The Red Bud Musketeers’ season kept rolling along when they paid the Valmeyer Pirates a visit last Tuesday. Red Bud previously defeated the Pirates 44-41 the last time these two teams met up. This game would start off to a promising start for the Musketeers. They opened the game  playing their usual stingy defense, and also found ways to put the ball in the hoop. Alex Kueker nailed a pair of three point field goals in the opening quarter to help the Musketeers jump out to an early 11-6 lead after the first quarter. The second quarter was even better for the Musketeers offensively. Senior guard, Blake Cowell, nailed a trio of three point field goals in the quarter. Alex Sievers also had 6 points in the second quarter to contribute to a 30-21 Musketeer lead at the half. All season long the Musketeers have struggled with putting teams away early in the second half, and that was the case again in this game. Red Bud came out of the half with little intensity, and allowed the Pirates to fight their way back into the came. The only points scored by the Musketeers in the quarter came by a Carter Wiegard three pointer. One thing Red Bud has been good at all season long was playing well when it matters most, and being able to close out games. In the final quarter Red Bud was able to play good defense, and make foul shots when they mattered most. Kueker and Griffin Ziebold both made a pair of free throws in the final minutes to help seal a 48-42 road victory over the Pirates. Kueker led the team in scoring with 12 points, closely followed by Cowell with 11.

Last Saturday the Musketeers traveled to Marissa to take on the Meteors for the first time this season. The Musketeers spent the practices leading up to the game in a high intensity atmosphere. Coach Cruser preached to the team how in the games, once we had a lead that we needed to extend that lead, and put the opposition away. The Musketeers responded to this message well Saturday night. In the first quarter the Musketeers were off and running, putting pressure on the Meteor ball handlers, and getting to the foul line. Red Bud also did an excellent job at executing their half court set plays, and being efficient on offense. Blake Cowell tallied 10 points in the opening quarter, and helped the visiting team leap out to an early 22-8 lead after the first quarter. The second quarter was another high octane eight minutes for Red Bud. Continuing to suffocate the Meteors on defense, and creating easy scoring opportunities on offense. Kueker and Ziebold both threw in a pair of three point field goals in the quarter. Red Bud held a 33-15 lead at halftime. Statistically, the third quarter has been the worst for the Musketeers. Red Bud was looking to break that trend, and put the Meteors away. Ziebold tallied six of Red Bud’s 15 points in the third quarter, and helped extend the Musketeers’ lead to as large as 26. The Musketeers’ intensity carried throughout the whole second half and led them to a 52-26 trouncing of the Meteors. Ziebold led the team in scoring with 14, followed by Cowell with 12.

The Musketeers improved their record to 9-4 on the season and a conference best 5-0 record. Red Bud will play the Steeleville Warriors at home on Tuesday and travel to Lebanon to take on the Greyhounds on Friday.