Schroeder, Mott and Fricke score in double figures; rest of team contributes only 10 points
BY JIM BEERS, Contributing Writer
CHESTER – The Chester High School YellowJacket Boys’ Basketball Team battled hard against the Freeburg Midgets in the opening round of the 2023 IHSA Class 2A Sparta Regional, but had difficulty holding their own against the, “not-so-small”, Midgets.
Freeburg was seeded No. 7 in the six-team regional while the Jackets were seeded No. 12. As in other regionals, opening rounds were hosted by the higher-seeded team in the opening round. Chester therefore had to travel to Freeburg to compete against the Midgets who enjoyed home-court advantage.
The game was competitive in the first quarter. After one quarter of play, the Midgets led by only seven points, 18-11.
Freeburg was led by Weber who scored six of Freeburg’s 11 points on a 3-pointer and 3-of-4 free throws. Browning added four points on a trey and perfect 2-for-2 free throw shooting. Stuart banged in two buckets and Otten hit a field goal and made one free throw.
Gavin Schroder knocked down a 3-pointer and 2-pointer to pace Chester’s 11-point effort. Chance Mott drained a trey and Trace Fricke hit a basket and made 1-of-2 free throws.
The second quarter proved to be a bit devastating for Chester as the Midgets outscored the Jackets, 17-9, to take a 35-20, 15-point, lead into the locker room at the half.
The Midgets took advantage of 8-of-10 free throw shooting for eight of their 17 points. Cooper also knocked down a 3-pointer, and Otten made three 2-pointers to round out its 17-point barrage.
Chester’s Gavin Schroeder drained another 3-pointer for the Jackets and added a free throw for four points, Davante Palacio made a field goal, but misfired on two free throws, Trace Fricke hit a basket, and Kolton Jany made the back end of a two-point free throw opportunity, to complete Chester’s nine-point second period.
The Jackets did not give up when they came back after the popcorn break. Chester tied Freeburg’s scoring effort in the third quarter. Both teams added 14 points. That was the good news. The bad news was that Freeburg maintained its 15-point lead, 49-34, after three quarters of play.
In the third quarter Trace Fricke drained two 3-pointers to pace Chester. Lucas Thompson came off the bench to drain a trey and Gavin Schroeder hit his third 3-pointer of the game. Rounding out the CHS offensive attack was Devante Palacio who hit his second field goal of the game. In that frame, the Jackets connected for four 3-pointers.
Chester’s defense held Freeburg to just 14 points in the third. Browning and Otten connected for treys and Weber and Trentman each made field goals. Otherwise the Midgets scored their final four points on 2-for-2 free throw shooting by both Stuart and Cooper.
Down the stretch, Freeburg outscored Chester, 22-14, to extend its lead to 23 points, 71-48. Seven Midgets contributed to that 22-point effort. Stuart and Otten led the charge with five points apiece, followed by Browning (4), Moran (3), Pluff (2), Brentlinger (2), and Trentman (1).
The YellowJackets were respectable with their back-to-back 14-point efforts in the 3rd and 4th quarters. In the 4th, Chance Mott came alive and carried the Jackets with his 8-point effort with three field goals and 2-for-2 free throw shooting. Gavin Schroeder knocked down a couple of field goals and Davante Palacio hit his third field goal of the game.
In summary, Chester was behind by seven points after one quarter. The Midgets outscored the Jackets by eight points in the second quarter to lead by 15 at halftime. The third quarter was a 14-14-point tie, and down the stretch in the 4th quarter Freeburg outscored Chester by eight points, to win the game, by 23 points, 71-48.
In the loss Chester was led by three players in double figures, Gavin Schroeder (16), Chance Mott (11) and Trace Fricke (11). Devante Palacio added six, Davante Palacio added three and Kolton Jany added one. For the game, CHS hit (11) 2-pointers, (7) 3-pointers, and made 5-of-10 free throws (50%). He Jackets were called for 15 fouls.
Freeburg was led by Otten (17), Stuart (13), Browning (12), and Weber (11). Other contributors included Cooper (7), Trentman (4), Morgan (3), Brentlinger (2), and Pluff (2). The Midgets made (16) 2-pointers, (6) 3-pointers, and made 21-of-25 free throws (84%). They wre called for 10 fouls.
With the loss Chester ended its 2022-2023 season with an overall record of 13-19. The Jackets finished 3rd in the Cahokia Conference Illinois Division with a record of 6-4. Conference standings included:
Red Bud (1st, 8-2);
Wesclin (2nd, 7-3);
Chester (3rd, 6-4);
Sparta (4th, 4-6),
Okawville (5th, 4-6)
Carlyle (6th, 1-9).
The Sparta Regional featured six teams including No. 2 Columbia, No. 3 Pinckneyville, No. 7 Freeburg; No. 8 Red Bud; No. 9 Sparta; and No. 12 Chester.
Sparta Regional Results
Game 1: Red Bud 55-Sparta 52 (Round 1)
Game 2: Freeburg 71- Chester 48 (Round 1)
Game 3: Columbia 59-Red Bud 50 (Semi-Finals)
Game 4: Pinckneyville 61-Freeburg 39 (Semi-Finals)
Game 5: Pinckneyville 48-Columbia 45 (Championship)
Pinckneyville IHSA Class 2A Sectional Results
Note: The winners of the Sparta, Nashville, Harrisburg, and Benton Class 2A Regionals advanced to the Pinckneyville Sectional
Game 1: (Tues. Feb. 28): Metropolis (Benton Champ) vs Pinckneyville (Sparta Champ)
Game 2: (Wed. Mar. 1): Breese Central (Nashville Champ) vs Carterville (Harrisburg Champ)
Game 3: (Fri. Mar. 3): Winner Game 1 vs Winner Game 2 (Championship Game)