PHILLIPSBURG – The TMP basketball teams split a Mid-Continent League doubleheader on the road Friday night in Phillipsburg. The TMP boys rushed out to an early lead but had to rally late and the TMP girls couldn’t overcome a strong first half for Phillipsburg.
GIRLS: Phillipsburg 60, TMP 47
The TMP girls opened the game with a 4-2 lead after back-to-back
field goals from Hannah Garcia and Gracyn Schippers but Phillipsburg answered
with a 16-4 run building a 10-point lead at 18-8. The Panthers led 21-12 at
halftime.
Phillipsburg (17-0, 9-0 MCL), who made six-of-eight three-point field goals in the first half closed the second quarter on a 14-4 run for a 22-point halftime lead, 43-21.
Out of the halftime break TMP (11-7, 6-3 MCL) was able to trim the Phillipsburg lead inside 20, thanks to a 10-4 run. The Monarchs outscored the Panthers 14-8 in the third quarter and trailed 51-35 through three quarters.
Phillipsburg built a 22-point fourth quarter lead before the Monarchs closed the game on a 12-3 run for a 60-47 Phillipsburg victory.
The Panthers average margin of victory this season is 33 points and the 13-point victory is the closest game the Panthers have played all season long.
TMP had three players scored in double-figures led by the 14 of Gracyn Schippers. Jaci VonLintel added 13 points and Brooke Koenigsman finished with 12 points.
BOYS: TMP 55, Phillipsburg 46
The TMP-Marian boys ran their win streak to 14 straight
games Friday night but it wasn’t easy as they needed to rally in the second
half for a 55-46 victory.
While both teams struggled early from the floor the Monarchs found the touch first and opened the game an a 13-2 run capped off by an Evan Balthazor offensive rebound and putback putting TMP up 13-2.
TMP led 15-7 after the first quarter.
In the second quarter Phillipsburg was able to slowly chip away at the TMP lead and came all the way back to tie the game at 28 at halftime thanks to a 14-6 run.
Phillipsburg led by as many as three in the third quarter and led 41-40 through three quarters.
In the fourth quarter, after the two teams traded the lead back and forth, TMP’s Joey Mindrup hit a three-pointer to put the Monarchs up for good at 48-46.
That three-pointer sparked a 10-0 run to end the game as the Monarchs secured a 55-46 victory.
Dylan Werth led three Monarchs in double-figures with 15 points and nine rebounds. Kade Harris added 13 points and six rebounds and Luke Rome finished with 12 points.
TMP steps out of league play one final time Tuesday at Great Bend.