CHS falls on the road, 54-51 in O.T. at Sparta and 64-40 at Fairfield
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – The Chester High School Varsity YellowJacket Basketball Team had a rough week 12 with road trips to Sparta and Fairfield.
Chester’s Devante Palacio (5), a junior, led the YellowJackets in scoring in Week 12 at Sparta and Fairfield, with 33 points. He also recorded 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 1 loose ball recovery. Jim Beers Photo
The game at Sparta was a Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division game. That hard-fought, competitive contest ended in a three- point, 54-51, overtime loss to the Bulldogs. The defeat resulted in a conference record of 3-6, in the Illinois Division.
The long trip to Fairfield brought back memories of similar boring road trips to face the Mules when Chester and Fairfield battled each either as opponents in the Black Diamond Conference years ago. Fairfield remains in the BDC while Chester has moved to the Cahokia Conference. At Fairfield, the Jackets fell to the Mules, 64-40, and dropped to an overall record of 13-16, with one game remaining in the 2023-24 regular season.
Sparta 54-Chester 51
The Bulldogs led the first three quarters, 17-8 after one quarter of play, 27-16 at halftime, and 34-29 after three periods. Chester took a brief, lead, 43-41, in the fourth quarter, but Sparta tied the game, 43-43, to force overtime. In the overtime period, the Bulldogs managed to outscore the Jackets, 11-8 for a 3-point, 54-51 win.
In the first meeting of the season on Tuesday December 19 at Chester’s Colbert Memorial Gymnasium, the Bulldogs beat the YellowJackets by three points, 50-47. In the second meeting of the season, this time at Sparta, the Bulldogs beat the YellowJackets again, by the same margin, 54-51, but it took the Dogs an overtime period to accomplish the task.
In the first quarter, Sparta had a great start with Bodeker (8), Pillers (5), Smith (2) and Monroe (2) joining for 17 points. Chester had Devante Palacio and Kolton Jany each hit two field goals apiece for Chester’s eight points. The Bulldogs led by nine points, 17-8.
The YellowJacket defense held the Dogs to just 10 points in the second quarter. Sparta was led by Greer (5), Monroe (3), and Smith (2). The YellowJackets produced another identical eight points in the second frame, led by Cayden Brunkhorst (3), Korbin Jany (2), Devante Palacio (2), and Lucas Thompson who hit 1-of-2 free throws. Sparta’s lead was by 11 points, 27-16, at the half.
The third quarter was Chester’s. The Jackets outscored the Bulldogs, 13-7. Chester was led by Brenden Malley who scored two field goals for four points. Lucas Thompson drained a 3-pointer and Devante Palacio, Korbin Jany and Kolton Jany each scored baskets to combine for 13 points.
Chester’s defense held Sparta to just seven points on Monroe’s 3-pointer and Pillers and Smith with two-point field goals. The Jackets narrowed Sparta’s lead to just five points, 34-29 after three quarters of competition.
The YellowJackets continued to control the game down the stretch in the fourth quarter and outscored the Bulldogs by five points, 14-9. Cayden Brunkhorst and Devante Palacio each scored five points during that stretch and Kolton Jany hit a basket and made 2-of-3 free throws to combine for Chester’s 14 points.
Greer carried the Bulldogs with a bucket and 3-of-4 free throw shooting, while Monroe drained a three-pointer and made 1-of-2 free throws for the Dogs’ nine points.
With Chester outscoring Sparta by five points, 14-9, the YellowJackets led 43-41. With just 2-seconds left on the clock, Sparta’s Robert Greer made a drive to the basket for a 2-point layup to tie the game, 43-43 and send the game into overtime.
In overtime, Devante Palacio knocked down two field goals and two free throws for six points. Brenden Malley hit a bucket and the Jackets had eight points. The Bulldogs had a pair of 3-pointers and 3-of-4 free throws from Greer for nine points. Pillers hit 1-of-2 free throws and Bodeker had 1-of-2 free throws for a total of 11 points. Sparta outscored Chester, 11-8, in overtime, to win the highly contested contest, 54-51.
