By Jim Beers, Contributing Writer
CHESTER — The 2022 Lady Jacket Mid-Winter Classic Basketball Tournament (LJMWC) is in the books and the home town Lady Jackets are the runners-up. This years’ event took a lot of twists and turns but with a bit of modification by Bryce Bainter, CHS Athletic Director, and Head Coach Clint Cowan, the event managed to stay afloat till the end of the week.
The Chester High School Lady Jackets are Runners-Up of the 2022 Lady Jackets Mid-Winter Classic Tournament. Pictured (Left to right) are Josalynn Anaya (24), Jazzi Merideth (22), Camrynn Howie (3), Kailyn Absher (25), Alyssa Seymour (44), Rylie Conley (4), and Emma Diskey (35). The Jackets are coached by Clint Cowan, Head Coach, Amber Skorcz, Assistant Coach, and Rick Powley, Volunteer Assistant Coach. Jim Beers Photo
Things were rocky from the very beginning as Bainter had difficulty getting an 8-team field to compete in the 2022 tournament. At the last minute, the Freeburg JV team agreed to fill the 8th spot and join Chester, Valmeyer, Trico, Dupo, Cobden, New Athens and Marissa in the 8-tream bracket.
Chester defeated Cobden, 69-18 in Game 1 on the first night of the tournament Monday January 3 and New Athens beat Trico, 46-39 in Game 2. Chester and New Athens advanced to the Championship bracket while Cobden and Trico moved to the
Consolation side of the bracket.
On Tuesday January 4 the Freeburg JV defeated Dupo, 54-47 in Game 3 to advance to the Championship side of the bracket and Dupo moved to the Consolation bracket. Game 4 had to be forfeited by Valmeyer due to a lack of players to field a team. Valmeyer ended up withdrawing from the tournament. There was no Game 4 on Tuesday night.
The next day Marissa had to withdraw from the tournament due to Covid protocol and the tournament was down to six teams including Chester, New Athens, Freeburg JV,
Dupo, Cobden, and Trico.
Wednesday January 5, Game 5 featured Cobden and Trico who came to the Consolation bracket from Monday night’s losses. Trico beat Cobden, 44-35, to advance to the Consolation Championship game. There was no Game 6 Wednesday night due to Valmeyer and Marissa withdrawing from the tournament.
Thursday January 6, Game 7 featured Chester and New Athens who advanced to the semi-finals from Monday night’s wins.
Game 7: Chester 45-New Athens 38
Chester jumped out to an 11-6 first quarter lead behind the play of Kailyn Absher (5), Alyssa Seymour (2), Camrynn Howie (2) and Jazzi Merideth (2). The Jackets led, 11-2 until the 1:23 mark when New Athens orchestrated a 4-0 run to end the period and come within five points of Chester, 11-6.
The New Athens Lady YellowJackets maintained their hot spell to begin the second quarter and outscored Chester on another run on the Jackets, this time a 5-0 run to tie Chester, 11-11 at the 6:38 mark. That second run completed an overall 9-0 run on CHS.
After Chester’s Rylie Conley hit a bucket to take a brief, 13-11 lead, New Athens went on their third run of the game, a 5-0 outing, to retake the lead, 16-13 with 2:39 to play in the first half.
Kailyn Absher then answered the call and hit two field goals in the final 1:38 to retake a Chester lead into the halftime, 17-16. In the first half, Chester’s Kailyn Absher scored 9-of-Chester’s 17 points followed by Howie, Merideth, Seymour and Conley with two points apiece.
The third quarter was competitive, with New Athens just one point down, 22-21 with 5:38 to play in the quarter when Chester’s Kailyn Absher and Alyssa Seymour took the Jackets on a 9-0 run to establish a 10-point lead, 31-21 at the 2:06 mark.
New Athens was down by just six points, 31-25 after they pulled off a 4-0 run on Chester. With only 1:21 to play, Camryn Howie made a buzzer-beater to give the Lady Jackets an 8-point lead, 33-25 to end the 3rd quarter.
