STOCKTON - The Ellis Railroaders used a 10-3 third quarter run on their way to a 63-59 win over the TMP lady Monarchs Thursday in the consolation semifinals of the Mid-Continent League tournament in Stockton.
TMP girls coach Rose McFarland
The first quarter saw four lead changes and a pair of ties with TMP leading 9-7 at the end of the quarter on a fast break field goal by Sophia Balthazor.
Jaci VonLintel knocked down the first two three pointers of her career helping TMP open the second quarter on a 10-4 run to give the Monarchs the 19-11 lead.
Down eight Ellis responded with a 14-4 run to end the first half and take a 25-22 lead into halftime.
Kyleigh Allen scored the first five points of the third quarter for TMP as they built a 28-27 lead. But again, Ellis had an answer. They put together a 10-3 run to build a 37-31 lead midway through the third quarter. TMP closed within two at the end of three, 40-38.
In the fourth quarter Ellis hit three three-point field goals as part of a 13-5 run to open the quarter as they built a to point lead at 53-43.
TMP was able to close within five points several times in the fourth quarter and a Balthazor three pointer closed the deficit to just three in the final minutes but Ellis was able to pickup the 63-59 win.
Game highlights
Balthazor led all scorers with a career-high 17 points. Allen chipped in 14.
Grace Eck led Ellis with 14 points.
Ellis improves to 6-3 and will play Oakley, in Saturday's fifth place game. after they edged Norton 32-31 Thursday.
TMP dropped to 4-7 and will take on Norton Saturday in the seventh place game.