TMP edges Galena in 2OT classic in 3A state quarters

HUTCHINSON, Kan. (Catch it Kansas) - The TMP-Marian Monarchs completed a comeback victory with a last-second layup to defeat the Galena Bulldogs 68-67 in double overtime.

The third-seed Bulldogs started scoring with a three-pointer from Brett Sarwinski. TMP’s Jace Wentling countered with a field goal. Galena would lead until 3:45 left in the first quarter when Dylan Werth tied the game at six all. Luke Rome made a pair of free throws to give the Monarchs their first lead of the night.

The teams combined to make five three-pointers in the opening quarter, Galena with three and TMP with two. At the end of the quarter, TMP held a two-point lead at 18-16.

The Monarchs never relinquished their lead in the second quarter. They added 15 points to Galena’s 11 on their way to a 33-27 halftime advantage.

A minute into the third quarter, TMP led by its largest margin, 37-27. Galena’s Brett Sarwinski made a three with 6:14 to go in the third quarter. Galena would go on an 18-2 run for the rest of the third quarter and up to the 5:10 remaining mark in the fourth quarter. Sarwinski scored 10 points during the run.

The Bulldogs led 45-41 with five minutes to go in the game.

“Our guys have played together for so long. We’ve been here before,” said TMP-Marian Head Coach Bill Meagher. “We were down eight with three minutes to go against Trego and we were down 15 at Norton. We knew we could regroup and make plays. Let’s just chip away.”

Chip away they did.

After Brett Sarwinski made two free throws, Gavin Unrien made a layup. Kenton Ginther made two three-pointers in a row to tie the game at 49-49 with 3:04 left.

Sarwinski broke the tie with a basket at the 1:44 mark. Dylan Werth made a pair of free throws with 49 seconds remaining. Neither team scored again in regulation.

Galena won the tip-off for the overtime period. Kobe Mcglothlin made the first basket for the Bulldogs. As they had been for the last four minutes, TMP responded with a make by Jace Wentling. Dylan Werth added another basket to give the Monarchs their first lead since the third quarter at 55-53 with 2:10 to go.

Brett Sarwinski quickly retook the lead with a three-pointer. Jace Wentling drove to the basket and put up a shot as he was fouled. The basket counted but he missed the free throw. The Monarchs led again 57-56. Andrew Schwartz extended the lead to 59-56 by making both of his one-and-one free throws.

With 27 seconds remaining, Jackson Perry sank a three for Galena and tied the game at 59 all. There would be at least four more minutes of basketball.

TMP’s Gavin Unrein made a basket 40-seconds into the second overtime to give the Monarchs a 61-59 lead. Galena would quickly tie it up again.

Dylan Werth made the score 63-61 with a layup. Maverick Harmon sank a three-pointer with 1:32 left to retake the lead for the Bulldogs 64-63. Dylan Werth scored another layup and made a free throw over one minute to give TMP a 66-64 lead with 35 seconds left on the clock.

Galena took the ball and with 15 seconds left, Brett Sarwinski made a three-pointer from the corner closest to his bench.

TMP inbounded the ball and took it down the court. “I thought about taking a timeout,” said TMP Coach Bill Meagher, “but we thought that our guys in space would be better than anything we were going to draw up. If we got out in space and attacked the rim we would get a better look.”

The Monarchs did attack the rim. The ball ended up in the hands of Dylan Werth. “I just wanted to get it off before the buzzer sounded.” It did go in right before the buzzer sounded. Werth was mobbed by his teammates as the buzzer sounded to end the game.

The sixth-seeded Monarchs defeated the third-seed and 2021 3A Runner-ups Galena after two overtimes.

Galena completed 48% of their field goals going 24 of 50 and eight of 17 from behind the three-point line. Brett Sarwinski led all scorers with 32 points. Tyler Little and Maverick Harmon both added 10 points.

TMP made 26 of 50 field goals for 52% shooting. They went five of 12 from behind the arc and 11 of 16 from the free-throw line. Dylan Werth led with 17 points. Jace Wentling added 14 points. Gavin Unrein and Kenton Ginther both contributed 12 points.

For the second year in a row, the Monarchs will square off against the Hesston Swathers in a State Semifinal game Friday evening.

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