It was still anyone’s game going into the 4th quarter and New Athens made it very interesting. The visitors from New Athens opened the final period with a 5-0 run to get within three points, 33-30, with 4:38 remaining in the game.
Chester’s Kailyn Absher and Camrynn Howie answered with back-to-back field goals to extend the CHS lead to seven, 37-30, at the 3:27 mark.
After a time out, Alyssa Seymour was fouled and drained back-to-back free throws to extend the Chester lead to 39-30. A minute later, Chester’s Camryn Howie was fouled and she went to the line and sank a pair of free throws at the 1:35 mark. CHS led, 41-30. At this point with an 11-point advantage, all was looking good for CHS.
At the 1:02 mark, New Athens began a 6-0 run that got them back into the game. New Athens trailed by just five points, 41-36.
The rest of the game it was Camryn Howie 4 – New Athens 2 and the Jackets survived to the final buzzer and won the game by seven points, 45-38, to advance to the Championship game Saturday January 8th.
In the win, Chester was led by three girls in double figures including Kailyn Absher (15), Camrynn Howie, (12), and Alyssa Seymour, (11). Other contributors included Rylie Conley (5) and Jazzi Merideth (2).
For the night, the Jackets hit 16 two-pointers and just one three-pointer. They were 10-of-18 from the free throw line (56 percent). The win improved Chester to an overall record of 9-10 and a tournament record of 2-0.
New Athens was led by Kaylee Juenger who had 13 points followed by Mallory Kimbrell (11), Emma Hager (7), Peyton Houser (5), and Ainslee Sullivan (2). From the line New Athens made 3-of-6 shots (50 percent). New Athens moved to the 3rd Place game Saturday afternoon at 4:00 p.m.
There was no Game 8 Thursday night due to the withdrawal of Marissa and Valmeyer. Freeburg, who advanced to the semi-finals Monday night after beating Dupo, automatically advanced to the Championship game Saturday at 5:30 p.m. to face Chester.
Consolation Championship Game: Friday January 7th: Dupo 50-Trico 44
The Consolation Championship game was played Friday January 7 at 6:00 p.m. Dupo led 22-6 after one quarter of play and 32-10 at the half. Dupo outscored Trico 18-8 in the 3rd quarter to lead, 50-18 after three periods. In the 4th quarter there was a continuous clock and Trico outscored Dupo 10-0. Dupo won the game, 50-28.
With the win, Dupo was moved back to the Championship side of the bracket to face New Athens in the 3rd Place game. Trico was awarded the Consolation Championship trophy.
Saturday January 8th
3rd Place Game at 4:00 p.m.: Dupo 55-New Athens 29
Dupo led, 13-5 after the first quarter. In the second period the Lady Tigers outscored the new Athens Lady YellowJackets, 13-10 to take a 26-15 lead into the locker room at the half.
Dupo scored 13 points again in the 3rd quarter for a total of 39 points. New Athens scored 10-points again to improve to 25 points after three quarters of action. The Tigers led, 39-25 heading into the final stretch.
In the 4th Quarter, the Lady Tigers did not let up and outscored the New Athens Lady YellowJackets 16-4 to win the game and the 3rd Place trophy, 55-29.
In the win. Dupo was led by three players in double figures including Alexis Curtis (20), Octavia Heidleberg (16) and Alexia Lewis (13). Other contributors were Kyann Prater (4) and T’yonna Burris (2). The Tigers shot 55 percent (5-of-11) from the line.
New Athens was led by Emma Hager with 11 points followed by Mallory Kimbrell (8), Kaylee Juenger (6), Ainslee Sullivan (6), and Mallory Kohnen (2). The YellowJackets made 6-of-13 from the line (46 percent).
Championship Game at 5:30 p.m.: Freeburg JV 44-Chester 40
The Championship game was competitive and exciting. The Lady Jackets flew out of their hive aggressive and dominant leading 14-0 with just 1:30 to play in the first quarter. Halfway into the first quarter the score was Kailyn Absher of Chester 4- Freeburg 0.
