MANHATTAN – The TMP-Marian Monarchs boys basketball team is headed back to the state semifinals for a third straight season after they defeated Horton in the opening round of the 2A state tournament Wednesday 52-27.
The Monarchs (22-2) and Chargers (15-9) traded a pair of 5-0 runs to open the game for the first of two ties in the first quarter at 5-5. The second time the two teams were tied was at 10-10 with one minute left in the first quarter.
But on the next TMP possession Joey Mindrup connected on his second three of the first quarter putting TMP up 13-10 and sparking a 21-3 run that covered the end of the first quarter, the entire second quarter and the first four minutes of the third quarter. A total of 12 minutes and 50 second of game time.
The Monarchs led 31-13 with four minutes left in the third quarter as a result of the run and the Chargers offensive struggles.
TMP led 35-17 through three quarters.
Dylan Werth, who played just two minutes in the first quarter because of foul trouble, scored all of his game-high 14 points in the second half as the Monarchs closed out the 52-27 victory, their 21st consecutive.
Kade Harris added 10 points for the Monarchs.
TMP will take on Moundridge in the 6 p.m. semifinal game Friday in Manhattan. They defeated St. Marys 63-31.
The other semifinal game will feature the top-seed Wichita Independent and the No. 5 seed Medicine Lodge.
Independent beat St. Marys Colgan 55-46 and Medicine Lodge knocked off the four-seed Bennington 56-45.