Hot shooting propels TMP-Marian past Scott City
Goodland, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–Two longtime foes met up on Thursday night inside Goodland’s Max Jones Fieldhouse, as the TMP-Marian Monarchs and Scott City Beavers played for the right to advance to Saturday’s sub-state championship game. The Beavers would score the opening points of the game, and go on a scoring drought of over six and a half minutes, as the Monarchs would build a lead early and never look back, en route to a 65-43 win to fill the last spot in Saturday’s sub-state championship game.
It was a game where Thomas More Prep-Marian couldn’t hardly miss from the floor, as they ran up eight straight, and closed the final seven minutes of the first quarter on a 10-3 run to lead 10-6, eight minutes into the game. Following a pair of Scott City free throws, the Monarchs used a 14-4 run to lead 24-12 with 2:46 left before halftime. Both teams would score five straight, before a Beaver free throw with under a minute before the break made the score 29-18 in favor of TMP at the half.
Scott City scored the first four points to pull to within 29-22 early in the third quarter, and that would be the closest they would get the rest of the way. TMP-Marian would outscore the Beavers in the third frame 17-11 and take a 46-31 lead into the fourth quarter. A 41-31 lead by the Monarchs late in the third quarter would turn into a 17-3 run over a six-minute stretch as they led 59-35 with 4:26 remaining. TMP led by as many as 65-41 late, before a pair of Scott City free throws made the final 65-43.
Dylan Werth led the Monarchs with 23 points, and Jace Wentling added 12. Scott City got 14 from Gus Hawkins and 11 from Lawson Bailey.
It was the 10th time that Scott City and TMP-Marian met in sub-state play since 1971, when the Monarchs were the St. Joseph Cadets. TMP’s win snapped a two-game win streak by the Beavers in sub-state play. Their last sub-state matchup came in the Class 4A Sub-State Championship game in 2006, when Scott City won 74-38, en route to the state championship. They also won in 1997 over the Monarchs in the first round of the Goodland sub-state. TMP-Marian last won against the Beavers in sub-state play in 1992. Ironically, it was in the sub-state semi-finals in Goodland, nearly to the date 30 years ago. Since 1981, TMP leads the series 25-23, and have now won two straight.
Scott City was without senior Austin Thon on Thursday night, after suffering an injury in the fourth quarter against Russell on Monday night. Suiting up for their final game were Alex Rodriguez, Ronnie Weathers, Efren Tarango and Carter Gooden.
Scott City (11-11): Duff 0 0-0 0; Metzger 1 2-2 5; Thomas 0 0-0 0; Noll 0 0-0 0; Rodriguez 1 0-0 3; Rumford 0 2-2 2; Hawkins 4 5-6 14; Bailey 4 0-0 11; A. Tarango 0 0-0 0; Weathers 3 2-4 8; E. Tarango 0 0-0 0; Gooden 0 0-0 0; Team: 13 11-14 43
TMP-Marian (18-4): Harris 2 0-0 4; Mindrup 0 0-0 0; Schumacher 0 0-0 0; Schwartz 1 1-2 4; Wentling 5 2-3 12; Unrein 2 4-4 9; Ginter 3 0-0 8; Seib 1 2-2 4; Lowe 0 0-0 0; Rome 0 1-2 1; Werth 11 1-2 23; Team: 25 11-15 65
Three-Pointers: Scott City 6 (Bailey 3, Metzger 1, Rodriguez 1, Hawkins 1); TMP-Marian 4 (Ginther 2, Schwartz 1, Unrein 1); Rebounds: Scott City 18; TMP-Marian 22; Turnovers: Scott City 15, TMP-Marian 14; Fouls: Scott City 17, TMP-Marian 15; Fouled Out: None.
Coach Brian Gentry Postgame
TMP-Marian will face Mid Continent League foe Norton at 5:30 pm CT Saturday in Goodland. The Bluejays built a big second half lead, and held on for a 46-37 victory over Phillipsburg. Both of those teams had split earlier, with overtime outcomes. The Monarchs defeated Norton two times already this year, with the latest being a 46-44 overtime win on February 17.
