By Jim Beers, Contributing Writer
CHESTER — The Chester High School Lady Jackets basketball Team had a good outing last week at the 2021 Gibault Catholic High School Candy Cane Class Girls’ Basketball Tournament.
The Chester High School Lady Jackets proudly pose for a photo with the plaque they won as Champions of the Consolation bracket of the 2021 Gibault Catholic Candy Cane Classic Girls’ Basketball Tournament. Pictured are (left to right): Assistant Coach Amber Skorcz, Josalynn Anaya (24), Riley Conley (4), Alyssa Seymour (44), Assistant Coach Rick Powley, Camrynn Howie (3) with plaque, Kailyn Absher (25), Emma Diskey (35), Jazzi Merideth (22) and Head Coach, Clint Cowan. Yvonne Seymour Photo
After a slow start with a 52-36 loss to the hosts Gibault Lady Hawks, Chester went on to win the Consolation Championship side of the tournament bracket with back-to-back wins over Metro-East Lutheran High School, 48-37, and the Valmeyer Lady Pirates, 56-23.
Jackets fall, 52-36 to Gibault in opening game
Just two weeks ago on Tuesday November 30, Chester devastated the Lady Hawks by 20-points, 72-52, at home on Rocky Bridges Court in front of a large home crowd. In the opening round of the Candy Cane Classic Tuesday December 14, the tables were turned as the host Lady Hawks knocked the Lady Jackets out of the winner’s bracket with a 16-point trouncing, 52-36.
Coach Clint Cowan said, “We had a really off night against Gibault. We couldn’t hit anything. Our girls were as cold as ice. Some times that just happens and we had a hard time getting stated in the first round game!!”
Gibault had a 17-10 lead after one quarter of play. The second period was a tie with both teams scoring 9-9, but the Lady Hawks enjoyed a nice, 26-19, seven point lead at halftime.
During that first half, Chester was carried by senior Alyssa Seymour who scored 13-of-Chester’s 19 points. Camrynn Howie scored 4 points and Kailyn Absher added two points during the opening half.
Things were a bit more competitive in the third quarter, but Gibault still outscored CHS, 12-10, to lead, 38-29 after three frames. Seymour continued to carry the Jackets after halftime scoring 6-of-Chester’s 10 points. Jazzi Merideth was the only other Lady Jacket to score in the third quarter with four points on two field goals.
Down the stretch the Lady Jackets failed to get the ball rolling and allowed Gibault to continue to control the game, outscoring CHS by double figures, 14-7, to win the game, 52-36. Once again, Alyssa Seymour was the only Chester player to create any major offense adding five of Chester’s seven points in the final period.
Chester‘s Alyssa Seymour (44) was selected to the 2021 Gibault Candy Cane Classic Tournament. With Seymour are her coaches Amber Skorcz, Rick Powley and Clint Cowan. For the tournament Seymour led all Chester scorers with 52 points. She also broke the Chester Lady Jackets school record for career rebounds at the first game of the tournament against Gibault. Yvonne Seymour Photo
In the loss, Alyssa Seymour led all scorers with 24 points. Seymour also came into the game just 13 rebounds away from breaking Chester’s Lady Jacket record for career rebounds. She continued her chain of double-double games by scoring 24 points and grabbing 22 rebounds to set the new career rebound record for CHS.
Other Lady Jacket scorers included Camrynn Howie (6), Jazzi Merideth (4) and Kailyn Absher (2). For the night the Jackets hit only 10 field goals and did not score even one 3-pointer. At the free throw line the Jackets were respectable making 8-of-10 free shots (80 percent).
Gibault had seven offensive contributors including K. Small (22), B. Baldridge (9), E. Schmidt (7), Grohmann (5), A. Ramey (4), and L. Mesch (3). In the win, the Lady Hawks hit 15 two-pointers and 5 three-pointers. In addition they made 4-of-10 free throws (40 percent).
With the loss, Chester started the Candy Cane Classic 0-1 and moved into the Consolation Championship bracket. The Jackets also fell to 4-6 overall for the season.
Chester beats Metro-East Lutheran 48-37
The Jackets played Metro-East Lutheran in the first game of the Consolation Championship bracket Thursday December 16. The first half was competitive with CHS leading 13-11 after one quarter of play and 26-24 at halftime.
In the first half Alyssa Seymour stayed hot from her opening game scoring 10-of Chester’s 26 first half points. Kailyn Absher recovered from her slow night against Gibault scoring eight of Chester’s 26 first-half points. Camrynn Howie and Jazzi Merideth each added four points apiece to round out Chester’s offense.
Metro’s Bennasarlluy led her squad with nine points while Williams followed closely with eight points in the first half.
