PLAINVILLE — The Thomas More Prep-Marian girls’ and boys’ basketball teams will play for the Mid-Continent League Tournament championship Saturday night.
The Monarch girls, ranked No. 5 in Class 3A in the most recent KBCA poll, took out Hill City (No. 9) in 2A) 39-27 on Friday night.
The Monarchs led 7-0 early before Hill City fired back, but an eventual 5-0 run helped TMP take a 19-15 halftime lead in the low-scoring affair.
Hill City suffered just its second loss — both to TMP — and will play Stockton for third place on Saturday. TMP (11-1) advances to face Smith Center in Saturday’s 6 p.m. title game in Plainville. The Lady Red defeated Stockton 44-42, and are ranked No. 6 in 2A.
Kayla Vitztum had 20 points to lead the way for the Monarch girls. Carrie Kennedy scored 11 to lead the Ringnecks.
The TMP boys took out host Plainvile 65-49 behind a balanced effort where David McFarland, Trenton Mayo and Michael Lager all scored 13 points. Creighton Renz added 12 as the Monarchs moved to 10-2 ahead of Saturday night’s championship game against Phillipsburg in a 3A clash.
Plainville on Friday started the game outscoring TMP 11-3, but the Monarchs quickly responded with a 15-0 run that carried into the second quarter. By halftime, TMP led by double digits.
Jared Casey led Plainville with 17 points as the Cardinals fell to 6-4. Three losses have come at the hands of TMP or Phillipsburg.
Phillipsburg is ranked No. 5 in 3A, while TMP carries the 10th spot heading into the Saturday title game in Plainville.