HAYS – The TMP-Marian Monarchs closed the regular season with a
doubleheader sweep of the Norton Bluejays on senior night at Al Billinger
Fieldhouse.
GIRLS: TMP 49, Norton 33
On a night when the TMP-Marian Monarchs girls basketball
honored six team members, they used a 14-3 run to close out the first half and
open the second half on their way to a 48-33 win over the Norton Bluejays on
senior night. The win also clinches a first-round home game for the Monarchs
(12-9, 6-4 MCL) in next week’s 2A Sublette sub-state.
The two teams were evenly matched in the game's first minutes, with three ties and six lead changes.
TMP’s Brooke Koenigsman scored the final first quarter, making it 13-12 TMP.
Koenigsman and Claire Schippers hit back-to-back three-pointers to open the second quarter, and the Monarchs built a 19-13 lead. But Norton eventually erased the deficit and tied the game at 19 with less than two minutes and thirty seconds left in the first half.
After the 19-19 tie, the Monarchs put together the 14-3 run over nearly six and a half minutes that closed out the first half and opened the third quarter, making it 33-22 with four minutes left in the third quarter.
Norton (9-12 & 6-4 MCL) closed the game within nine at the end of the third quarter, at 36-27, but TMP outscored the Lady Jays 12-6 in the final quarter to win 49-33.
Brooke Koenigsman scored a game-high for the Monarchs, and Claire Schippers added 13 points, matching her season-high.
BOYS: TMP 56, Norton 46
The TMP-Marian Monarchs (12-9 & 7-3) outscored Norton
25-10 to close out the first half and opened the second half as they handed the
Bluejays their only loss of the MCL regular season Friday 56-46.
TMP built an early lead thanks to the three-point shot. Ty Schmeidler connected on two of his game-high six, and Caden Dinkel added his first of three in the first quarter as the Monarchs built a 15-13 first-quarter lead.
Norton (15-5 & 9-1 MCL) outscored TMP by five to open the second quarter and led 22-19 before the Monarchs answered with a 25-10 run to lead by 12 at 44-32.
Schmeidler connected on three more three-pointers during the run and then added a fifth for the game, putting TMP up 46-36 heading into the final quarter.
In the final frame, Norton closed within six before Will Eck knocked down the 10th three-pointer of the night for TMP, and Schmeidler converted on four of four free throws, securing the 56-46 TMP victory.
Schmeidler led all scorers with 26 points.
TMP will begin play in the 2A Sublette regional next week. Brackets will be released on Saturday.