CHS girls overtake Steeleville Lady Warriors in Game 8 of Sparta Invitational

Jackets force continuous clock late in the 4th Quarter and secure 51-20 win

BY JIM BEERS

Continuing Writer

​CHESTER On night four of the 32nd Annual Sparta Girls Basketball Invitational Tournament the Red Bud Lady Musketeers slipped ahead of New Athens to win, 66-53, in Game 7. The Chester Lady YellowJackets led throughout Game 8 against the Steeleville Lady Warriors to win, 51-20.

​New Athens, who came into their game with a tournament record of 1-2, faced Red Bud, 1-1 in the 5:30 contest.  The New Athens Lady YellowJackets led much of the game and fought hard to get a slim lead at halftime.

 

 

CHS Lady Jacket Lexi Mott, a freshman, drives to the basket Friday November 18 when Chester and Steeleville battled in Game 8 of the 32nd Annual Sparta Girls Tournament.  Steeleville’s Hannah Middendorf (11), Avery Roberts (4) and Emma Holland (22) attempt to defend Mott on the drive to the hoop. In the game Mott was Chester’s leading scorer with 18 points. She also added 6 rebounds and a steal in the 51-20 victory. Jim Beers Photo

 

In the second half, New Athens led by as much as 11 points and appeared to have a handle on a win, however, the Lady Musketeers managed to pull ahead in the 4th quarter and slipped by the YellowJackets down the stretch to defeat a “worn out” New Athens squad, 66-53. New Athens ended the tournament with a record of 1-3.

 

 

Lady Jacket Jessica Stumpe (25) pulls yup for a jumper at the 2:41 mark of the 1st Quarter to score Chester’s 8th point of the game against Steeleville.  The game was Game 8 of the 2022 Sparta Invitational Tournament Friday November 18 between CHS and Steeleville.  Chester win, 51-20. In the win, Stumpe scored 4 points and grabbed 3 rebounds, dished out 1 assist, recorded 3 steals and blocked 1 shot.  Jim Beers Photo

 

The Chester vs Steeleville game tipped-off at 7:00 p.m. Chester entered the game with a tournament record of 1-1 and Steeleville entered with a records of 0-2.

 

The Lady Jackets came out with a slow, disorganized start. The Steeleville Lady Warriors likewise struggled early and neither team scored until the 5:40 mark when Steeleville drew first blood to earn a 2-0 lead.

CHS Head Coach Clint Cowan talks to his team Friday November 18 at the 5:13 mark of the Cheter vs Steleville game.  The event was the 32nd Annual Sparta Girls Basketball Tournament.  Cowan’s squad won the contest, 51-20. Jim Beers Photo

 

Ten seconds later at 5:30 Chester tied the game 2-2 on a Jazzi Merideth two-pointer. Camrynn Howie sank a free throw a few seconds later to give Chester a 1-point lead and Chester never trailed again.  At 4:10 Merideth roared back draining a 3-pointer to extend Chester’s lead to 6-2. Steeleville called a time-out to re-group.

 

Jazzi Merideth (12) makes a hard drive to the basket after stealing the ball on the opposite end of the court and driving the length of the floor. Merideth made her shot and helped the Lady Jackets score the first points of the game against Steeleville. Chester won the game, 51-20. In the win, Merideth was Chester’s second- leading scorer. In addition, Merideth grabbed 6 rebounds, dished out 2 assists, and led the team in steals with 8. Jim Beers Photo

 

Following the Lady Warrior time-out Steeleville’s Avery Roberts, a 5’7” senior, connected on back-to-back free throws to bring the Warriors within two-points, 6-4.

 

Chester’s Jessica Stumpe (2), Lexi Mott (2) and Jazzi Merideth (2) then led Chester on a 6-0 run to create an 8-point, 12-4, Chester lead at the end of the 1st Quarter.

 

The Lady Jackets outscored the Lady Warriors 14-4 in the 2nd Quarter. In the opening 4:42 Lexi Mott picked up 6 of those 14 points, Camrynn Howie sank a 3-pointer, and Jessica Stumpe hit a 2-pointer as Chester led 23-4 after an 11-0 run.

 

In the final 3:49 Steeleville’s Lauren Wedemeyer popped a 3-pointer and Emma Mulholland connected on 1 free throw giving Steeleville 8 points. Chester Head Coach, Clint Cowan called a time-out at the 2:53 to play in the half.

 

After the CHS time-out, Emma Diskey connected on the front half of a one-and-one at the 1:51 mark. Nine seconds later Cowan called another time-out. To close out the half, Camrynn Howie knocked down a pair of free throws and the Lady Jackets led, 26-8 going into the locker room at the half.

 

After halftime Steeleville’s Hannah Middendorf (5), Avery Roberts (3), and Ashlyn Roberts (1) added nine points to the Lady Warrior’s point total. Steeleville was more active on the floor and was tougher on defense.

 

Lexi Mott continued to be very active under the basket scoring 8 points for Chester.  Aubrey Coleman added 3 points and both Jazzi Meredith and Emma Diskey each hit free throws to give Chester an additional 13 points to lead, 39-17 after three Quarters of play.

 

In the final period, Steeleville began to tire and the Jackets outscored them, 12-3 down the stretch to win the game, 51-20.  In that final Quarter Camrynn Howie made a pair of 2-pointers as did Jazzi Merideth.  Riley Conley and Lexi Mott each added a basket for Chester’s final score of 51-20. At the 3:08 mark the Lady Jackets were ahead by 30 points, 49-19 which put the continuous clock in effect.

 

The win gave Chester an overall and tournament record 2-1. In the win, the Lady Jackets had three players in double figures including Lexi Mott (18), Jasemine Merideth (12), and Camrynn Howie (10). Other scorers included Jessica Stumpe (4), Aubrey Coleman (3), and Riley Conley and Emma Diskey with two points apiece.

The Jackets recorded a total of 27 rebounds led by Jazzi Merideth and Lexi Mott with 6 apiece. CHS had 10 assists led by Camrynn Howie with 4. Jazzi Merideth led in steals with 8 and Howie, Conley and Stumpe each recorded a block apiece.

Steeleville was led by Avery Roberts who had 7 points, followed by Hannah Middendorf (6), Ashlyn Roberts and Lauren Wedemeyer with three points and Emma Holland with one point. With the loss, Steeleville had a tournament record of 0-3.

This just in: The Lady Jackets had two players that made All-Tournament team from the 2022 Lady Bulldog Basketball Invitational! Congratulations to Junior, Emma Diskey (#35) and Senior, Camrynn Howie (#3). Way to kick off the season, ladies.