HAYS – The TMP boys made six of their first three-point attempts Tuesday and used a 14-0 first quarter run to beat the Trego Golden Eagles 66-49 in the first round of the Mid-Continent League tournament.
Coach Bill Meagher postgame interview
The Monarchs got out to a hot start in the first quarter. Leading 5-4, TMP put together a 14-0 run to end the quarter to lead 19-4. Ryan Stoecklein scored five points during the run.
Stoecklein added two more three-pointers to open the second quarter as TMP extended the run to 20-3 and built a 25-7 lead. Trego briefly closed the deficit back to nine before TMP took a 29-18 lead into the halftime break.
In the second half Trego closed the deficit to six, at 33-27 midway through the third quarter but TMP closed the quarter on a 12-5 run, capped off by a Lucas Lang three-pointer.
Lang added a second straight three-pointer to start the fourth quarter giving TMP a 48-32 lead.
Trego closed within 11 two different times in the fourth quarter but could get no closer as the Monarchs earned the 66-49 win.
Game highlights
TMP’s Jackson Schulte finished with 21 points and Ryan Stoecklein added 17.
Trego’s Carter Minson scored a team-high 17.
TMP improved to 8-1 with the win and they will take on Hill City Friday in the second of two boys semifinals Friday in Plainville.
TMP was the only higher seed to win on the boys side Tuesday.
The seven-seeded Ringnecks upset two-seed Plainville 62-57 Tuesday.
On the other side of the bracket top-seeded Hoxie was upset by the eight-seed Phillipsburg Panthers 42-40. Phillipsburg will play No. 5 Ellis after they defeated four-seed Norton 50-44.