ABILENE – The TMP-Marian Monarchs split a non-league road doubleheader Friday night in Abilene with the TMP girls getting the win and the boys suffering the loss.
GIRLS: TMP 35, Abilene 21
The TMP Lady Monarchs shook off a slow start offensively and then turned up the defense pressure, holding Abilene to just four points in the second half in a 35-21 TMP win.
Neither team was able to find a rhythm offensively early in the game. TMP’s Gracyn Schipper’s scored the games first point, a free throw, at the five-minute mark in the first quarter putting TMP up 1-0.
Abilene (0-11) then answered with five straight and led 5-3 after the first quarter.
The Monarchs (6-9) started the game just 1-of-21 shooting. Their first field goal came at the 5:32 mark in the second quarter when Schippers was fouled on a three-point play.
Abilene’s largest lead of the game came with just under three minutes to left in the first half at 14-8.
TMP’s Brooke Koenigsman scored seven straight points to end the half pulling TMP within four a 17-13 at halftime.
In the second half TMP held the Cowgirls to just four points while outscoring Abilene 23-4.
The Monarchs held Abilene scoreless in the final period on their way to the 35-21 win.
Brooke Koenigsman finished with a game-high 17 points and 10 rebounds.
BOYS: Abilene 72, TMP 21
The state-ranked Abilene Cowboys (9-2) got out to a quick start and their full court press bothered the TMP boys Friday night in a 72-21 victory.
Abilene opened the game on a 14-0 run before TMP’s Griffin Schumacher scored on a three-point play pulling the Monarchs (5-10) within 11 at 14-3 with six and a half minutes to play in the first half.
Abilene extended their lead thanks to a 22-6 run to end the first half.
Schumacher scored all of his team-high eight points in the first half as Abilene built a 36-9 lead at halftime.
Abilene outscored the Monarchs 27-8 in the third quarter and with the running clock in the fourth the Cowboys closed out a 72-21 victory.
The Monarchs return to MCL play on Tuesday when they travel to WaKeeney to take on Trego.