WaKeeney – The TMP boys had three players score in double-figures and held off a late Hill City rally as they advanced back to the MCL tournament finals with a 48-45 win Thursday in WaKeeney.

The Monarchs used a pair of 7-0 first quarter runs to build a 14-4 lead.

TMP built their largest lead of the game at 15 two different times in the second quarter, the last time on a Lucas Lang jumper at 28-13. The Monarch led 30-19 at the break.

Hill City outscored TMP by six in the third quarter to cut the TMP lead to 44-39. The Ringnecks closed within one at 46-45 in the final minute of the game but TMP’s Lucas Lang hit a pair of free throws to lift the Monarchs to the 48-45 win.

Bill Meagher postgame interview

Ryan Karlin led the Monarchs with 15 points and Hill City’s Dalen Journigan finished with a team-high 14.

TMP improved to 8-4 with the win and Hill City drops to 5-4.

Game highlights

The Monarchs, for the second year in-a-row will play Phillipsburg for the MCL championship after the Panthers beat Plainville Thursday 68-45.

Plainville and Hill City will play for third place Saturday.