By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
CLAFLIN - The TMP-Marian Monarchs boys and girls basketball teams closed out the pre-Christmas portion of their schedule on the road Friday night at Central Plains and they came up short, losing both games of the doubleheader.
GIRLS: Central Plains 47, TMP 30The Monarchs jumped out to an early lead, only to see the Oilers use an 8-0 run and take the lead in the first quarter as they held off the Monarchs the rest of the way in 47-30 win.
Brooke Koenigsman scored five straight for the Monarchs (2-4, 1-1 MCL) to open the game with a 5-2 lead. But Central Plains (5-1, 1-0 CPL) answered with an 8-0 of their own and held on to the lead the rest of the way.
After trailing 13-9 at the end of the first quarter, TMP closed within two on a Gracyn Schippers field goal and then Hannah Rose connected on a three-pointer pulling TMP within three at 17-14 but Central Plains maintained a 22-18 lead at halftime.
In the second half Central Plains get the early start, outscoring the Monarchs 18-4 to end the third quarter and open the fourth on their way to the 47-30 victory.
Brooke Koenigsman led the Monarchs with 10 points.
BOYS: Central Plains 43, TMP 31The TMP boys could never overcome a slow start Friday as they dropped their fourth game in five tries to start the season 43-31 at Central Plains.
Central Plains opened the game on a 12-1 run before the Monarchs were ever able to get settled in.
Down 11, Grant Nehls scored seven of his nine points helping pull the Monarchs within four at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter Central Plains was able to maintain the three and four point advantage the entire way and led 22-16.
The Oilers scored the first five points of the third quarter and built their largest lead of the game at 11, 27-16. But the Monarchs answered right back.
They pulled within two points at 31-29, thanks to a 13-4 run, forcing four straight turnovers during that stretch.
But the Monarchs could never close the gap down the stretch and Central Plains held on for a 43-41 win.
Grant Nehls and Jacob Seib led the Monarchs with nine points each.
The Monarchs return to action January 10 at Sacred Heart.