Chester defeats Cobden, 69-18 in Game 1; New Athens beats Trico, 46-39 in Game 2
By Jim Beers, Contributing Writer
CHESTER — The 15th Annual Lady Jackets Mid-Winter Classic Basketball Tournament is under way with the first two games in the books.
CHS junior Camryn Howie drives through the lane for a short jumper Monday January 3rd in the opening game of the 15th Annual Lady Jacket Mid-Winter Classic. Howie led all scorers with 30 points in the Lady Jacket’s 69-18 win over Cobden to open the tournament. In the game Howie made 5 three-pointers, 5 two-pointers, and was 5-for-5 at the free throw line for Chester. She also played great defense and fought hard under the basket for rebounds throughout the night. Jim Beers Photo
Freshman Lady Jacket Rylie Conley (4) takes it to the hoop Monday January 3 in the opening game of the 2022 Lady Jacket Mid-Winter Classic Basketball Tournament. Conley has been coming into her own as of late and was Chester’s second-highest scorer in the first-round win over Cobden, 69-18. In the win, Conley scored 15 points on 5 field goals, a trey, and 2-of-2 shooting at the free throw line. Jim Beers Photo
With 1:48 to play in the Lady Jacket’s opening game of the 15th Annual Mid-Winter Classic Basketball Tournament vs Cobden, CHS senior, Kailyn Absher gets set to fire a three-pointer. With Chester up, 65-18, Coach Clint Cowan yelled to Absher to hold her shot, however at that split-second, she had already locked and loaded her aim and intention to fire the rock. Not knowing what to do, Absher unleashed her shot which was “dead-on”, and the Jackets extended their lead to 68-18. Coach Cowan understood as Absher came to the bench, red-faced and not knowing if she would get a scolding from Cowan. Cowan gave her a knuckle-bump and laughed at the entire mishap! Jim Beers Photo
Chester kicked-off the 2022 tournament by hosting Cobden Monday January 3 at 6:00 p.m. to open competition in Game 1. The Jackets defeated the Lady Appleknockers, 69-18. In Game 2, New Athens hosted the Trico Lady Pioneers at 7:30 p.m. Monday beating them, 46-39.
Chester and New Athens will advance to face each other Thursday January 6 at 6:00 p.m. in the Championship Bracket p.m., while Cobden and Trico will face-off Wednesday January 5 at 6:00 p.m. in the Consolation Bracket.
The 2022 LJMWC features eight teams including Chester (1), Dupo (2), Marissa (3), New Athens (4), Trico (5), Valmeyer (6), Freeburg (7), and Cobden (8).
Tuesday January 4 at 6:00 p.m. No. 2 Dupo will face No. 7 Freeburg and No. 3 Marissa will host No. 6 Valmeyer. The winners will play again Thursday January 6 at 7:30 p.m. and the losers will play each other Wednesday January 5 at 7:30 p.m.
All teams will take a rest Friday January 7 and the tournament will come to a close Saturday January 8 with competition stating at 4:00 p.m. with the 7th Place Game. The Consolation Championship Game will start at 5:15 p.m. The 3rd Place Game will tip-off at 6:30 p.m. and the 2022 Championship Game will begin at 8:00 p.m.
Chester 69-Cobden 18 in Game 1
The “Magnificent 7” Chester High School girls kicked-off the 2022 LJMWC with a commanding defeat over the Cobden Lady Appleknockers Monday evening January 3. Chester opened the tournament with a Rylie Conley 3-pointer just seconds into the game and never looked back.
The Lady Jackets then proceeded to go on a 26-2 first quarter run to set the tone for the game. In that race CHS junior Camryn Howie ran away with the game scoring 17 of Chester’s 26 points on three 3-pointers, three two-pointers, and perfect 2-for-2 free throw shooting. Conley added seven points and Alyssa Seymour made 2-of-4 free throws to complete the run.
In the second quarter the Lady Jackets outscored Cobden, 18-7 to take a commanding 44-9 halftime lead into the locker room.
In that 18-point barrage, Howie made all three of her free throws and both of her field goals to pace Chester with 7-points. Conley continued to shine by sinking a field goal and both of her free throw attempts and Seymour made 3-of-4 shots at the charity stripe and Kailyn Absher and Jazzi Merideth got in the books with field goals.
In the first half, Cobden’s Maddie Moreland hit the Appleknockers only bucket of the first quarter. In the second period Abby Remsey drained a 3-pointer and Moreland and Kylie Hale each hit field goals.