In the loss, Chester’s Devante Palacio led the Jackets with 19 points. He also grabbed 6 rebounds, dished out 3 assists, had 1 steal, and 1 loose ball recovery. Kolton Jany followed with 10 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 1 loose ball recovery.
Cayden Brunkhorst scored eight points. He also led the team in assists with 4, had 3 boards, and 1 loose ball recovery. Brenden Malley led the team in rebounds with eight. He scored 6 points, and had Chester’s only blocked shot. Korbin Jany scored 4 points, 3 assists, and 1 rebound. Lucas Jany scored 4 points.
Sparta was led by Greer who scored 19 points. Monroe scored 12 points, and Bodeker (9), Pillars (8), Smith (6) rounded out the 54 point performance.
With the loss, the YellowJackets fell to 3-6 in the Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division, and to an overall record of 13-15.
Fairfield 64-Chester 40
At Fairfield the Jackets struggled significantly in the first half, trailing 15-9 at the end of the first quarter. The Mules led, by six points. The second quarter proved to be highly detrimental to the Jackets as Fairfield blasted the Jackets, 25-9 to lead by 22 points, 40-18, at halftime.
The YellowJackets outscored the Mules by two points, 13-11, in the third quarter, however, Fairfield still led by 20 points, 51-31. Down the stretch, Fairfield outscored Chester 13-9 to win the game by 24 points, 64-40.
In the first quarter Kolton Jany led the Jackets with two baskets for four points. Devante Palacio and Brenden Malley each scored a basket and Korbin Jany made 1-of-2 free throws for Chester’s nine point quarter.
Fairfield had scoring from four players including Tucker (6), Harrelson (5), Dagg (2) and Easton (2). The Mules led, 15-9.
The second quarter saw scoring form Chester’s Devante Palacio who hit a pair of 2-pointers, Korbin Jany who hit a basket and made 1-of-2 free throws, and Brenden Malley who was perfect from the free throw line with 2-for-2 shooting. CHS added nine points.
Fairfield’s Harrelson dominated the Mule’s offense by hitting three 3-pointers, a pair of 2-pointers, for a total of 13 points. Tucker added five points, Dagg popped a 3-pointer and a free throw, and Snyder hit both of his free throw shots for a total of 25 points. The Mules led by 22 points, 40-18 at the half.
Chester outscored Fairfield, 13-11, in the third quarter. Chester’s Devante Palacio put in two field goals and a pair of free throws, Korbin Jany knocked down a nice 3-pointer, and Brenden Malley hit a basket and made both of his free throw opportunities in the quarter for a total of 13 points.
The Mules were led by Tucker who drained two field goals and a 3-pointer. Dagg hit a trey and Maners sank 1-of-2 free throws for Fairfield’s 11 point effort. The Mules led by 20 points after three quarters, 51-31.
The fourth quarter was another rather low-scoring period with the Mules outscoring Chester, 13-9. In that frame, Brenden Malley scored four points, Evan Dunning scored three points, and Devante Palacio added two points.
Fairfield was led by Maners and Boyd who each scored four points apiece. Tucker hit a 3-pointer. White made a 2-pointer for the Mules’ 13 points. At the buzzer, Fairfield led, 64-40.
In the loss, the YellowJackets were led by two players who scored in double figures. Devante Palacio scored 14 and Brenden Malley scored 12. Korbin Jany added 7 and Kolton Jany scored 4. Evan Dunning rounded out the scoring with three points.
Brenden Malley led the team in rebounding with six boards. Kolton Jany led in assists with two. TaShawn Palacio and Brenden Malley recorded one steal apiece. Devante Palacio and Lucas Thompson led in deflections with two apiece, and Cayden Brunkhorst had 1 loose ball recovery.
Fairfield had three players score in double figures including Tucker (21), Harrelson (18) and Dagg (10). Other contributors were Maners (5), Boyd (4), Snyder (2), Easton (2), and White (2).
With the loss, Chester dropped to 13-16 overall. The Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division record remained at 3-7.