By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
HAYS – The TMP-Marian Monarchs basketball teams were back at home for the first time in approximately three weeks on Friday night as they swept the Smith Center basketball teams at Al Billinger Fieldhouse.
GIRLS: TMP 45, Smith Center 29
The TMP-Marian Lady Monarchs finished the game on a 21-3 run, holding Smith Center to a single point in the fourth quarter on their way to a 45-29 victory.
John Linn
The opening quarter and a half finished with six lead changes and three ties before the Monarchs (10-6 & 5-1 MCL) built a two-point halftime lead.
Smith Center (8-8 & 5-3 MCL) held a one-point lead, 12-11, after the first quarter.
In the second frame, the Monarchs outscored the Lady Red by three for a 19-17 halftime lead.
The Monarchs led by as many as five to open the second half at 24-19 before Smith Center answered with a 7-0 run to lead 26-24 with just over three and a half minutes to play.
But on the next possession, Hannah Rose knocked down a transition three-pointer, putting TMP up 27-26. She added a jumper on the following possession as well, sparking a 21-3 run as the Monarchs went on to the 45-29 victory.
The Monarchs held Smith Center scoreless for just less than nine minutes in the second half.
TMP’s Hannah Rose and Claire Schippers each finished with 12 points.
BOYS: TMP 51, Smith Center 34
The TMP boys held Smith Center to one fourth-quarter field goal and closed the game on a 19-2 run, holding off Smith Center 51-34 Friday.
Bil Meagher
The first two quarters saw eight lead changes and two ties before TMP closed the first half with five straight by Will Eck, pulling TMP within one, and then Ty Schmeidler’s three-pointer late in the second quarter put TMP up 24-22.
The two teams traded the lead again midway through the third quarter before Schmeidler put the Monarchs on top, 32-30, with a three-pointer with just over three minutes left in the quarter.
The three-pointer jump started a 19-2 run to close out the game and TMP’s 51-34 victory.
Smith Center scored just two points over the final 10 minutes and 50 seconds of the game.
Ty Schmeidler led the Monarchs with 16 points. Will Eck finished with 12 points, and Ian and Grant Nehls each collected 10 rebounds.
The Monarchs will host Colby on Monday.