NORTON - The TMP boys and girls basketball teams were swept in a Mid-Continent League doubleheader Friday night in Norton.
Girls: Norton 42, TMP 35
Both the TMP Lady Monarchs and the Norton Lady Jays got off to a bit of a slow start on Friday.
Sophia Balthazor gave TMP an early 3-0 lead on the game's first three and TMP led 5-2 after one quarter.
Norton opened the second quarter on an 8-0 to build a 10-5 lead. TMP cut the deficit back to two points and trailed 14-12 at halftime. The two teams had more turnovers than points in the first half.
Norton opened the second half on an 8-2 run and led TMP 22-14 before the Monarchs came firing back to take the lead at 25-22 on a Kassidi Yost three-point play.
After Norton had cut the TMP lead back to one at the end of the third quarter Balthazor's second three of the game put TMP up 28-24.
TMP extended their lead to five on a Jaci VonLintel three pointer at 35-30 but were held scoreless over the final couple of minutes of the game while Norton scored 12 unanswered and pulled away for the 42-35 win.
Rose McFarland postgame interview
TMP's Sophia Balthazor was the on player to score in double-figures in the game. She finished with 10 points.
Hannah Bailey and Tessa Hauser each scored nine points for Norton.
Game highlights
TMP drops to 5-10 and 2-4 and Norton improved to 8-7 and 2-3.
Boys: Norton 58, TMP 47
The TMP boys couldn't overcome a season-low 17-percent three-point shooting and saw their 12-game win streak come to an end in a 58-47 loss to Norton.
Bill Meagher postgame interview
The two teams traded baskets back and forth in the first quarter with TMP's largest lead at 9-7 on a Bryce Seib field goal. Norton retook the lead on a 6-3 lead to end the first quarter and led 13-12.
The second quarter was much the same with Norton leading by as much as five before TMP cut the deficit back to one at 21-20.
Norton opened the second half on a 7-0 run and built a 28-20 lead. TMP was able to close within two in the third quarter and six at the end of the quarter at 36-30.
In the fourth quarter Norton built a 42-30 lead to start the quarter. TMP closed within three at 48-45 on a Jackson Schulte three but they were get no closer in the 58-47 loss.
Game highlights
Carson Jacobs led TMP with 12 points and Jace Wentling finished 10 points and 10 rebounds.
TMP made just 3-of-18 three point attempts for 17-percent. Both season-lows.
Norton's Jonah Ruder finished with a career-high 25 points.
TMP hosts Phillipsburg next Friday. Norton travels to Oberlin on Tuesday.
