The MUS varsity basketball team started out with three tough, non-conference games, including two in the Turkey Shootout, held at MUS over Thanksgiving Break. Having lost two of these first three, the Owls will look for some consistency against some upcoming, out-of-town competition.
First, the Owls played Collierville on Friday, November 26, in the first game of the Shootout. With a five-point lead going into the half, MUS just needed to hold off Collierville. MUS did that and more, hitting four second-half three pointers, to win going away, 64-45. Jimbo Welch was the Owls’ high scorer with 23 points, and Jay Martin added 15.
On Saturday in game two of the Shootout, the Owls played Germantown and suffered their first setback of the year, losing 60-53. Going into the half, MUS was down by nine, needing a huge comeback to win. The Owls outscored Germantown by two in the second half, but they did not have enough to comeback. In this game the three top scorers for the Owls were Jimbo Welch with 13, Jay Martin with 12, and Elliot Cole with 11.
The Owls’ third game on the following Tuesday was played on the road against Bishop Byrne. The Owls lost this game, 38-37, outscoring the Red Knights by nine points in the first half, but Byrne came back in the second against the Owls’ zone. MUS also struggled from the field against the Byrne zone as they went cold in the second half. Jay Martin had a chance to win the game but missed a last second three-pointer from the corner. Jimbo Welch was the high scorer form MUS with 13 points, and Peter Zanca was close behind with 12.
MUS now has two consecutive home games against Nashville competition as MBA and Father Ryan come to town on Friday December, 3 and Saturday December, 4. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday against MBA and 2:30 p.m Saturday against Father Ryan.