$4 NLHE Full Ring: Too big a pot for 1 pair?

Merge - $0.04 NL - Holdem - 9 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

CO: 100 BB (VPIP: 17.71, PFR: 14.58, 3Bet Preflop: 2.78, hands: 97)
Hero (BTN): 109 BB
SB: 273.5 BB (VPIP: 26.09, PFR: 9.29, 3Bet Preflop: 3.08, Hands: 187)
BB: 64.75 BB (VPIP: 32.26, PFR: 4.30, 3Bet Preflop: 2.50, Hands: 94)
UTG: 48.75 BB (VPIP: 34.48, PFR: 3.45, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 30)
UTG+1: 181.25 BB (VPIP: 42.86, PFR: 4.76, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 21)
MP: 88.75 BB (VPIP: 33.33, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 3)
MP+1: 111.75 BB (VPIP: 25.81, PFR: 16.13, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 31)
MP+2: 26 BB (VPIP: 25.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 4)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has

UTG calls 1 BB, fold, MP calls 1 BB, fold, MP+2 calls 1 BB, fold, Hero raises to 4 BB, fold, BB calls 3 BB, UTG calls 3 BB, MP calls 3 BB, fold

Flop: (17.5 BB, 4 players)
BB checks, UTG checks, MP checks, Hero bets 11.5 BB, fold, fold, MP calls 11.5 BB

Turn: (40.5 BB, 2 players)
MP checks, Hero bets 21 BB, MP calls 21 BB

River: (82.5 BB, 2 players)
MP checks, Hero checks

Yea, yea, okay I know. Go ahead and say I should bet larger pre or fold pre. I understand that. That could have solved the "too large pot" problem (although not necessarily).

I think my flop bet was fine and necessary.

On the turn though, I am considering checking behind. For one, I'm not comfortable betting 20+BB for 1 pair into an even larger pot. Secondly, it narrows his range down too much. He could have easily limped in with AJ or something.

I am just curious to see how these pots go town with TP hands... do y'all check behind a lot?

Bet bigger pre!!!!!!!! I'm not checking behind river with top pair, I'm going for thin val from crapper Jx ,worse pairs, and missed flush + straight draws if he's willing to pay to see. If we get check raised we probably abort ship.

Your play is just fine. I will play in the same way. Nice hand!