ELLIS – The Hoxie Indians finished the first half and opened the second on a 20-2 run and held off a late rally as they beat the TMP-Marian Monarchs Friday in the semifinals of the Mid-Continent League tournament in Ellis.
Coach Bill Meagher
The Monarchs (7-3) got out to a quick start Friday, scoring the first eight points of the game and opening a 13-6 lead after one quarter of play. Jackson Schulte scored five of his team-high 18 points to end the quarter.
Hoxie (9-0) was able to close the deficit to one at 15-14 early in the second quarter but Lucas Lang drained his first three-pointer of the game and Kade Harris fast break layup giving TMP the 20-14 lead.
But Hoxie answered with a 10-0 run to end the first half taking a 24-20 lead into halftime.
The start of the second half was much the same with the Indians outscoring TMP 13-2 to take a 15-point lead at 37-22.
TMP put together a 15-5 run to get back within five at 42-37 through three quarters.
In the fourth quarter Hoxie was able to build the lead back to 15 but TMP never went away.
Down 13 they used a 9-0 run to close within four at 60-56 but Hoxie was able to close out the game on their way to a 69-58 win.
Game highlights
Schulte’s 18 led four Monarchs in double-figures with Lucas Lang added 13. Kade Harris recorded a career-high 11 points and Dylan Werth finished with 10.
TMP will play Ellis in the third and fourth place game Saturday in Ellis. The Railers lost to Trego in the other semifinal 56-50.