Chester girls face former conference foes at DuQuoin; fall 57-44 to Lady Indians
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – Saturday, February 3, the Chester High School Lady Jackets Basketball Team traveled to DuQuoin to take part in an afternoon of basketball that featured both YellowJacket boys basketball teams and both Lady Jacket girls basketball teams.
The JV boys and JV girls played the first two games of the day at 12 Noon and 1:30 P.M. respectively, and the Girls and Boys Varsity teams played at 3:00 P.M. and 4:30 P.M. respectively. The CHS Varsity Girls were featured at 3:00 P.M.
Chester and DuQuoin were former opponents in the River-to-River Conference, in the Mississippi Division until Chester left to join the Black Diamond Conference.
Chester High School freshman, Aubrey Colvis (14) was one of two players who scored in double figures Saturday February 3 when Chester played the Lady Indians of DuQuoin. Colvis, in her first year of high school basketball, scored 12 points and just missed achieving a double-double as she grabbed nine rebounds. Jim Beers Photo
They have since moved to the Cahokia Conference and compete in the Illinois Division. It fun for the Lady Jackets to get to challenge the Lady Indians from DuQuoin in their afternoon of friendly competition.
The first quarter was an even match-up with both CHS and DHS each scoring eight points apiece. In that opening quarter, the Lady Jackets were paced by Jazzi Merideth who popped a 3-pointer. Lexie Mott put in a field goal and hit a free throw. Camryn Luthy rounded out the scoring with a basket of her own to complete Chester’s eight points.
DuQuoin was led by A. Derarelt who popped a trey and a 2-point field goal. K. Destreicher (12) made a basket and hit a free throw. The score was locked, 8-8 after one quarter of play.
The second quarter was unfortunate for the Jackets as DuQuoin outscored them by 10 points, 14-4, to extend the Lady Indian’s lead to 10 points, 22-12 at the half.
Chester’s Aubrey Colvis and Lillian Diskey each hit baskets during the second 8-minutes of the game, however other Lady Jackets were as cold as ice.
DuQuoin had four players step up as H. Sizemore drained a pair of 3-pointers, K. Destreicher (12) popped a trey and a 2-pointer, A. Derarelt knocked down a bucket, and K. Destreicher (25) hit a free throw. The Lady Indians led, 22-12 at the popcorn break.
The Lady Jackets flew high and stung hard in the 3rd Quarter outscoring DuQuoin, 18-14. In that successful swarm, freshman Aubrey Colvis came alive and knocked down three baskets to lead the team with six points. Sophomore Lexie Mott added four points on a made bucket and 2-of-2 free throw shooting.
Junior three point specialist, Rylie Conley, came into the game and knocked down a trey, Camryn Luthy hit her second 2-pointer of the game, Aubrey Coleman hit a bucket, and Lillian Diskey hit 1 of 1 free throws to complete the 18-point period.
DuQuoin was paced by K. Destreicher (12) who hit three field goals, but missed three free throws. M. Eaton drained a three ball, A. Derarelt knocked down a bucket, A. Hill connected on 2-of-2 free throws, and K. Destreicher made 1-of-2 free throws for DuQuoin’s 14 points.
The Jackets trailed by just six points after three quarters of competition, 36-30. The ladies from Popeye Town were still in the game and were once again flying high and threatening the Lady Indians!
The final stretch was very competitive and exciting with both teams playing hard and challenging each other. DuQuoin managed to outscore Chester by five points, however, to seal the win, 57-46.
In the final frame, the Lady Jackets had scoring leadership from Lexie Mott who scored six points, and Aubrey Colvis who scored four points.
Also contributing were Camryn Luthy with a basket and 1-of-2 free throws, Jazzi Merideth who made her second field goal of the game, and senior Emma Diskey who got in the scorebook with 1-of-2 free throws to round out the Jacket’s 16 points.
In the 4th quarter the Lady Jackets sent the Lady Indians to the free throw line 15 times. The Indians made 8-of-those 15 free shots. A. Derarelt stood high down the stretch with a 3-pointer, a 2-pointer, and 3-of-6 free throws for a total of eight points.
- Destreicher (12) hit two baskets and 1-of-2 free throws for five points. I. Phillips came into the lime light off the bench and hit a basket and made 1-of-4 free throws for three points, and M. Eaton connected for 3-of-4 free throws to complete the Indians’ 21-point 4th quarter.
In the loss Chester shot 16-of-41 from 2-point range (39%), 2-of-9 from 3-point range (22%), and 18-of-50 from the field (36%). From the free throw line CHS was 6-of-16 (37.5%).
Lexie Mott led the team in scoring with 13 points. She also grabbed 11 rebounds for a double-double, dished 2 assists, and had 2 turnovers. Aubrey Colvis also scored in double figures with 12 points. She added nine rebounds.
Camryn Luthy scored 7 points, grabbed 5 rebounds, dished 2 assists, had 1 steal, and committed 2 turnovers. Jazzi Merideth scored 5 points, grabbed 4 rebounds, recorded 2 assists, 1 steal, and 2 turnovers. Rylie Conley had 3 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 turnovers.
Lillian Diskey had 3 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 turnover. Aubrey Coleman scored 2 points, grabbed 3 rebounds, and committed 5 turnovers. Emma Diskey recorded 1 assist, 2 steals, and 3 turnovers. Riley Lochhead had 1 rebound and 1 turnover.
The Lady Indians were sent to the free throw line 31 times. They made 13 (42%). They won the game by just 11 points. Chester was sent to the line just 16 times and made 6 (37.5%).
Du Quoin had two players score in double figures including, K. Destreicher (12) who scored 19 points and A. Derarelt who scored 17 points. Other contributors included H. Sizemore (8), M. Eaton (6), I. Phillips (3), A. Hill (2), and K. Destreicher (25) scored 2 points.
With the loss, the Lady Jackets now have an overall record of 13-16 and a Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division record of 1-8.
The YellowJackets will have “Senior Night” 2024 Thursday February 8 when Chester hosts Sparta in the final regular-season game of 2023-2024. CHS will honor three Lady Jacket seniors, Lillian Diskey, Jazzi Merideth, and Camryn Luthy.
Chester High School will host the first round of the 2024 IHSA Class 2A Regional Tournament Saturday evening February 10 at 6:00 p.m. against Anna-Jonesboro High School.