By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post Sports
HAYS – The TMP-Marian Monarchs used a 15-3 second-half drive and held off the Plainville Cardinals 52-48 Wednesday to advance to the sub-state championship game Saturday in Smith Center.
The Monarchs got out to a slow start, falling behind 17-8 at the end of the first quarter.
Plainville connected on three three-pointers in the first quarter, while the Monarchs managed to shoot two-for-nine from three in the first quarter.
The Monarchs began chipping away at the nine-point deficit in the second quarter, putting together a 14-4 run sparked by a Caden Dinkel three-pointer, putting TMP up 22-21.
Dinkle, William Eck and Jacob Seib all connected on a second-quarter three-pointer, and Ty Schmeidler also added five second-quarter points as the Monarchs and Cardinals went into the halftime break tied at 25 points each.
Out of the halftime break, the Monarchs put together a 15-3 run, going up 40-28.
Seib got the scoring started with a driving layup, giving TMP a 27-25 lead.
Schmeidler scored five straight, and Grant Nehls followed with a two-handed dunk, putting TMP up 34-25.
The Monarchs closed out the runout with back-to-back three-pointers from Ian Nehls and Carson Liles for a 40-28 lead.
The Monarchs built a 43-34 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
In the final quarter, Plainville outscored the Monarchs 14-9, but TMP held on for the 52-48 victory.
Ty Schmeidler scored a team-high 16 for the Monarchs. Ian Nehls added nine points on three three-pointers, and Jacob Seib also chipped in nine points.
TMP will take on Stanton County in Saturday’s 5 p.m. sub-state championship game.