GOODLAND – The Phillipsburg Panthers used a big first-half run and the TMP Lady Monarchs could not overcome a rough shooting night as they see their season come to an end with a 56-46 loss to Phillipsburg in the 3A Goodland sub-state semifinals.
Emilee Lane gave TMP an early 2-0 lead only to see Phillipsburg answer with an 8-0 to take a 12-4 lead.
The Panthers led 14-8 in the closing minutes of the first quarter but TMP’s Megan Hamel converted on a layup. Lane scored on a driving layup and then Hannah Garcia stole the inbound pass and passed off to Jaci VonLintel who scored as time expired tying the game at 14 through the first quarter.
Hamel knocked in the only 3-pointer of the first half for TMP that sparked a 7-2 run to open the second quarter and put TMP up 21-16.
Then with 4:30 left in the first-half Lane picked up her second foul and went to the bench. Over the final four and a half minutes, with Lane on the bench, Phillipsburg outscored TMP 10-1 and took a 26-22 lead into the halftime break.
The Panthers scored the first seven points of the second-half to extend the run to 17-1 and take a 33-17 lead.
The Monarchs closed within two, at 33-31 thanks to a 9-0 run but trailed 41-38 at the end of the third quarter.
TMP briefly got within three in the fourth quarter but Phillipsburg outscored TMP 15-8 to close out the fourth quarter and secure the 56-46 win.
Jaci VonLintel led TMP with 16 points. Emilee Lane finished with 15 points and six rebounds.
Lane finished her career with 992 total points and more than 720 career rebounds.