By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
NORTON – The TMP-Marian Monarchs held a lead over the Norton for nearly two and a half quarters before the top-seeded Bluejays pulled away for 49-36 win over the TMP boys in the MCL tournament quarterfinals Tuesday night in Norton.
Caden Dinkel connected on a three pointer to open the game for TMP (4-7), sparking a 13-4 first quarter run.
Norton (8-1) though finished the first quarter on a 6-0 run to pull within three after the first quarter.
The Bluejays then cut the lead to one before Dinkel connected on his third three of the first half to put TMP up 16-12.
Dinkel and Carson Liles combined to score the next seven points for TMP, the last field goal a three pointer by Liles, but the Monarchs offense went cold and Norton put together the decisive run in the game.
Norton closed the halftime score to 23-22 TMP as part of a 27-6 run that covered the final three and a half minutes of the first half, the entire third quarter and early in the fourth quarter.
During the Bluejays run they turned a 23-16 first half deficit into a 43-29 fourth quarter lead.
TMP closed within nine in the fourth quarter but got no closer in the 49-36 Norton victory.
Caden Dinkel led TMP with 14 points and Carson Liles tied a career-high with nine points and six rebounds.
TMP will play Ellis in the consolation semifinals Thursday at Phillipsburg.
Ellis lost to Plainville 53-52.