By GARRETT WELLBROCK
Hays Post Sports
OAKLEY — There were no lead changes in either game Thursday night as the Oakley Plainsmen and TMP-Marian Monarchs split an MCL doubleheader.
Girls: Oakley 45, TMP-Marian 36
TMP fell behind early and never recovered, as its five-game winning streak came to an end. Oakley raced out to a 10-2 lead in the opening minutes and later used a 7-0 run to build a 17-5 advantage — its largest of the night.
The Lady Monarchs answered with an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to four. Trailing 21-15 late in the second quarter, Brynn Rebel — who led TMP with 15 points — knocked down a corner three while drawing a foul and completed the four-point play to pull TMP within two at halftime.
The third quarter was a defensive grind, with just 11 total points scored. TMP twice trimmed the deficit to two but could not find the tying basket. Oakley opened the fourth on a 6-0 run to push the lead to nine, and TMP managed just 13 second-half points in the 45-36 loss.
Boys: #8 TMP-Marian 67, Oakley 54
The eighth-ranked Monarchs controlled the night from the outset. After a 2-2 tie, TMP buried three straight three-pointers to jump ahead 11-2. Ty Schmeidler, who led all scorers with 17 points, hit three triples in the opening quarter, and Carson Liles added another late three to give TMP a 25-11 lead after one.
The Monarchs closed the first quarter and opened the second on a 9-0 run to stretch the margin to 20. TMP outscored Oakley 16-8 in the second and led comfortably at the break.
Midway through the third, the Monarchs pushed their lead to 27 and capped the quarter with a two-handed dunk from Grant Nehls to take a 56-33 advantage into the fourth.
Oakley showed fight in the final period, outscoring TMP 21-11 behind Manuel Mancia’s 12 fourth-quarter points (26 total), but the Monarchs secured the 67-54 win despite being outscored 35-26 in the second half.
Nehls finished with 15 points and eight rebounds.
TMP is back in action Friday at Norton. The girls look to bounce back, while the boys aim to clinch the MCL regular season title.