HAYS – The TMP boys used a 9-0 run to erase a fourth quarter deficit on their way to a 60-53 win over the Hoxie Indians Tuesday night at Al Billinger Fieldhouse to advance to the sub-state semifinals of the 2A Oakley sub-state.
The matchup was a game of runs that saw the momentum swing back and forth until TMP took control in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.
The Monarchs (10-12, 7-3 MCL) opened the game on a 7-3 run, but Hoxie outscored TMP 9-2 over the final two minutes and 45 seconds of the first quarter taking a 12-9 lead into the second period.
Hoxie (8-12, 5-5 MCL) scored four straight points to open the second quarter and built their largest lead of the first-half at 16-9 with just over six minutes to play in the second quarter.
TMP answered with a 10-3 run that included a pair of Carson Liles three-pointers, tying the game at 19.
Then down 21-19 Caden Dinkel collected an offensive rebound and scored on the putback as time expired tying the game at 21 at halftime.
TMP opened the second half leading by five at 26-21 but Hoxie was able to outscore the Monarchs 15-8 over a more than four-minute stretch in the third quarter taking a 36-34 lead with two and a half minutes left in the third.
The Monarchs regained the lead at 40-36 at the end of the third quarter when Ty Schmeidler capped off a 6-0 run with a steal and layup for a three-point play.
In the fourth quarter a Kane Epp layup with 5:30 left in the game put Hoxie on top 44-43 but it was a short-lived lead and the Indians final lead of the night.
TMP’s Ian Nehls answered on the next possession with the first of his back-to-back field goals and then connected on a three pointer as the sophomore scored seven straight and Ari Patel capped off the 9-0 with a bucket in the paint putting TMP up 52-44.
Patel scored five of his eight points in the fourth quarter.
The Monarchs never trailed the rest of the way as their pick up the 60-53 victory.
Ty Schmeidler led TMP with 13 points. Carson Liles matched his career-high of 10 points for a second straight game and Jacob Seib scored a career-high eight points.
Hoxie was led by the 18 points of Kane Epp.
TMP will take on the top-seed Hill City Friday in the sub-state semifinals after the Ringnecks got past Trego 70-62.
The other side of the bracket saw No. 3 seed Smith Center defeat Oakley 62-41 and the second-seed Plainville beat Ellis 60-46.