HAYS – The TMP-Marian Monarchs girls and boys basketball teams opened the 2026 calendar year with a pair of wins over the Sylvan-Lucas Mustangs on Tuesday at Al Billinger Fieldhouse.
GIRLS: TMP 44, Sylvan-Lucas 38
The Lady Monarchs (4-2, 1-0 MCL) held their second straight opponent
and their third in four games below 40 points, and they held the Mustangs to
just three points in the second quarter as they picked up their fourth straight
victory 44-38.
The two teams exchanged the lead early in the first quarter before the Mustangs finished the first quarter on a 7-0 run, taking a 12-9 lead into the second quarter.
In the second period, the Monarchs scored seven straight points, five by Piper Simpson, to open the quarter as part of a 13-3 run, giving TMP a 22-15 lead at halftime.
In the second half, the Monarchs built a 13-point lead, 32-19, in the third quarter.
In the fourth, the Mustangs closed the gap to six, but TMP was able to make enough free throws to secure the 44-38 victory.
Claire Schippers connected on three three-pointers and finished with a team-high 11 points.
BOYS: TMP 69, Sylvan-Lucas 38
The TMP-Marian boys outscored Sylvan-Lucas 31-15 in the
third quarter on their way to a 69-38 victory.
Caden Dinkel connected on a pair of first-quarter three-pointers, finishing with three three-pointers for a second straight game, helping the Monarchs build a 13-10 first-quarter lead, and TMP (3-3, 1-0 MCL) never trailed en route to a big win.
Midway through the second frame, TMP had a two-point lead, at 18-16, but a quick move inside by Grant Nehls sparked an 11-3 run to end the first half with TMP leading 29-19.
The Monarchs carried the momentum from the first half out of the halftime break, outscoring the Mustangs 31-15 in the third quarter.
Ty Schmeidler scored 15 of his game-high 22 points in the third quarter, and Ian Nehls added eight of his career-high 21 in the frame as TMP built a 60-34 lead on their way to the 69-38 victory.
Grant Nehls also scored in double figures with 13 points for TMP.
The Monarchs will host Sacred Heart on Friday.