MANHATTAN – The TMP-Marian Lady Monarchs' magical postseason run ended Thursday with a 62-50 loss to the No. 1 seed Moundridge in the quarterfinals of the 2A state tournament in Manhattan.
After a pair of early ties, the last at 6-6, the Wildcats scored four straight first-quarter points and led 10-6 with two minutes left in the first half. But TMP came back to take the lead with five straight of their own. A Hannah Rose field goal and a Teagan Gottschalk three-pointer with less than a minute remaining in the first half put TMP up 11-10.
But their lead was short-lived, with Moundridge taking a 14-11 lead into the second quarter.
Moundridge outscored TMP 11-6 to start the second quarter and led by eight twice at 25-17 and 29-21.
TMP trailed 29-23 at halftime.
Moundridge extended their lead to eight to open the second half and then led by 12 with just over five and a half minutes left in the third quarter.
TMP closed the game to 39-34 with under three minutes to play in the third quarter on Koenigsman’s second three-pointer. But was a close of TMP would get the rest of the way.
Moundridge led by eight, at 44-36, at the end of the third quarter, and slowly pulled away for a 62-50 win over TMP, ending the Monarchs' season.
Brooke Koenigsman led TMP with 23 points.
The Monarchs finish the year 15-10 as state tournament qualifiers for the first time since 2018.
TMP will graduate five seniors.
Moundridge will take on fellow Heart of American opponent Inman in the semifinals after the Teutons eliminated Phillipsburg in the second game 54-35.