After the halftime break the Jackets came back pumped and ready to finish the game with a 14-point effort. Freshman Riley Conley led the attack as she drained a 3-pointer and a traditional two-point field goal and sank 3-of-4 free throws for eight points. Seymour, Howie, and Merideth added a basket apiece to complete the 14-point spree.
Metro-East was held by Chester to just seven points as the Lady Jackets increased their lead to nine points, 40-31 after three periods of action.
Down the stretch Chester outscored Metro-East Lutheran, 8-6 to seal the deal with a comfortable, 9-point win, 48-37, behind the offensive efforts of Alyssa Seymour. She scored 6-of-8 Chester points to complete the fourth quarter outing.
In the win, Alyssa Seymour paced Chester with 18 points followed by Kailyn Absher who also scored in double figures with 10 points. Other contributors were Riley Conley (8), and Camryn Howie and Jazzi Merideth who each added six points apiece.
For the game the Lady Jackets made 19 two-point field goals and topped of the scoring with three 3-pointers. For the night the Jackets made 7-of-14 free throws for a 50% shooting percentage.
Metro-East was led by Bennasarlluy who scored 16 points, followed by Williams (12). Huber (4), Bozarth (3), and Jose (2). Metro made 13 two-pointers, a pair of three-pointers and 5-of-12 free throws (47 percent).
With the victory Chester improved to 5-6 for the season and 1-1 in the Candy Cane Classic. The victory advanced the Lady Jackets to the Consolation Championship game Saturday December 18 against Valmeyer.
Lady Jackets claim Consolation Championship with 56-23 win over Valmeyer
On Saturday December 18 at 10:30 a.m. the Lady YellowJackets from Chester took on the Lady Pirates from Valmeyer for the title of Consolation Champions.
Chester roared out of the gate with a 20-10 lead in the first quarter behind stellar offensive efforts of Kailyn Absher and Camrynn Howie. In the first frame Howie scored 10 points on a pair of 3-pointers and a pair of two-pointers while Absher scored eight points on four traditional field goals.
Valmeyer likewise had a stellar performance from one player, Miller, who scored 8-of-Valmeyer’s 10-points on a three ball, a deuce and 3-of-4 from the free throw line.
Chester didn’t let up in the second period as the Jackets outscored the Pirates 13-6 to lead 33-16 at halftime. Jazzi Merideth led Chester in the second quarter with three field goals for six points. Alyssa Seymour, Kailyn Absher, and Emma Diskey each made field goals and Diskey drained a free throw to complete Chester’s 13-point run.
The Lady Jackets used a 10-7 run to open the second half and extent their lead to ten points, 33-23 after three quarters of play. Riley Conley got into the action in the third period and scored three points. Alyssa Seymour showed her offensive prowess and made back-to-back baskets and Kailyn Absher rounded out the effort with a field goal.
Down the stretch to close the game, the Jackets shut-out Valmeyer with a 13-0 run to end the game and seal the win, 56-23. With the win, the Chester Lady Jackets won the title of Consolation Champions of the 2021 Gibault Candy Classic.
In the fourth quarter, Camryn Howie, Kailyn Absher and Alyssa Seymour completed the task, scoring seven points, four points and two points respectively. Valmeyer was held scoreless.
In the win, Chester had three players score in double figures including Camrynn Howie (17), Kailyn Absher (16), and Alyssa Seymour (10). Other contributors included Jazzi Merideth (6), Riley Conley (4), and Emma Diskey (3).
Coach Cowan said, “Kailyn Absher had a nice double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds and Alyssa Seymour had her double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman Riley Conley had a good game with four points and seven rebounds. Camrynn Howie led the team in assists with five.”
For the game, the Jackets made 21 traditional two-point field goals and three 3-pointers. They also shot 71-percent from the free throw line (5-of-7).
Coach Cowan said, “We got off to a slow start but turned up our defense and settled down on offense to get the job done. I am so proud of these girls for winning the Consolation Championship. It’s been a challenging week but these girls came out and played great. I wouldn’t trade this group of girls for anything.”
“Our girls work hard and are always ready for a challenge. I’m extremely happy that we won 2-out-of-3 games at the tournament and are 6-6 heading into Christmas!”
Valmeyer was paced by Miller who made 15-of Valmeyer’s 23 points, followed by Gibbs and Smiley with four points apiece. In the loss, Valmeyer was held to just six two-point baskets and a pair of three-pointers. From the free throw line the Lady Pirates were 5-of-11 (45 percent)
With the win, the Lady Jackets evened their overll record for 2021-22 at 6-6 and they won 2-of-3 games at the Gibault Catholic Candy Cane Classic Girls’ Basketball Tournament to win the title of Consolation Champions. Alyssa Seymour was selected to the All-Tournament Team.
Next up for the Lady Jackets will be a trip to the Red Bud Christmas Tournament Monday December 27 through Thursday December 30.