By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
With three state tournament appearances in four years under head coach Bill Meagher, the Thomas More Prep-Marian Monarchs boys basketball team has consistently found a way to replace talented senior classes and reload for the future. And they will have to do once again in 2022.
The Monarchs return just two starters from last year's team that finished 20-6. It was the programs second fourth place finish under coach Meagher. They also finished tied for third in the 2020-21 season.
Meagher said it will be on the young guys to step up and fill those roles vacated by five seniors who played significant minutes last season.
“We've got some new guys that have got to step up and fill those spots,” Meagher said. “It's going to be really tough, especially early with the offensive side. We just had some guys that just were great scores and great rebounders.”
He added he has liked what he has seen from the younger guys in practice so far and they have talked to them about continuing the tradition of TMP-M basketball.
“Our message to young guys is, hey, at some point, this is going get handed over to you and there's a lot of responsibility on that you have to get yourself ready,” Meagher said. “I think those guys have prepared themselves well, the last year, two years to step into that role.”
All-state senior big man Dylan Werth led the Monarchs in scoring (13.9ppg) and rebounding (6.9rpg) last year and will once again be a key to the Monarchs success. Meagher said Werth has been a great example of for the younger guys.
“He's gone out and played some AAU and done a lot of work on the side (and) he's hit the weight room,” Meagher said.
Meagher also said he continues to see the improve from guys commitment to lifting weights and the recent success of the football team has also had an impact on the team.
“We're just a lot stronger than we've been,” Meagher said. “Our football guys have come to us with just great mentalities, and it's just fun to see these guys. They've done a lot of work on the offseason to prepare to be ready for now.”
Senior guard Kade Harris is the second leading returning scorer for the Monarchs (6.6ppg) and also earned postseason honors in 3A last season.
TMP-M will open the season Thursday in the first round of the Gerald Mitchell Hays City Shootout, against Lawrence Free State, who finished third in 6A last season. They defeated TMP-M in the shootout semifinals last season 75-23.
Meagher says the guys know what a challenge it is to face Freestate to start the season and he believes that has motivated them to work hard early on in practice.
“We just try to get better every single day and be the best team we can be and I think guys understand where that process can take them,” Meagher said. “We love the shootout. We always tell our families and our kids don't feel sorry for us because we're playing in a big tournament. Feel sorry for the teams that don't get that opportunity.”
He added it allows to learn a lot about themselves early on.
“We want to play just with unbelievable energy. We want to stay together no matter what happens, and we want to compete and grow,” Meagher said.
TMP-M and Lawrence Free State is the second game of the day on Thursday at Hays High School. They will follow the TMP girls and Washburn Rural with tipoff for the girls set for 3 p.m. and the boys at approximately 4:45 p.m.