HAYS - The TMP-Marian girls and boys basketball teams remained unbeaten in the Mid-Continent League Friday with a doubleheader sweep of Smith Center.
Girls: TMP 57, Smith Center 50
After leading the entire way the TMP Lady Monarchs scored the final eight points of the game Friday night and rallied for a 57-50 victory.
The Monarchs (13-2, 7-0 MCL) were able to build a four-point lead to open the game and held that lead most of the way through the opening period. They led by as many as six at 15-9 thanks to a Sophia Balthazor three-pointer and a pair of Megan Hamel free throws. TMP led 15-11 through one quarter of action.
TMP used a 10-4 run to open the second quarter and had their largest lead of the game at 10 at 25-15.
Smith Center answered right back though with a 10-0 run of the own to tie the game at 25 before Jaci VonLintel鈥檚 layup at the end of the first half put TMP up 27-25 at the break.
In the third quarter TMP again built a comfortable lead, this time at nine at 39-30. But every time built a lead the Lady Red answered back.
Down eight at 44-36 late in the third Smith Center (12-3, 8-1) put together a 14-5 run to take the lead at 50-49 on a Tallon Rentschler three pointer with 4:45 left.
Down one the Monarchs turned to senior Emilee Lane who scored back-to-back field goals to give TMP the lead back at 53-50 with 4:40 left in the game.
On a missed free throw Smith Center saved the rebound to VonLintel who scored for TMP to put them up 55-50. A pair of Hamel free throws secured the 57-50 win for TMP.
Emilee Lane TMP with 19 points and Jaci VonLintel added 15 points.
Smith Center鈥檚 Rentschler led all scorers with 21 points.
The Monarchs are the lone unbeaten team in the MCL.
Boys: TMP 69, Smith Center 25
The TMP boys used a 40-9 first half run to build a double-digit lead and cruised to a 69-25 win over Smith Center Friday in Hays.
Smith Center鈥檚 Nolan Lehman scored the game鈥檚 first field goal but the Monarchs (11-3, 6-0 MCL) Gavin Unrein scored five straight to put TMP on top and they were never trail again.
Unrein scored 12 of his team-high 17 points in the first quarter for TMP as they built a 22-9 lead.
Kenton Ginther and Jace Wentling combined to scored 17 second quarter points as the Monarchs opened the quarter on a 26-5 run and took a 48-17 lead into the halftime break.
TMP outscored Smith Center 21-8 in the second-half, with a running clock in the fourth quarter on their way to the 69-25 win.
Gavin Unrein led all scorers with 17 points and Kenton Ginther added 12 points and four three-pointers.
TMP hosts Russell on Tuesday.