HOISINGTON – The Russell Lady Broncos outscored the TMP Lady Monarchs 10-2 down the stretch in the fourth quarter as they put an end to a four-game losing streak to TMP and beat the Monarchs 51-48 in the 3A sub-state semifinals in Hoisington.
In the first quarter TMP took an early three-point lead on several occasions and led by five at 14-9 after the first quarter.
After building that five-point first quarter lead the Monarchs were held scoreless for a six-minute stretch to end the first and begin the second quarter but Russell wasn’t able to take advantage of the Monarchs’ offensive struggles and still found themselves behind on the scoreboard.
But in the final two minutes of the first half Russell’s Camille Dortland poured in her first of two threes on the night and Megan Peeler added her only field goal of the second quarter to put Russell up 19-18 at the break.
Russell took their biggest lead of the night on back-to-back field goals to open the second half to put the Broncos up 23-18. But after a timeout Adell Riedel knocked down a 15-foot jumped and the Monarchs would outscore the Broncos 13-7 over the final 5:31 of the third quarter to take a 31-30 lead into the fourth quarter.
After Russell took the lead on a pair of free throws to open the fourth quarter Riedel put TMP up 33-32 and then Jillian Lowe hit her only three of the night and converted on a three-point play for six straight points as the Monarchs again matched their largest lead of the night at five points at 39-34.
With just over four minutes to play the game was again tied, this time at 40 and 41 before the Monarchs Emilee Lane converted a three-point play that sparked a mini 5-0 run that gave TMP a 46-41 lead. But it was a lead they were unable to hold on to.
Russell ended the game on a 10-2 run that saw Camille Dortland convert on her second three-pointer of the night and her sister Tiffany Dortland scored 12 of her game-high 24 in the fourth quarter as Russell went on to pick up the 51-48 win.
TMP senior Jillian Lowe finished her night was a career-high 17 points and freshman Emilee Lane recorded her second career double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.
Russell’s Camille Dortland also scored in double-figures with 13.
Game highlights
TMP finishes the season 16-6.
Russell improves to 18-4 and will face Norton in Saturday’s sub-state championship game in Hoisington.
Norton defeated Southeast of Saline 55-23 Thursday.