The TMP Lady Monarchs came up short in a hard fought battle against the Phillipsburg Panthers Saturday in the 3A Norton sub-state final 68-61.
The game was tight early with the two teams trading the lead back-and-fourth to open the game.
TMP (19-4) lead briefly at 3-2 following an Emilee Lane three-point play and then down 6-3 the Monarchs score four straight to take a 7-6 lead.
That would be the final time that the Monarchs would lead in the game.
Phillipsburg scored five quick points to take an 11-7 lead and they never trailed again.
TMP was able to close within one at 11-10 on a Jaci VonLintel three-pointer but the Panthers took a 16-12 lead into the second quarter.
Early in the second quarter TMP closed within three at 21-18 before Phillipsburg answered with a 9-4 run to go up 30-22.
A Kyleigh Allen layup to beat the buzzer made it 32-29 at halftime.
In the third quarter TMP trailed by as many as nine but there were able to get it to four points twice, before trailing by six at 52-46 through three quarters.
The Monarchs get it to four at 52-48 to start the quarter only to see Phillipsburg put together a 7-0 run to lead by 11.
TMP was able to close the gap back t0 four at 63-59 on a 7-0 run of their own but Phillipsburg sealed the game at the free throw line on their way to the 68-61 win.
Emilee Lane led four in double-figures for TMP with 21 points and nine rebounds.
Senior Kyleigh Allen finished with 14 points, Jaci VonLintel and Megan Hamel both added 10 points.
Phillipsburg's Taryn Sides led all scorers with 26 points.