OAKLEY – The TMP-Marian Monarchs connected on 11 three-pointers and shot their way back to an eighth straight sub-state championship game Friday as they defeated the Hill City Ringnecks 62-56 in Oakley.
Both offenses came out on fire in the first quarter with the two teams combiinng to score 41 points.
TMP connected on five of their first six three-point attempts, two each by Will Eck and Caden Dinkel while Hill City’s Jaden Nuss scored 12 of his game-high 27 points in the first quarter as TMP built a 21-20 lead.
The two teams cooled a bit in the second quarter, Hill City outscored TMP 13-11.
TMP freshman Ty Schmeidler scored all seven of his points in that second frame and capped off the quarter with three pointers with a minute and a half left helping TMP secure a 34-31 halftime lead.
The Monarchs offense struggled in the third quarter, scoring on just a pair of Dinkel free throws and an Ian Nehls driving layup. Nehls finished in double-figures for the seventh time this year with 13 points.
Hill City outscored TMP 11-4 in the quarter and led 42-38 heading into the final quarter.
TMP opened the fourth quarter on a 15-7 run taking a 53-49 lead. Eck connect on two more three pointer field goals in the fourth quarter and finished with four threes.
Hill City managed to cut the lead by two points with two minutes left in the game back the Monarchs made 5-of-7 free throws in the final two minutes and secured the 62-56 victory.
Caden Dinkel and Will Eck had four three pointers each for TMP. Dinkel led the Monarchs with 16 points. Eck added 12 points and Ian Nehls finished with 13 points and six rebounds.
The Monarchs will take on Plainville in the sub-state championship game at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Oakley High School.