Kailyn Absher kicked-off the second half with a basket just 30-seconds into the quarter to extend Chester’s lead to 46-9. Abby Remsey answered with a 3-pointer for Cobden 12-seconds later and the Lady Appleknockers trailed 46-12 at the 7:21 mark.
Chester’s two seniors, Kailyn Absher and Alyssa Seymour then took CHS on a 6-0 run to extend the Lady Jacket’s lead to 52-12 at the 4:00 mark. Rylie Conley continued that run to 8-points with a two-pointer at the 3:11 mark and Chester led, 54-12.
At the 2:20 mark Cobden’s Abby Remsey drained her second 3-pointer of the quarter to bring the Appleknockers within 39 points, 54-15. To close out the third period, Camryn Howie made her fourth 3-pointer of the game and Rylie Conley made her 15th and final point of the game to extend Chester’s lead to 59-15 with just a minute to play.
With just seconds to play, Cobden’s Dora Funes went to the line and made 1-of-2 free throws. The Jackets led, 59-16 at the 3rd quarter buzzer.
Throughout the final quarter there was a continuous clock. Coach Clint Cowan instructed his seven players to slow the game down, but it was impossible to make them quit playing.
Camryn Howie made her 5th 3-pointer of the game just seconds into the fourth quarter. Cowan once again instructed his Lady Jackets to slow the pace. With 4:11 remaining in the game the Jackets led, 62-18 after Cobden’s Rhylee Sauerbaum made two free shots at the charity stripe.
Chester’s Emma Diskey made a fantastic three-point play the traditional way at the 3:10 mark when she took the ball to the hoop down low and scored. She was fouled on the play and made her free throw. She extended Chester’s lead to 65-18.
With just 1:48 remaining in the contest Chester’s Kailyn Absher took an assisted pass in the three-point area. Her instinct was to drain a trey, but Coach Clint Cowan yelled for her to hold the ball. At that split second Absher unleashed a perfect shot which entered the hoop and Absher added three points to the Lady Jacket total. CHS led 68-18.
With just 49 second left to play in the game, Chester’s Emma Diskey had the ball and was fouled attempting a last second shot. She went to the line and made 1-of-2 to end the game with Chester in the lead, 69-18.
In the win, Chester was led by Camryn Howie who scored a game-high 30 points. Rylie Conley also had an excellent game and added 15 points. Other offensive contributors included Alyssa Seymour and Kailyn Absher with nine points apiece, Emma Diskey who added four points and Jazzi Merideth who scored two points.
In the win, the Jackets made 17 two-pointers, 7 three-pointers, and were 14-of-19 at the free throw line (89%).
Cobden was paced by Abby Remsey who scored nine points followed by Maddie Moreland (4), Kylie Hale (2), Rhylee Sauerbaum (2), and Dora Funes (1). The Lady Appleknockers made three 3-pointers and 3 two-pointers and made 3-of-4 at the free throw line (75%).
With the win. Chester improved to an overall record of 8-10 for the season and advanced to play New Athens Thursday January 6 at 6:00 p.m. in the Championship side of the bracket. Cobden will move to the Consolation side of the bracket and play Trico Wednesday January 5 at 6:00 p.m.
New Athens 46-Trico 39
The New Athens Lady YellowJackets hosted the Trico Lady Pioneers in Game 2 of the tournament at 7:30 p.m. Monday January 3.
Trico led 10-9 after one quarter of play. New Athens outscored Trico 9-8 in the second quarter to tie the game 18-18 at halftime.
In the third period, The New Athens Lady YellowJackets outscored Trico 16-10 to retake a 34-28 lead going into the final period. Down the stretch, New Athens outscored the Lady Pioneers 12-11 to win the game, 46-39.
The Lady YellowJackets were led by Gabby Schmeiderer who scored 14 points. She was followed by Peyton Houser (9), Emma Hager (9), Ainslee Sullivan (8), Mallory Kohnen (4), and Grace Lauer (2).
Trico was paced by Taylor Cotton who scored 16 points. Other Lady Pioneers contributors were Haley Kranawetter (10), Autumn Kennedy (5), Alyssa Bastien (4), and Mia Jimenez (2).
New Athens will face Chester Thursday January 6 at 6:00 p.m. in the Championship Bracket and Trico will face Cobden Wednesday January 5 at 6:00 p.m. in the Consolation Championship Bracket.