After a mask timeout at 4:16, Alyssa Seymour went on a 10-0 run of her own to increase the Lady Jacket lead to 14-0 with 1:30 remaining in the first period.
Freeburg’s Calli Smith, a junior, broke the ice for the Lady Midgets with a basket at 1:30 and Freeburg trailed, 14-2. Chester’s Rylie Conley, a freshman, answered with a 3-pointer with 1:08 to play.
Freeburg’s Aubrie Peterson, a freshman, answered that three with a three of her own with 48-seconds to play and the Midgets had five points. Rylie Conley of CHS was fouled with 38-seconds remaining in the first quarter and she drained both free throws. Chester led, 19-5 after one quarter of play.
The Lady Midget spark that flickered late in the first quarter grew into a flame after the first quarter time out and the Lady Midgets came out of the huddle with an 8-0 run that brought them within six points, 19-13 at the 2:57 mark.
Twenty seconds later Chester’s Alyssa Seymour grabbed a Chester offensive board and put it back into the basket for Chester’s first two points of the second quarter. CHS led, 21-13 with 2:38 to play in the half.
During the next 1:38 Freeburg used an 8-3 run to get within one point, 22-21 with 1:00 to go. Alyssa Seymour would carry the Jackets in the final minute of the third quarter making a basket and sinking a pair of free throws to increase Chester’s total to 26 points.
Freeburg’s Ellie Range hit a trey with 19-seconds to play and the battle roared on with Chester leading by just two points, 26-24 after one half of play.
Jazzi Merideth (22) a CHS Lady Jacket sophomore guard, completes a full-court fast break drive to the basket at the 3:56 mark of the CHS vs Freeburg title game Saturday January 8. The Jackets were down by 3-points, 38-35, and Merideth was fouled by Lady Midget Aubrie Peterson (10), sending Merideth to the free throw line. Merideth made both of her shots to complete a nice 7-0 run for Chester and get the Lady Jackets within one point, 38-37 with 3:56 remaining in the game. For the game Merideth was a perfect 4-for-4 at the line. Jim Beers Photo
The third quarter was a defensive battle with Chester only scoring four points and Freeburg scoring five points. Neither team scored during the opening five minutes of the period. With 3:09 to play in the third, Chester’s Alyssa Seymour hit a bucket giving the Jackets a 28-24 lead.
CHS freshman, Rylie Conley (4) drives through traffic Saturday night in the Championship game of the 2022 Mid-Winter Classic Tournament against Freeburg. In the first quarter Conley scored 7-of-Chester’s 19 points and helped keep the Jackets alive. In the 3-game tournament Conley added 30 points to Chester’s offensive production and helped Chester get to the tournament finals. Jim Beers Photo
Just 30-seconds later, Freeburg’s Aubrie Peterson popped a 3-pointer to pull the Midgets within one point, 28-27. A minute later, teammate Kylee Thompson hit a field goal to give Freeburg the lead, 29-28 with just 37-seconds remaining.
To close out the otherwise slow quarter, Jazzi Merideth was foiled with .04 to play in the third quarter. She went to the line and drained both fee shots to give Chester back the lead, 30-29 to close the period.
Camrynn Howie (3) drives around the left side to the hoop in the Lady Jackets championship game against Freeburg. All night long the pesky Freeburg defense double-teamed Howie and held her to just two points. For the three-game tournament, however, Howie scored a total of 44 points and was a key leader of the Jackets’ defense and offense and kept the team on task. Howie was selected to the 2022 LJMWC All-Tournament Team and was named the 2022 Most Valuable Player. Jim Beers Photo
The final quarter feature a 9-0 Freeburg run to start the 4th quarter. Aubrie Peterson knocked down a shot and Ella Gagen hit back-to-back shots to pace Freeburg. Calli Smith also hit a shot to round out the 9-0 run. Freeburg led, 38-30 with 6:03 to play in the game.
