By The Hays Daily News

HILLSBORO -- The Thomas More Prep-Marian basketball teams finished sixth and seventh Saturday at the Trojan Classic.

The Monarch boys surrendered a lead late to lose 58-49 to Hillsboro in the fifth-place game, while the girls dodged some bullets late to secure a 46-45 win against Goodland.

The TMP boys dropped to 4-8, while Hillsboro improved to 8-5.

It was a frustrating loss, considering TMP led by double figures and 27-19 at halftime.

"It was frustrating," said TMP head coach Joe Hertel. "it was a ball game that we definitely should have won, and we let it slip away."

TMP junior forward Jordan Gottschalk led the Monarchs with 13 points.

The Monarchs struggled in the second half with turnovers after senior point guard Shane Zimmerman got into foul trouble. He eventually fouled out, and TMP couldn't find an answer for Hillsboro's pressure.

"It just fell apart at the end," Hertel said. "The biggest part of it was Shane Zimmerman fouled out, and our next ball handlers were suspect and caused us to make a lot of turnovers."

The TMP girls (2-10) nearly surrendered their lead late.

TMP freshman Melissa Pfeifer put her squad up 46-44 with 33 seconds remaining.

"Those were big free throws," said TMP head coach Rose McFarland.

Goodland had an opportunity after that at the foul line to tie it, but the Cowgirls made just 1 of 2 to close the gap to 46-45.

Goodland sent TMP senior point guard Heather Ruder to the line on the next possession, and she missed both of her shots.

Then Goodland had a chance near the basket in the final seconds, but Taylor King missed the shot.

"We got a break today," said TMP head coach Rose McFarland.

Despite missing the two late free throws, Ruder still led the squad with 23 points. She also had eight steals.

Junior forward Samantha Younie was TMP's second highest scorer with six points.

After dropping their first two games 65-25 and 57-9 against ranked opponents, McFarland said Saturday's win was a welcome one.

"We ended on a positive note," McFarland said. "It was tough week with traveling and staying late that first night. The girls really responded. We stayed positive after that last loss and it paid off. Sometimes that adversity, you survive it and get stronger because of it. I think that's what we did."