By Jim Beers, Contributing Writer
CHESTER — The Chester High School YellowJackets competed in the Murphysboro/Trico Tournament throughout Week 2 November 29-December 4. The Jackets fell in the first three games of the tournament to Murphysboro, 62-35; Harrisburg, 48-44; Lovejoy, 54-50 in Overtime; then rebounded in Game 4 to Sparta wining a close one, 53-46.
Murphysboro 62-Chester 35
In game 1 Monday November 29 it was all Red Devils in the first half as the hosts Murphysboro outscored Chester 18-3 in the first quarter and 20-11 in the second period to lead, 38-14 at halftime.
The YellowJackets regrouped in the second half and played much better, but it was too little, too late, facing a 24-point deficit going into the second half. Murphy managed to stay in front of the Jackets in the third period outscoring them by a slim, 16-13 margin and in the third period and in the final quarter both teams locked at eight points apiece.
CHS only had one player in double figures for the night as Chance Mott recorded 12 points. Other contributors included Trace Fricke (7), Jared Landeros (6), Cooper Eggemeyer (5), Gavin Schroeder (3), and Evan Bland (2).
For the game the Jackets made 12 field 2-point field goals and just one 3-pointer. From the line they 8-of-15 (53 percent).
Murphy had eight players contribute offensively to the win including K. Abernathy (25), C. Clemons (12), T. Feggins (9), K. Hale (5), A.J. Walker (4), C. Davis (3), and A. Abell and K. Shields with two points apiece. Abernathy was the one-man-wrecking crew that did the most damage to the YellowJackets. Take away his 25 points and Chester still lost by two points.
It was a tough loss for Chester not only because of the final score and having to move to the loss bracket, but because the players and current coaches from CHS were having to face former YellowJacket Head Coach, Brad Norman, who left CHS this year to teach and serve as an assistant Coach at Murphysboro.
With the loss, Chester fell 1-2 for the early season and moved to the loss side of the bracket to face Harrisburg in the second game of the tournament. Harrisburg likewise lost their first round game.
Harrisburg 48-Chester 44
The game against Harrisburg on Wednesday December 1 was close and exciting! The Jackets were rather slow to start, but trailed by just one point after the first period, 7-6.
In the second quarter both teams remained very competitive, but the Bulldogs managed to outscore the YellowJackets, 12-7 to take a six-point, 19-13 lead into the locker room at halftime.
CHS came alive in the second half outscoring Harrisburg, 15-11 to come within two points of the Dogs, 30-28 after three quarters of play. During that stretch, Jared Landeros scored three buckets and Lucas Thompson drained a pair of three pointers. Trace Fricke added a bucket and Chance Mott contributed a free throw.
The fourth quarter was back and forth with the Bulldogs slipping by the YellowJackets, 18-16 to secure the victory, 48-44. With the loss Chester fell to 1-3 on the season.
In the loss, the Jackets were led offensively by Jared Landeros who scored 19 points. Other contributors included Chance Mott (7), Lucas Thompson (6), Trace Fricke (5), Ethan Stumpe (4), and Gavin Schroeder (3).
The Jackets made 13 two-[pointers and four three-pointers in the game and shot 6-of-8 from the charity stripe (75 percent).
Harrisburg had two players in double figures including C. Andre (16) and M. Godsey (14). Other contributors were C. Allen (0), M. Crank (5), K. Downey (2), and R. Rider and N. Lawrence with one point apiece. Chester would play Lovejoy in their Game 3.
Lovejoy 54-Chester 50 in Overtime
Friday December 3 the YellowJackets faced Lovejoy in another close, competitive game. The final decision took an overtime frame with Lovejoy escaping with a 54-50 win.
Chester led by one point after the first quarter, 12-11. Lovejoy returned the favor and outscored the Jackets 14-11 in the second frame to lead, 25-23 at the half.
CHS senior Cooper Eggemeyer scored six points against Lovejoy and five points in the game against Murphysboro in the 2021 Murphysboro/Trico Tournament. Eggemeyer is a four-year player for the YellowJackets. Jim Beers Photo
The evenly balanced contest continued after the popcorn break with Chester outscoring Lovejoy, 13-10 in the third quarter. The Jackets led, by one point, 36-35, heading to the final stretch.
Lovejoy outscored Chester 11-10 in the fourth quarter to tie the game, 46-46, forcing a tie-breaking overtime period. In overtime, the Jackets stalled a bit and only managed four points. Lovejoy likewise stalled but doubled the score on CHS with eight points. The boost gave Lovejoy a slim, 4-point lead for the 54-50 win.
In the loss Chester was paced offensively by Jared Landeros who led for the second time in the tournament. This time Landeros gave the Jackets a 22-point effort. Other YellowJackets who fought hard and contributed offensively included Chance Mott (7), Cooper Eggemeyer (6), Gavin Schroeder (5), Ethan Stumpe and Trace Fricke with three points apiece and Aiden Jany and Lucas Thompson who each scored two points apiece.
For the night CHS hit 16 two-pointers and five three-pointers. They also received three points at the line on 3-for-7 free throw shooting (43 percent).
Lovejoy was led by two players in double figures including S. Holliday (21) and Jeremiah McLorn (10). Other contributors included M. McCowan (8), J. Brown (8), Jeremy McLorn (5), and B. Reed (2).
With the loss Chester fell to an overall record of 1-4 and a tournament record of 0-3. Chester would face Sparta in the final game of the event on Saturday December 4 at the Trico Gymnasium.
Chester 53-Sparta 46
The YellowJackets were determined not to leave the tournament winless and vowed to defeat their longtime rivals Sparta in Game 4.
The Jackets came out strong and outscored the Bulldogs, 13-12, after one quarter of action. An even stronger second quarter gave Chester a 29-18, 11-point halftime lead as the Jackets outscored Sparta 16-6 in the second frame.
Sparta was not going to lie down, however, as they outscored the Jackets, 19-17 after the halftime break to bring their score within 46-37, after three quarters.
Down the final stretch the Dawgs outscored Chester again, his time by two points, 9-7, but it was too little-too-late as Chester won the game, 53-46.
In the win, the YellowJackets had three players in double figures as Gavin Schroeder (15), Jared Landeros (14), and Chance Mott (14) contributed a total of 43 of Chester’s 53 points. Rounding out the Chester offense were Lucas Thompson (6), and Aiden Jany and Trace Fricke with two points apiece.
For the game, CHS hit 11 two-pointers and a total of seven three pointers. The Jackets also added 10 points at the line with 10-of-22 free throw shooting (45 percent).
Sparta had one player in double figures. B. Henry scored 10 points, followed by D. Merideth and E. Willis with eight points apiece, T. Brown (7), J. Nesbitt (5), J, Pillers (4), and C. Sheldon (4). The Dawgs made 14 2-pointers and four 3-pointers. They were 6-for-19 at the free throw line (31 percent).
With the win Chester ended up 1-3 in the tournament and 2-4 overall for the 2021-22 season. Next up for the YellowJackets will be two home games in Week 3. Chester hosts Carlyle Tuesday December 7 (lost 59-51) and Okawville Friday December 10.