By Jim Beers, Contributing Writer
CHESTER — The Chester High School Lady Jackets Basketball Team opened its 2022-23 season with a win last night at the 2022 Sparta Lady Bulldog Basketball Invitational Tournament.
In the photo: Row 1: Riley Conley (4), Jazzi Merideth (12), Camrynn Howie (3), and Emma Diskey (35). Row 2: Natalie Gutersloh (41), Aubrey Bowles (31), Jessica Stumpe (25), Lexi Mott (33), Aubrey Coleman (32), Lillian Diskey (24), and Camrynn Wolff (22). Jim Beers Photo
The event features five teams this year including Sparta, Chester, Red Bud, Steeleville and New Athens. The Trico Lady Pioneers were originally scheduled to be the sixth team in the tournament, however, they had to drop out of the event due to a lack of players. At this point it is expected that Trico will not field a girls’ team this season.
The 2022 Sparta Invitational will now be a five-team round robin tournament with each team playing one another with the best record at the end of the week earning the title of champion. Any ties will be broken or determined by head-to-head results. If that factor does not break the tie, defensive points allowed will then be used to make the final determination.
The tournament will be played on five days this week including Monday November 14, Tuesday November 15, Wednesday November 16, Friday November 18 and Saturday November 19. Thursday November 17 will be an “off” day.
On Monday November 14 the Lady Yellow Jackets defeated New Athens 58-30. Camryn Howie had 15 points to lead the Yellow Jackets.
Sparta and Red Bud played at 7:00 p.m. Teams listed first on the schedule are the home teams.
Tuesday November 15 features Red and Steeleville at 5:30 p.m. and Sparta and New Athens at 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday November 16 has Steeleville and New Athens playing at 5:30 p.m. and Sparta and Chester battling at 7:00 p.m.
Thursday November 17 is an ‘OFF” night!
Friday November 18 Red Bud .and New Athens will play at 5:30 p.m. and Steeleville will host Chester at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday November 19 the final round of the tournament will start at 12:00 noon with Chester hosting Red Bud and Sparta will close the tournament at 1:30 p.m. hosting Steeleville.
The Lady Jackets are coached by Head Coach Clint Cowan. He is assisted by JV Coach, Amber Skorcz. Volunteer Assistants are Jennifer Coleman and Rick Powley.
Chester will have a very young team this year and will feature an entire program of only 11 players including one senior, two juniors, one sophomore, and seven freshmen. Senior Camrynn Howie (#3) will lead the Lady Jackets. Juniors Jasmine (Jazzi) Merideth (#12) and Emma Diskey (#35) will add upper classman leadership and experience. Sophomore Riley Conley (#4) is the lone sophomore and will provide experience.
The large freshman Class of 26 features seven girls who played at the grade school level including Camrynn Wolff (#22), Lillian Diskey (#24), Jessica Stumpe (#25), Aubrey Bowles (#31), Aubrey Coleman (#32), Lexi Mott (#33), and Natalie Guetersloh (#41).
Coach Clint Cowan said, “It is very early, but we have talent, and the younger girls are stepping up so far and learning the ropes of high school basketball. The girls are working hard and are excited to get onto the court in a competitive event. This tournament will give us a yardstick with which to measure where we stand right now and what we have to do to further prepare for the heart of the season. I look forward to what is yet to come and seeing how these girts develop as the year progresses!”
The Lady Jackets will take a full week of November 21-27 off without any games and will train, practice and prepare for the rest of the 2022-23 schedule. They will then travel to Wesclin Monday November 28 to open the Cahokia Conference season against the Lady Warriors and will go to Waterloo Tuesday November 29 for a non-conference matchup with the Gibault Lady Hawks. Thursday December 1 Carlyle will come to Chester’s Colbert Gymnasium to tip off the home portion of the schedule in another Cahokia Conference battle, this time against the Lady Indians. Friday December 2 the Lady Jackets will hit the road once again to compete at Cobden against the Lady Appleknockers in a non-conference contest to finish Week 3 with 4 games in 5 days!