Hays Post
HILL CITY - It was 24 hours delayed but TMP played their MCL quarterfinal game with the top seeded Hoxie Indians on Tuesday. The game was moved from Hoxie to a neutral court setting in Hill City.
Big runs in the first and third quarters boosted Hoxie to a 64-47 victory as the Indians remain undefeated on the season.
Hoxie used a 16-3 first quarter run to open a double digit lead with just over a minute left in the first quarter at 23-7. The Monarchs scored the final five points of the quarter and launched into a run that lasted through most of the second quarter.
TMP's run at the end of the first and beginning of the second quarter was 16-4 and closed the deficit down to 27-23 with 3:48 left in the first half.. TMP did have the ball down by four points but couldn't score to make it a one possession game.
Hoxie entered the locker room at halftime leading 35-28 following a jumper as time expired.
TMP trailed by ten early in the third quarter when Brooke Koenigsman and Claire Schippers each hit a three pointer to pull with in four again at 38-34 with 4:30 showing on the clock.
The Monarchs though didn't score again in the quarter and Hoxie went on a 13-0 run to lead 51-34 entering the fourth.
TMP was never able to close the deficit down below 13 in the fourth quarter, losing to fourth ranked Hoxie 64-47.
Hoxie's Josey Kennedy led all scoring with 29. Koenigsman led TMP with 18 points. Claire Schippers had her first double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
TMP falls to 4-7 on the year and will play in the consolation semifinals on Thursday versus Trego.
MCL Quarterfinal Girls Results
(8) TMP 47
(1) Hoxie 64
(5) Phillipsburg 35
(4) Trego 28
(7) Oakley 24
(2) Smith Center 52
(6) Ellis 37
(3) Norton 43