Chester‘s Kailyn Absher (25) takes a jump shot early in the Lady Jackets championship game against Freeburg. Absher scored Chester’s first four points of the game and was selected to the 2022 LJMWC All-Tournament Team. For the three-game tournament Absher contributed 30 points and was a key player for Chester. Jim Beers Photo
Chester was shaken the rest of the game committing at least five turnovers against a very stifling defense. At the 4:53 mark Kailyn Absher scored a two-pointer and 38-seconds later Rylie Conley popped a 3-pointer to bring Chester within three points, 38-35.
Jazzi Merideth was fouled 18-seconds later and went to the free throw line making both free shots to bring Chester back within one point, 38-37, at 3:18.
Lady Jacket Alyssa Seymour (44) makes a free throw to tie the game 38-38 with 3:16 to play in the championship game of the 2022 Lady Jacket Mid-Winter Classic Tournament. For the night Seymour kept the Jackets alive, scoring a total of 18-points and for the game she was 6-for-9 at the free throw line (67%). She also led the team in rebounding. In the three-game tournament Seymour contributed a total of 38 points for CHS. The Lady Jackets were Runners-Up in the event and Seymour was selected to the All-Tournament Team. Jim Beers Photo
Alyssa Seymour went to the line for two shots two-second later and made one-of-two to tie the game, 38-38 at 3:16.
A minute later, Freeburg’s Ella Gagen knocked down another two-pointer to retake the lead for the Lady Midgets, 40-38 with 2:09 to play in the game.
The Jackets then turned the ball over on back-to-back possessions and Freeburg called a time out with 1:04 left to play.
Chester had to foul three times I a row to stop the clock in the next eight seconds. With 57.5 seconds remaining, the Jackets had to foul again. This time Kylee Thompson went to the line for Freeburg and made both shots to extend the Midget’s lead to six points, 42-38.
Chester called a time out with 44.3 seconds remaining to set a game plan. After executing the play the Jackets were unable to get a shot off under the pressure of the feisty Lady Midgets. With 13.8 seconds to play, Chester’s Camrynn Howie, who had been contained until then, connected for a field goal. Chester trailed by just two points, 42-40, with just second remaining.
Freeburg had the ball on their final possession and the Jackets had to foul immediately to stop the clock with 6.4 seconds to play. Freeburg’s Ella Gagen knocked down both of her free throws to seal the game at 44-40. In the final 6.4 seconds Chester could not create a play and the Lady Midgets ended with the win.
In the loss, Chester was led by two players in double figures. Alyssa Seymour scored 18 points and Rylie Conley scored 10 points. Chester’s other top scorers, were contained throughout the game with Kailyn Absher only scoring six points and Camrynn Howie contained to just two points. Jazzi Merideth had four points.
For the night, Chester hit 11 two-pointers and just two 3-pointers. They were 12-of-15 from the free throw line (80 percent).
Freeburg was paced by one player. Ella Gagen scored 20 points followed by Aubrie Peterson (9), Ellie Range (6), Kylee Peterson (5), and Calli Smith (4). The Midgets were 7-of-9 from the free throw line (78 percent).
Following the game Chester received the 2nd Place trophy and Freeburg JV received the Championship trophy.
The 2022 All-Tournament Team was then introduced and each honoree received a trophy. The 2022 Most Valuable Player was Chester’s Camrynn Howie. Two other Lady Jackets also made the All-Tournament Team including Alyssa Seymour and Kailyn Absher.
Pictured are members of the 2022 Lady Jacket Mid-Winter Classic Basketball Tournament All-Tournament Team. Pictured (Left to right) Kailyn Absher, Chester; Octavia Heidlesberg, Dupo; Kylee Thompson, Freeburg; Ellie Range, Freeburg; Alyssa Seymour, Chester; Ella Gagen, Freeburg; Kaylee Juenger, New Athens; Emma Hager, New Athens; and Camrynn Howie, Tournament MVP, Chester. Not available for photo: Taylor Cottom; Trico. Jim Beers Photo
Rounding out the 2022 All-Tournament Team were Emma Hager of New Athens; Kaylee Juenger of New Athens; Ella Gagen of Freeburg; Ellie Range of Freeburg; Kylee Thompson of Freeburg; Octavia Heidleberg of Dupo; and Taylor Cottom of Trico.