of the timeout TMP started a 15-0 run that spanned into the second quarter. TMP pushed the lead to 30-17 before the Cardinals finished the half on a 7-0 run to cut the Monarch lead to 30-24 at the half.
TMP would not waiver in the second half as the lead quickly escalated to double digits and it would stay there. The Monarchs led by 12 after three quarters and would lead by as many as 21 points in the fourth quarter before settling for the 65-49 win.
Jared Casey led Plainville with 17 points on the night. The Cardinals fall to 6-4 on the season and will face Oakley in the third place game tomorrow afternoon. TMP was led by David McFarland, Trento Mayo and Michael Lager who all scored 13 points and Creighton Renz added 12. TMP is now 10-2 on the season and will match up with Phillipsburg in the MCL Tournament Championship game on Saturday night.
JOE HERTEL INTERVIEW
GAME HIGHLIGHTS