By CONOR NICHOLL
cnicholl@dailynews.net
Thomas More Prep-Marian senior guard Kaylee Hoffman has continually impressed fans, media and college coaches with her all-around talent and inspired play during summer camps and the high school basketball season. Her efforts caught the eye of Hovpen.com, a subsidiary of Rivals.com, which nominated Hoffman for the McDonald's All-American team. Hoffman was one of 22 Kansas players nominated and among the country's 880 selections.
On Tuesday, Hoffman was honored by McDonald's with her parents, Tom and Deb, during halftime of the Monarchs' contest against Russell at Al Billinger Fieldhouse. Hoffman listed the McDonald's honor and her all-state nominations (one in basketball, three in softball) as the most impressive individual awards of her high school career.
"I think this is a very big nomination and recognition," she said. "It's nice to know that I am with all of those girls in the nation that are also on it. It's really cool."
The ceremony was sandwiched between a subpar first half and an improved second half for TMP-Marian that yielded a 73-20 Monarch victory over Russell. TMP-Marian, ranked No. 5 in Class 3A, improved to 17-1 overall with its 16th straight win and 20th straight at home. In the first two quarters, though, the Monarchs shot 35 percent and led 29-15 over Russell (7-11).
"We were on our toes," Hoffman said. "Our shots weren't falling no matter where we were shooting them from. We had good looks, we just couldn't get them to fall."
After intermission, TMP-Marian tallied 26 third-quarter points, called the season's most productive quarter by Monarch coach Alan Billinger.
"We just did not play good the first half, but, boy, the second half, we came out in that third quarter and really made a statement," Billinger said. "I think we really came out after the halftime knowing what we had to do."
For one of the few times all season, the Monarchs didn't have consistent production from the big three of Hoffman, senior Jessa Stramel and sophomore Rachel Jacobs. They all average at least 12 points a contest, but scored below their season average, the second time all year. Hoffman tallied 13 points on 5-of-17 shooting, her second-worst shooting performance of the year. Stramel collected eight points, while Jacobs tallied nine, all in the second half. However, the Monarchs received nine points from freshman Heather Ruder (on 4-of-6 shooting), nine by senior Sophia Schippers, and 10 from sophomore Jenna Lang (her fourth double-figure performance of the year). Freshman Katelyn Schumacher tallied six, helping the Monarchs finish one point off their season-high in points.
"It's really nice to have everyone stepping up on all cylinders knowing that everyone can hit from all positions, it's nice so that a team can't just focus on Rachel, myself or Jessa," Hoffman said. "They have to focus on all five of us to be able to defend us well."
The Monarchs, who never trailed, struggled early versus an improved Russell team, a squad that was 0-21 two years ago. The Broncos don't have any seniors and played five freshmen, including Madison Beagley (team-high 10 points).
"This is the best Russell team that I have seen in many, many years," Billinger said. "They are young and that's scary. I think (Coach) Frank (Schulte) has done a very good job with those girls as far as fundamentals and drills. I think they are going to be a much better team in the next couple of years."
The Monarchs led 15-6 after the first quarter and 29-15 at the half despite missing multiple close shots; at one point, they missed six straight shots, another time they misfired on 5-of-6 attempts.
"We weren't happy with our play at halftime," Billinger said.
However, before regrouping in the locker room, the Monarchs stayed on the court and watched as Hoffman received her honor.
"It just proved to me that my hard work has paid off in a lot of aspects and receiving that great of an award, it was really nice to be able to receive it in front of my home crowd as well," Hoffman said.
Hoffman, a University of Wyoming signee, is the lone area player to pick up a McDonald's All-American nomination.
"She is very deserving of the award," Billinger said. "She has worked so hard. ... It's really an honor for her. I think the girls were just as happy for her as the coaches were. Her parents got to be so proud of her because of her accomplishments."
In the third quarter, Hoffman, who also collected six steals, five assists and four rebounds, found Schippers at the top of the key for a 3-pointer, kickstarting a 19-2 run. The Monarchs eventually forced 15 of Russell's 36 turnovers in the third quarter and scored often off fastbreaks. TMP-Marian finished with 12 third-quarter steals.
"We always talk about our defense being the momentum builder for our team and getting out and playing good defense and running with the ball off the boards," Billinger said.
TMP-Marian pushed its lead to 64-27 midway through the fourth quarter before Billinger pulled his starters with 4:13 left. On Friday, the Monarchs complete their regular-season home schedule with their final Mid-State Activities Association contest; the conference will disband after the school year. TMP-Marian, which locked up its record seventh straight MSAA title last Friday, will face rival Scott City at 6:15 p.m. Hoffman, Stramel and Schippers, the Monarchs' three seniors, are 30-1 in MSAA play and 26-3 at home in their careers.
"It's sad to think of it being senior night and us three seniors having possibly the last game of our career on this home court," Hoffman said. "I think we have played here well and we have left our mark."
