By Jim Beers, Contributing Writer
CHESTER — The Chester Yellow Jacket boys ended up having a light Week 3 with just one game Tuesday December 7 vs Carlyle. The Jackets lost that game at Colbert Gymnasium, 59-51. The second scheduled game that week had to be postponed due to the prediction of potential dangerous, violent weather. CHS was scheduled to host Okawville on that night.
Carlyle 59 – Chester 51
The Jackets led 3-2 at the 6:39 mark and allowed the Indians to go on a 17-6 run to close out the first quarter ahead, 19-9. During that opening quarter Chester’s Jared Landeros was the only Chester player to score. He had all nine Yellow Jacket points in the opening frame.
The Chester High School Dance Team under the direction of Adrianne Kern, performs Tuesday December 7 at the Chester vs Carlyle basketball game. The squad danced to Justin Bieber’s “Beauty and the Beat” and wowed the crowd at Colbert Gymnasium. Jim Beers Photo
Carlyle’s Sam Ruscher popped a 3-pointer to open the second quarter to extend the lead to 21-9 in the first minute of play. CHS then used an 8-0 run to pull within four points at the 5:37 mark, 21-17.
Cooper Eggemeyer, Jared Landeros and Gavin Schroeder led that charge with four, two and two points respectively. A 5-4 battle had the Jackets trailing by just three points, 25-22 at halftime.
During the second period Landeros scored seven points, Cooper Eggemeyer added four and Gavin Schroeder recorded two points. Chester used a 12-6 effort to get to just three points behind at the half.
The Chester High School Cheer Team does a cheer to bring the YellowJackets onto Rocky Bridges Court. It was Tuesday December 7 when Chester hosted Carlyle in the first Cahokia Conference game of the year. Jim Beers Photo
After halftime, Chester came alive and outscored the Indians, 17-11 to take a three point, 39-36 lead, at the end of three quarters. During that wild run, there were two lead changes and one tie.
Jared Landeros led the way with seven points, followed by Cooper Eggemeyer who hit a three-pointer and a pair of free throws. Trace Fricke drained a trey and Chance Mott made a field goal to round out the accumulation.
Down the stretch Chance Mott opened the fourth quarter with a 4-0 run making two free throws and a field goal to set the tone. Chester led, 43-36, after one minute of action. Carlyle answered with an 8-0 run to tie the game, 43-43 at the 5:51 mark.
A three pointer by Carlyle’s Hayden Hoffmann at 5:17 gave the Indians a 46-43 lead. Trace Fricke answered with a field goal to bring the YellowJackets within one point, 46-45 with 4:50 remaining in the game. A three-pointer gave the Indians a 49-45 lead.
At the 2:29 mark, Chester Head Coach Chris Toledo was called for a technical foul for questioning a call. Carlyle’s Hayden Hoffmann made back-to-back free throws for the technical and the Indians extended their lead to six points, 51-45.
To close out the final 2:10 Carlyle used the clock well, forcing the Jackets to foul to stop the clock. The Indians outscored the Jackets, 8-6, down the stretch to escape Rocky Bridges Court with an 8-point win, 59-51.
Chester’s Jared Landeros (3) sinks a pair of free throws in the third quarter at the 1:25 mark to give the YellowJackets a 36-34 lead. For the night Landeros led all players with 25 points on three 3-pointers, six two-pointers and perfect 4-for-4 free throw shooting. Jim Beers Photo
In the loss, Chester was led by Jared Landeros who led all players with 25 points. Cooper Eggemeyer followed with nine points, Chance Mott added six points and Gavin Schroeder, and Trace Fricke each scored five points apiece, and Ethen Stumpe made one-of-two free throws to round out Chester’s offense.
For the night CHS made 11 two-pointers and six three pointers. From the line Chester was 11-of-12 (91.66 percent.
Carlyle was led by Hayden Hoffmann who scored 23 points, followed by Carsen Beer (11), Wyatt Nothaus (10), Sam Ruscher (9), and Jayden McIntosh (6). In the win the Indians recorded 14 two-pointers and six three-pointers. They were 13-of-16 from the free throw line (81 percent).
With the loss, Chester falls to 2-5 overall and 0-1 in the Cahokia Conference. The postponed game from Friday December 10 has been re-scheduled for Wednesday December 22. The Jackets will host Sparta the night before, Tuesday December 21 at Colbert Gymnasium.