By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
The TMP-Marian Monarchs open the 2023-24 basketball season Thursday in the opening round of the Hays City Shootout.
The Monarchs will open the 41st annual Gerald Mitchell Hays City Shootout against the host Hays High Indians at Hays High School.
The Lady Monarchs and head coach Rose McFarland enter the season with a balance of key returners and key reserves who will be called upon to step up this season.
Juniors Brooke Koenigsman and Gracyn Schippers started every game for the Monarchs a season ago. They finished 15-8, losing to Smith Center in the semifinals of the 2A Ellis sub-state.
Koenigsman, a second-team all MCL selection last season, is the top returning scorer for the Monarchs, averaging 11.6 points per game and she scored in double-figures 11 times as a sophomore.
Schippers averaged 6.6 points per game last season and just like Koenigsman averaged 3.3 rebounds per game, which ranked them second on the Monarchs last year.
Schippers led the Monarchs in three-point percentage at 50%, making 11 of her 22 attempts on the season.
Sophomore Claire Schippers started six games for TMP last season and is expected to play a prominent role this season.
Senior Halle Dreiling, who has struggled with injuries, is back healthy for TMP and expected to help lead the Monarchs.
Juniors Shalee Gottschalk, Teagan Gottschalk and Shaynee Yost and Sophomore Anna Cappucio are expected to see an expanded role for this year’s Monarchs.
The Monarchs also have a four freshman in Hannah Rose, Brynn Rebel, Bria Windholz and Raegan who could see varsity time.
The TMP-Marian Monarch boys enter the season fresh off their third straight state tournament appearance, with one third place finish and two fourth place finishes.
But the Monarchs return just one starter from last year’s team that finished 22-4 and a perfect 10-0 in the Mid-Continent League.
Senior Griffin Schumacher is the Monarchs lone returning starter and the top returning scorer averaging 4.9 points per game and 2.9 assists per game.
Fellow senior Joey Mindrup appeared in 25 games for TMP as the first player off the bench averaging 4.3 points per game.
Caden Becker is the third senior member of this year’s Monarchs team.
Entering his sixth season as head coach Bill Meagher is five wins shy of 100.
Meagher and the Monarchs will lean on a pair of junior big men in Heuer Brungardt and Austin Gilbert that will fill the hole left by all-state big man Dylan Werth.
Sophomores Caden Dinkel, William Eck and Carson Liles all received some playing time a year ago and those three, joined by Ian Nehls, all could see significant time this season.
Liles is still recovery from a leg injury suffered during the football season.
Freshmen Ty Schmeidler and Logan Baalman are also expected to play key varsity minutes for the Monarchs.
TMP will open the 41st annual Gerald Mitchell Hays City Shootout Thursday with the girls game at 6:30 p.m. at Hays High School with the boys game to follow.