HAYS – The TMP-Marian Monarchs had to rally from down double-figures and a Kade Harris field goal in the final seconds lifted TMP to a 48-46 win over Hoxie Monday in the MCL tournament quarterfinals at Al Billinger Fieldhouse in Hays.
The TMP boys hosted Hoxie, for their second game against the Indians in less than a week, and got off to slow start offensively.
TMP (6-2, 3-0 MCL) made just one of the first seven field goals, a Joey Mindrup three-pointer as Hoxie opened the game on a 9-3 run.
Dylan Werth was able to answer with five straight of his own to cut the lead to just one at 9-8 but Hoxie took a 13-8 lead into the second quarter.
The Indians (6-4, 1-2 MCL) added a pair of free throws for a 15-8 lead. TMP was able to tie the game at 25 late in the first half but each time the Monarchs were able to close the deficit Hoxie had an answer. That included a pair of three pointers down the stretch from Brady Jones who gave the Indians a 28-25 lead at halftime. He finished with five three pointers and tied Miles Baalman for a game-high 21 points.
Hoxie extended their lead to a game-high 11 on a 9-1 run to open the second half.
Facing their largest deficit of the game the Monarchs closed the third quarter and opened the fourth on a 19-5 run to take a 44-42 lead. During the stretch Harrison Lowe hit his second three pointer of the game and Griffin Schumacher hit a pair of three pointers.
But again, Hoxie came back to tie the game at 44 and then took the lead with just under two minutes to play on a pair of Baalman free throws at 46-44.
Werth tied the game at 46 with a layup inside with 90 seconds to play and then after an empty offensive possession for Hoxie, TMP’s Kade Harris knocked down a jumped from just inside the three-point line with 3.8 second to play putting TMP up 48-46.
Hoxie’s inbound pass on the ensuing possession went out of bounds and the Monarchs held on for the 48-46 victory.
TMP’s Dylan Werth finished with a team-high 15 points and 12 rebounds.
TMP will play Russell in Friday semifinals in WaKeeney after the seven-seed Broncos beat No. 2 seed Norton Monday.
The top-seed Hill City beat Oakley 59-44 and will play No. 4 Phillipsburg after they beat five-seed Trego Monday 44-40.