By RANDY GONZALES

rgonzales@dailynews.net

It was more of the same for the Thomas More Prep-Marian boys' basketball team when it goes up against a veteran opponent.

Such was the case Thursday night at Al Billinger Fieldhouse. The youthful Monarchs played Quinter, which returned a host of players from last year's state runner-up squad in Class 1A.

The result was almost predictable: Quinter forced the issue with its defense and rolled to a 62-39 non-conference victory.

"Our youth is really showing in games against veteran players," TMP-Marian coach Joe Hertel said.

Quinter, ranked No. 1 in 1A, improved to 16-0 by forcing 32 turnovers and shooting 64 percent from the floor.

"If we play good defense and the press is working for us, we don't need to run half-court sets," Quinter coach John Crist said.

Quinter started out in a smothering, full-court press that helped lead to 10 Monarch turnovers in the first quarter and 21 in the first half.

Once TMP-Marian (4-10) did make it into the frontcourt to run its plays, the Monarchs seldom got good looks at the basket.

"They play defense in your face," Hertel said. "We panicked a little bit."

Quinter, which shot 64 percent from the floor for the game, shot 78 percent in the first quarter and 67 percent in the second quarter as the press took its toll.

With 6-foot-4 senior center Zach Nemechek sidelined with an injury, the Bulldogs have increased the tempo by using full-court pressure.

"After we lost Nemechek at Christmas break I thought we had to go to a more pressing style, uptempo," Crist said. "Brady Reed and Matt Bird, those guys really like to get a lot of steals off that thing."

Bird led all scorers with 16 points, while Reed, the team's senior point guard, netted 13. Senior Scott Ochs, the team's 6-7 center and last year's leading scorer, added 12 points.

Bird, a 6-2 senior guard and the team's leading scorer this year at 18 points per game, made several baskets on drives to the hoop.

"That's what he does," Crist said. "One of those kids that's really hard to guard. He can hang in the air, get to the rim.

"I haven't seen anybody able to guard him," Crist added.

Quinter finished the first quarter with a 13-4 run. After TMP-Marian got a basket at the 7:01 mark of the second quarter, the Monarchs didn't make another for the rest of the half as Quinter went on a 14-2 run to lead 33-12 at halftime.

The Bulldogs doubled the score on the Monarchs after three quarters, 48-24,

"Quinter's got a fine ballclub, well-coached," Hertel said. "They have a class that comes along every couple decades. Very athletic, fill all the basketball positions. ... Hopefully, they get healthy and make a run at 1A."

One problem spot for Quinter on Thursday was free throws; the Bulldogs were 12-of-31 at the line.

TMP-Marian shot 32 percent from the floor for the game, and missed all five of its 3-point attempts. The Monarchs were led in scoring by junior point guard Jordan Maska with eight points, the fifth time this season the team's leading scorer was in single figures.

"It's really a similar story for us," Hertel said. "We're really struggling to score points."

TMP-Marian was held to 40 or fewer points for the eighth time this season. Part of the problem is turnovers, especially unforced errors.

"We're still making too many unforced turnovers," Hertel said. "Just another obstacle we've got to climb and get better at."

TMP-Marian has another obstacle tonight, when the Monarchs travel to Pratt to play the Greenbacks, ranked fifth in 4A, in Mid-State Activities Association action.

Pratt won in Hays 62-41 earlier this season.

"They're a ranked team in 4A, they've got it going," Hertel said. "Some good talent, some good role players."