Monarchs return home for MSAA action against Larned
Published on -2/8/2010, 1:50 PM
Printer-friendly version
E-Mail This Story
By RANDY GONZALES
The Monarch boys' basketball team is 0-4 in Al Billinger Fieldhouse this season.
But Thomas More Prep-Marian is coming off a good effort in a loss against state-ranked Pratt on Friday. Coach Joe Hertel hopes that bodes well for Tuesday's home Mid-State Activities Association matchup against Larned. The girls' game starts at 6:15 p.m., followed by the boys' game.
"I certainly hope it does" help Tuesday, Hertel said of his team's play in Friday's 59-46 loss at Pratt, ranked fifth in Class 4A.
"Can't help but think they play like this, ought to be able to get a win at home," Hertel said.
Larned (5-11 overall, 1-3 MSAA) escaped with a 47-39 home win against TMP-Marian in the first game back from Christmas break. The Indians made a desperation trey at the third-quarter buzzer to break a tie, then took advantage of the Monarchs' scoring woes in the fourth quarter (one basket in the final eight minutes) to claim their lone league win.
"I don't think this game will be a strategy game," Hertel said. "Just comes down to how sharp the kids are, how much they want a victory at home. We haven't even played well at home."
TMP girls on a roll
The TMP-Marian girls, ranked fifth in Class 3A, claimed their 13th straight win at Pratt on Friday. The Monarchs (14-1, 5-0) used a full-court press to blow the game open for a 68-34 win after Pratt tried to control the tempo.
Forcing the tempo shouldn't be a problem on Tuesday against Larned (8-8, 1-4).
"They like to play the run game," Monarch coach Alan Billinger said of Larned. "We hope they do run -- want to, anyway."
In the teams' first meeting, TMP-Marian jumped out to a 12-point lead after the first quarter, but Larned got as close as six points in the third and eight points in the fourth before the Monarchs pulled away.
