By Jim Beers, Contributing Writer
CHESTER — The Chester High School Girls’ Basketball Team, sometimes known as “The Magnificent Seven” improved to an overall record of 11-12 Thursday January 20 when the Steeleville Lady Warriors came to CHS Colbert Gym for a non-conference game.
The Lady YellowJackets swarmed the Lady Warriors right from the opening tip-off to the tune of a 31-point stinging, 59-28, behind one of the best “team efforts” for the Chester girls.
Coach Clint Cowan said, “We played really well tonight! We played as a team and everyone got involved”.
Alyssa Seymour (44), a Chester High School Lady Jacket senior, takes the ball to the hoop at the 7:24 mark of the 3rd quarter Thursday January 20 when the Jackets hosted Steeleville. Literally surrounded by all five Lady Warrior players, Seymour made her shot to increase Chester’s lead to 42-16. In the 59-28 win by the Jackets, Seymour recorded yet another double-double with 23 points and 19 rebounds. With those rebounds Seymour set a new CHS single season rebounding record of 294 which broke the previous record of 286 set by Brittany Heins. Jim Beers Photo
The Jackets flew out to a 17-10 first quarter lead, behind the efforts of seniors Alyssa Seymour and Kaitlyn Absher who each poured in six points apiece. Not far behind was junior Camrynn Howie who knocked down a 3-pointer and a two-pointer for five points. Absher went 2-for-2 at the free throw line in the opening frame.
Chester‘s Kailyn Absher (25), a Lady Jacket senior, completes a fast-break layup Thursday January 20 against Steeleville with just seconds remaining in the game. Her final bucket gave Chester a 59-28 win over the Lady Warriors to help CHS improve to 11-12 on the season. In the win, Absher recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Jim Beers Photo
Steeleville’s Lauren Wedemeyer kept the Lady Warriors alive as she drained a pair of 3-pointers for six of the Warriors’ ten points and Emma Mulholland and Daisy Czapla rounded off the first quarter with field goals.
The second quarter proved to be a game-stopper for the Warriors as Chester outscored Steeleville, 20-4 in the second frame to take a 37-14 lead into the locker room at halftime.
In that devastating 8-minute period Alyssa Seymour continued to dominate the down-hill scene putting in four layups and short jumpers to pace the Jackets with eight points.
CHS Head Lady Jacket Basketball Coach Clint Cowan greets his players during a time out in the second half of the Chester vs Steeleville game Thursday January 20. The ladies deserved a supportive greeting as they eventually won the game, 59-28, over the Lady Warriors to improve to an overall season record of 11-12. Jim Beers Photo
Camrynn Howie duplicated her first quarter production by sinking her second 3-pointer of the half as well as a layup for five points. Kailyn Absher knocked down a pair of two-pointers for four points and Jazzi Merideth got into the scorebook with a field goal and 1-of-2 free throws for three points.
The Warriors recorded their four points on field goals from Ashlyn Roberts and Avery Roberts. Chester led, 37-14 at the popcorn break.
Coming back from the halftime rest, the Lady Jackets did not cease to buzz the Warriors throughout the third quarter.
Josalynn Anaya (24), a CHS sophomore, attempts a three-pointer during the 4th quarter of the Chester vs Steeleville game Thursday January 20. Head Coach Clint Cowan, standing, and Assistant Coaches Rick Powley and Amber Skorcz on the bench, watch the shot as Annaya follows-through after her release. The 59-28 victory was a “team effort” by all seven Lady Jacket players and helped to improve the Lady Jacket season record to 11-12 overall. Jim Beers Photo
Kailyn Absher hit a short jumper just 30-seconds into the half and Alyssa Seymour followed with a free throw and lay-up 30-seconds later.
Steeleville’s Emma Mulholland drained a trey to answer Chester’s early run, but it was 5:54 before Ashlyn Roberts would hit a field goal to bring her Lady Warriors within 20 points, 42-22.
In the final 5:00 the Jackets shut out the Warriors, 12-0, to lead 54-22 going into the final quarter. In that 12-0 run Kaylin Absher scored six points on a pair of free throws and a pair of field goals. Alyssa Seymour also hit two field goals and Jazzi Merideth drove to the basket for a lay-up.
Camrynn Howie (3) drains a jumper at the 4:02 mark of the CHS vs Steeleville game Thursday January to bring the Lady Jacket’s score to 56-26. In the win, Howie was the third player on the Lady Jacket squad to score in double figures. Howie scored 12 points and dished out six assists in the winning effort. Jim Beers Photo
With Chester leading 54-22, by 30 or more points, the continuous clock rule went into effect and the fourth quarter breezed by quickly.
In that final stretch, however, Steeleville outscored Chester, 6-5.
Lady Warrior, Emma Mulholland drained back-to-back two-pointers to spark a 4-0 Steeleville run. The Warriors trailed, 54-26, at with 4:28 remaining in the game.
Chester’s Camrynn Howie answered with a bucket of her own at 4:02 and Rylie Conley hit the back end of a “two free throw” opportunity to bring CHS to a 57-26 lead with 1:34 to play.
Immediately following the Chester scores, Avery Roberts drained a shot to give Steeleville its final points of the game. The Lady Jackets led 57-28. Prior to the final buzzer Kailyn Absher hit one final shot to end the game and make the 59-28 win a reality.
In the win, the Lady Jackets were led by Alyssa Seymour who scored 23 points. Seymour also recorded yet another double-double by grabbing 19 rebounds. With that accomplishment Seymour set a new single-season rebounding record of 294 boards. The previous record of 286 set by Brittany Heins.
Kailyn Absher also recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. The third Lady Jacket to score in double figures was Camrynn Howie who scored 12 points. She further dished out six assists.
The Lady Jacket offence was rounded out by Jazzi Merideth who scored five points and Rylie Conley who scored one point. Conley also dished out four assists when she as running the offense. The Jackets shot 58-percent from the free throw line (7-of-12) and made 23 two-pointers and two 3-pointers.
Steeleville was paced by Lauren Wedemeyer and Emma Mullholland who each scored eight points, followed by Ashlyn Roberts (6), Avery Roberts (4), and Daisy Czapla (2). The Warriors were 0-for-4 from the free throw line and made 11 two-pointers and a pair of three-pointers.
Coach Cowan said, “Tonight we moved the ball well and ran our offense and defense well. I would like to congratulate Alyssa Seymour for setting the new school record for most rebounds in a single-season with 294 so far”.
“Alyssa goes in every single night and battles for those rebounds and I am extremely proud and happy for her”.
“I am just all around happy for every single girl on this team. Words cannot describe just how happy I am with where we are right now and how far we have come.”
With the win, Chester improves to an overall record of 11-12 and a Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division record of 2-4.
The Lady Jackets’ game scheduled for tonight with Trico has been postponed and will be re-scheduled.
The next game for the Lady Jackets will be Thursday January 27 when No. 2 Okawville comes to Colbert Gym for a 6:00 p.m. tip-off.
The Yellow Jacket boys will also host a home game that same night at Colbert Gymnasium following the girls’ game.
Chester will host Madison at 7:30 p.m. This is a re-scheduled game from Tuesday January 4.