BY JIM BEERS
CHESTER – The Chester High School Lady Jacket Basketball Team opened the 2024-25 basketball season Monday November 18 in the first round of the 2024 Sparta Lady Bulldog Basketball Tournament. The Jackets opened against the Red Bud Lady Musketeers in a close, hard-fought game in which the Musketeers edged the Jackets by five points, 36-31, at the final buzzer.
Chester led 7-3 after the first quarter, led by Lexi Mott and Riley Lochhead who each scored three points. Jessica Stumpe hit a free throw to round out the 7-point quarter. Red Bud’s J. Friess hit a pair of free throws and L. Minemann drained one free throw.
The Musketeers controlled the second quarter outscoring the Lady Jackets, 11-5. Red Bud’s Minemann and T. Carter each scored four points apiece and J. Friess hit a basket and a free throw to round out the Musketeers 11-point quarter. Lexi Mott was the only Chester player to score. She drained a 3-pointer and a two-pointer. The Musketeers took a slim, 2-point, 14-12 lead into the locker room at halftime.
After the popcorn break both teams took the floor and battled hard for the entire period. The Musketeers ended the 3rd quarter outscoring the Lady Jackets by just one point, 12-11.
Red Bud got scoring from four players including l. Minemann, 4; K. Ehret, 4; and J. Friess and J. Whelar with two points apiece. The Lady Jackets were paced by freshman Marlie Caby who drained a three ball and added two deuces. Lexi Mott scored three points and Rylie Conley scored her first point of the season with a free throw. At the end of three quarters, the Lady Musketeers led the Lady Jackets by three points, 26-23.
Down the stretch the story was the same with the Musketeers edging the Lady Jackets by just two points, 10-8. T. Carter paced Red Bud with five points. She went to the free throw line six times, making three. She also made a 2-point basket. A. Wagner hit a pair of baskets and J. Friess was 1-of-4 from the free throw line.
Chester was led by Lexi Mott who scored five points on a pair of baskets and 1-of-2 free throws. Jessica Stumpe added two points with a field goal and Rylie Conley made 1-of-2 free throws. The final score was Red Bud 36-Chester 31.
Lexi Mott led the Jackets in the loss with 16 points, 12 rebounds and 1 turnover. She shot 50% from the free throw line (3-of-6). Marlie Caby followed with 7 points, 2 rebounds and 1 turnover. Jessica Stumpe scored three points, had four rebounds and three turnovers. She was 1-for-3 at the line (33%). Riley Lochhead scored three points and grabbed a pair of rebounds and committed four turnovers. Finally, Rylie Conley, Chester’s only senior, scored two points, grabbed 4 rebounds and recorded 4 turnovers. Conley was 2-of-4 from the free throw line (50%).
Red Bud was led by L. Minemann and T. Carter who each scored nine points apiece. J. Friess added 8 points. A. Wagner and K. Ehret each scored 4 points apiece and J. Whelar added two points.
In the photo: The Chester High School Lady Jackets Varsity Basketball Team opened its 2024-25 season Monday November 18 at the 2024 Sparta Lady Bulldog Tournament. Pictured here (Front Row, seated, left to right) are Marlie Caby (35), Lillian Diskey (21), Rylie Conley (4), Aubrey Coleman (31) and Bailey Hartmann (10). (Back row, standing) are Natalie Guetersloh (22), Riley Lochhead (11), Lexi Mott (33), Jessica Stumpe (24), Rylee Shemonic (10), and Hannah Crow (12). The Lady Jackets are coached by Jeff Mott.
