The notorious heated rivalry between Galena and East Dubuque played out on the Pirates’ home basketball court on Thursday night – and this showdown kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final buzzer. This was the second time the Pirates and Warriors have matched up this season and they both brought all they had in an attempt to be the team to come out on top.
The game started off with lockdown defense on both sides of the ball. It was clear that both teams wanted to get their own points up but even clearer that each team would do anything to stop the other team from scoring. “Every time I’d guard up someone with the ball, the only thing I was focused on was not letting them shoot,” said Mason Smith ‘26. This mentality is what carried the Pirates’ defense throughout the game and sent an early message of determination to the Warriors – ending the quarter with a tied score of 6 – 6.
Entering into the second quarter, the score stayed neck and neck but offensive efforts were ramped up by both teams. Notably, Drew Koenigs ‘26 had a standout quarter, scoring six points and making two of his four free throws. “Taking over the game by shooting as much as possible is what really swings the game into action and raises the stakes for everyone,” Koenigs shared. He and the team understand the vitality in shooting as much as possible and have built the trust in each other to make this happen.
After halftime, the Pirates were down by two but didn’t let this beat down their spirits. They stuck to what they knew and remembered all they had been taught by head Coach Matt Weinen. When asked if the team was prepared any differently for the game, Weinen responded with, “We didn’t change our preparation at all for this game. My message to the team was to focus on what defense they were running and pick out 3-4 plays they run a lot and know them.” Staying true to what they know through and through, the Pirates were able to carry out their game with utter confidence and stay locked up on the Warriors’ attempt to make it to the hoop.
With a score of 30-32 for the final quarter, the win was up for grabs on either side. Each team fought until the final second and ended with a tied scoring game at the end of the 4th – sending this game into overtime. No one could have expected the back and forth between these two teams would balance but it left fans biting their nails after each play. Every pass, every dribble, every shot, was carried out with boldness and conviction, signaling no one was letting up until that final whistle. Finally, after 4 quarters of overtime, the Pirates took the victory with a final score of 67 – 65.
This amazing win left community members and students overjoyed with excitement and sure made the Pirate Nation proud. While this was an important win for the Pirates, Wienen made a point to establish that the boys still have a long road ahead of them. “The team knows we have goals we want to accomplish and we don’t want this game to be the highlight of our season!
