The TMP-Marian Monarchs couldn’t overcome a strong second half by the Holcomb Longhorns as they drop their opening round matchup 69-57 at the Trojan Classic in Hillsboro.
Holcomb opened the game on a 5-0 run but the Monarchs answered with a 4-0 run and trailed 21-16 at the end of the first quarter. The Monarchs scored the first five points of the second quarter and were tied at 21 before Holcomb pulled away for a 39-25 lead at the break. The Longhorns scored seven straight to begin the third quarter and lead by 11 in the third.
Jordan Gottschalk scored a team-high 14 points to lead TMP who falls to 3-7. The Monarchs will play Riley County Thursday at 3pm. The Falcons dropped their opener 64-38 to Hesston.