HAYS – The TMP-Marian Monarchs dropped a pair of semifinal games on day number two of the Hays City Shootout.
In TMP's first game of the day, Lawrence Free State downed the TMP boys and Olathe West advanced to the championship game with a win over the TMP girls.
Boys: Free State 75, TMP 23
For the second time in as many games the Monarchs squared off with a top-ranked team at the Hays City Shootout. This time it was the top-ranked team in 6A, the Lawrence Free State Firebirds.
After a three-point field goal for the Firebirds opened the game TMP’s Jace Wentling answered with a field goal and a free throw to tie the game at three.
But the Firebirds answered with a 16-2 run to end the quarter to take a 19-5 lead into the second quarter.
Gavin Unrein opened the second quarter with field goal to cut the Free State lead to 19-7 but the Firebirds answered with a 10-0 run and outscored TMP 23-4 to finish out the quarter and led 42-11 at the break.
Free State outscored TMP 22-7 in the third quarter and went on to the 75-23 win.
Luke Rome’s six points off the bench paced the Monarchs who dropped to 0-2 to start the season. The Monarchs will take on Great Bend in the 4th place game Saturday.
The Panthers lost to Hugoton, 62-57, in Friday’s consolation semifinal matchup.
Girls: Olathe West 54, TMP 28
The TMP Lady Monarchs could not overcome a slow start and dropped their semifinal matchup with Olathe West 54-28.
The Owls took advantage of a rough start offensively for the Monarchs and raced out to a 15-3 lead and they were able to keep the Monarchs at bay the entire contest.
Olathe West led by 12 at 20-8 at the end of the first quarter. Sophia Balthazor hit her first of two three’s in the first quarter.
She hit her second three in the second quarter but the Monarchs still found themselves down by double-digits through two quarters at 30-15.
Down 33-15 to open the second half TMP’s Hannah Garcia knocked down a three-pointer making it 33-18 Olathe West.
The Owls led by 23 at the end of three quarters at 45-22 and they never looked back on their way to the 54-28 win.
Emilee Lane finished with a team-high seven points and six rebounds for TMP.
The Monarchs drop to 1-1 and will take on Hugoton who beat Great Bend Friday 58-39.