Lady Musketeers Take on The Sparta Tourney
The Red Bud Lady Musketeers Varsity Basketball team, under a new coaching staff, started off their season by participating in the Sparta Invitational Tournament. The staff includes Head Coach Jacob Kueker, Assistant Coach Bruce Romine, Assistant Coach Tara Hubert, and Assistant Coach Tiffany Henry.
On Monday, November 12, Red Bud faced Sesser-Valier in their first game on Monday, November 12. The Musketeers knew that it was not going to be an easy game and their nerves got the best of the team. The first quarter was rough for the team. They could not get the basketball in the hoop. The ladies scored no points, leaving the score at 0-18 at the end of the quarter. The ladies were finally able to get on the board during the second quarter. Lexi Amann had three points, going one for two from the free throw line and making one, two-pointer. The team was down 3-39 going into halftime.
The team showed up for the third and fourth quarters. During the third quarter, the team was able to add eight points to the scoreboard. Megan Henry was fouled and went one for two from the free throw line and scored one, two-pointer. Claire Grohmann and Kassidy Ellner made one, two-pointer each. Amann was also fouled and made one of two free throws. This put the score at 11-61 at the end of the third quarter.The team added another ten points to their score during the fourth quarter. This quarter was by far the best of the night. The first game jitters started to pass. Hope Guebert and Amber Stengel both scored one, three-pointer, Grohmann made one, two-pointer, and Hannah Sievers got fouled and went two for two from the free throw line. The final score was 21-68, and Sesser-Valier walked away with the win.
On November 13, the ladies faced the Steeleville Lady Warriors. The team knew that this game was going to be much different than the night before. The Lady Musketeers came out strong the first quarter, scoring 22 points. The ladies were able to drive to the hoop on the Warriors to make several fast break layups. Stengel contributed a total of seven points, knocking down one, three-pointer and two, two-pointers. Makayla Whelan scored four points for the team with one, two-pointer and went three for four from the free throw line. Grohmann and Guebert each contributed two, two-pointers and Alyssa Heller got fouled and went two for two from the free throw line. The score at the end of the first quarter was 22-11.
The second quarter the ladies only scored five points total. Henry contributed one, two-pointer and also went one for two from the free throw line. Meredith Whelan, also, made one, two-pointer. The Musketeers were leading 27-17 going into halftime. Then, the Musketeers brought the heat the last two quarters of the game. The ladies knew they had to step it up during the third quarter or they were going to lose. The team stepped up and added another 19 points to the scoreboard. Guebert made two, two-pointers and also sank one, three-pointer. Grohmann sank one three-pointer and one, two-pointer. Stengel made one, three-pointer. Lucht and Heller each made one-two pointer each. At the end of the third quarter the score was 46-22 Musketeers were on top.
The Musketeers held the Warriors off during the fourth quarter. The ladies were able to add another ten points to their score. Amann made two, two-pointers. She was also fouled and went two for two from the free throw line. Olivia Carle made one, two-pointer. Stengel was fouled and went two for two from the free throw line. The Musketeers were able to pick up their first win against the Steeleville Warriors with a final score of 56-26.
On November 14, the Lady Musketeers played against the Chester Lady Jackets. The girls knew going into the game that it was going to be faster paced than the previous night, but they still came out a bit sluggish. Henry scored two, two-pointers and went two for two from the free throw line. Makayla Whelan and Ellner each scored one, two pointer. At the end of the first quarter the score was 9-18, with Chester on top.
The second quarter the ladies only scored a total of six points, but they were able to hold the Jackets off better than the first quarter. Heller put in two, two-pointers and Guebert scored one, two-pointer. The score was 15-28 going into half time.
The Lady Musketeers came back out and were able to hold their opponent back during the third quarter. The Musketeers added eight points to their score with Heller, Makayla Whelan, Meredith Whelan, and Stengel scoring one, two-pointer each. The score was 23-32 at the end of the third quarter.
The Musketeers gave it all they could to get the win, but they came just short. The team added another eight points with Grohmann putting in two, two-pointers. Stengel got fouled and went two for two from the free throw line. Carle and Makayla Whelan were each fouled going one for two from the free throw line. The final score was 31-44, and Chester had won.
On November 16, the Lady Musketeers took on the Sparta Lady Bulldogs. The team knew going into this game that it was not going to be an easy. They knew they had to take care of the basketball and keep the turnovers at a minimum. The ladies came out strong in the first quarter scoring eleven points. Grohmann made one, two-pointer and was one for two from the free throw line. Stengel, Ellner, Makayla Whelan, and Heller made one, two-pointer each. The score at the end of the first quarter was 11-6.
In the second quarter the ladies were able to add another nine points to the board with Grohmann putting in two, two-pointers. Heller sank one, three-pointer and Sievers made one, two-pointer. The score was tied 20-20 going into halftime.
The ladies knew they were going to have to step up their game in the third quarter if they were going to have a chance to win. The Musketeers were able to add another 16 points to their score. Stengel made two, two-pointers and went one for two from the free throw line; Guebert put in one, two-pointer and made two out of two free throws; Grohmann made one, two-pointer. Heller went two for two from the free throw line. After the third quarter, the score was 36-30.
The Musketeers could not let down this quarter. Grohmann made two, two-pointers; Lucht made one, two-pointer and went one for two from the free throw line; and Amann put in one, two-pointer. Guebert got fouled and went one for two from the free throw line. Ellner went one for three from the free throw line. The ladies added eleven points to the scoreboard. Unfortunately, it was not enough and the Lady Musketeers lost a tough 47-50.
On November 17, the last day of the tournament, the Lady Musketeers took on the Trico Lady Pioneers. The ladies came out strong putting 17 points on the board in the first quarter. Heller made two, two pointers, one, three pointer and went one for one from the free throw line. Grohmann made three, two pointers. Guebert contributed one, two pointer. Makayla Whelan got fouled and made one of two free throws. The score after the first quarter was 17-8.
The Pioneers made a come back during the second quarter. The Musketeer defense was having a difficult time out on the floor handling the post from Trico. The ladies only put six points on the scoreboard. Ellner and Lucht made one, two-pointer each. Heller got fouled twice and went two for four from the free throw line. The score was 23-30, Trico leading, going into halftime.
The Musketeers knew they could not give up going into the second half. The ladies added ten points to the scoreboard during the third quarter. Grohmann made one, two pointer and went two for two from the free throw line. Heller contributed one, two pointer and went one for two from the free throw line. Sievers, Amann, and Meredith Whelan each went one for two from the free throw line. The score at the end of the third quarter was 33-38.
The fourth quarter was very back and forth between the two teams. The Lady Musketeers added 16 points to their score. Ellner made two, two pointers. Guebert went three for three from the free throw line. Grohmann, Amann, and Makayla Whelan each contributed one, two pointer. The score at the end of the fourth quarter was tied 49-49.
Due to a last second score into Trico’s basket, the teams were sent into overtime. The Musketeers added 8 points to their score during this period of time. Grohmann made seven of the eight points with three, two pointers and she went one for one from the free throw line. Ellner got fouled and went one for two from the free throw line. The final score was 57-51, the Lady Musketeers were able to pick up another win.
This week the Lady Musketeers travel to Valmeyer this Tuesday, November 20, for their first regular season game. Next week the ladies play at Waterloo High School on Tuesday the 27th at 6:15. The ladies have their first home game on Friday the 30th against Lebanon. Come on out and cheer on your Lady Musketeers!
