Red Bud defeats Trico in final game of tournament

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The Red Bud Musketeers went undefeated to win the 2008 Trico Pioneer Invitational Tournament last week. They played five games from Dec. 1st - 6th and lost exactly zero. Their competitors: Steeleville, Egyptian, Shawnee, and Elverado were left behind as the Musketeers start their season off with an overall 5-0 record. Their last game on Saturday, Dec. 6th matched them up against Trico, that had up to that point been undefeated as well.

"Our goal is to play as hard as we can every game," said Head Coach Dave Gillingham. That was certainly the case on Saturday with Red Bud taking a 30 point lead at the final score. The final board showed 57-27, Red Bud.

The first quarter gave the Trico Pioneers a 10 point deficit. The score board read 19-9, at the buzzer. Adam Kunkel, 1, Tim Conway, 23, and Dan Shrader each put in a field goal. Stefan Gregson sank 2 3-pointers with deadly precision. Kory Leifer pulled back for a shot from outside the perimeter and sank a 3-point field goal as well. Chance Albertson put two notches on his belt in the first, with two baskets.

"Chance Albertson has the best basketball IQ. He is smart," said Gillingham.

At the end of the second half, the Musketeers added 17 points to the score board. Gregson sank three 3-point shots from the low corner. Kunkel put two field goals away and made one of his two free throw attempts. Liefer added one field goal to the total. "Kory Leifer is our most improved player from last year to this year," praised Coach Gillingham.

The beginning of the second half showed how well the Musketeers function together as a unit. "This is basically our JV team from last year," Gillingham said, "We also played together this [past] summer." With driving offensive and swarming defense, the Musketeers drove in 19 points, allowing 8 to be taken from them. The score at the end of the third was 46-26 Red Bud.

The fourth quarter gave the Musketeers another 11 points and only allowed the Pioneers two field goals. Kunkel put in three shots with two hard drives into the key and one from the high post. "Adam [Kunkel] is a sophomore. He is used to playing with the older guys [due to his older brothers]. He is not as phased at playing Varsity as other sophomores," Gillingham said. Jake Hoffman, 5, put in a field goal. Rhett Ringering, 22, was fouled and successfully made both his free throws. Jordan Buch made one of his two free throws. The final buzzer showed the Musketeers with 57 and their invitational rivals, the Pioneers, with 27.

Tim Conway, 23, was named the MVP of the invite. Gillingham said, "Tim is a great athlete. His hands are quick. He is really disruptive to the [opposing] offensive. He is also been great at making plays."

The Musketeers have their first home game on Friday, Dec. 12, matching them up against Breese Central.

"Breese Central has not lost. They are impressive. They are one of the favorites to go to Peoria. We are going to have our hands full at our home opener." said Gillingham.