2009 Trico Pioneers Invitational: Red Bud Rolls Elverado

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Red Bud's Musketeers have been touted as one of Southern Illinois' top Class 2A boys basketball teams.

Monday night, as the 9th Annual Trico Pioneers Invitational Tournament began, Elverado learned that lesson first hand.

The Fighting Falcons fell against Red Bud 86-31 in the opening game of the week-long event.

Wednesday at 5:30, Elverado plays Shawnee (0-1).

In Monday's other two games, Steeleville (1-0) surprised Egyptian 60-45 and host Trico topped Shawnee 60-35.

Red Bud raced to an early 15-2 lead against Elverado, but found that margin whittled down to 17-10 as the first quarter ended.

A turnaround jump shot by freshman Jake Lipe pulled Elverado to within seven points.

The Fighting Falcons were held without a field goal for the first three minutes but used an 8-2 run to close out the period.

A 27-3 second quarter blitzing, however, stretched Red Bud's lead to 44-13 at halftime.

Elverado managed just three free throws-tosses from Bryce Mathis, Kyle Kempfer and Ben Kempfer-during the frame.

The third quarter proved even more treacherous as the Musketeers, behind Kory Leifer's 16 points, built their margin to 77-20.

The 33-point period started the running clock-which is being used when margins exceed 40 points-as the final quarter began.

Dalton Porter had 10 points for Elverado with K. Kempfer adding six.

Leifer's 25 was high for Red Bud.