Record now stands at 8-10 overall and 2-2 in the Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – The Chester YellowJacket Boys Basketball Team kicked off the 2025 portion of their season Friday and Saturday January 3 and 4 with a home game Friday against West Frankfort and an away game at Benton Saturday.
The Jackets split the weekend’s contests, winning at CHS Colbert Gymnasium, 50-45 over the West Frankfort Reedbirds and falling Saturday afternoon at Benton, 44-26, to the host Rangers.
Friday January 3: Chester 50 – West Frankfort 45
Chester and West Frankfort were fairly evenly matched throughout most of the game with the Redbirds keeping a small lead in the first three quarters.
After one quarter of play, West Frankfort led by one point, 11-10. The score was knotted 2-2 until the 6:36 mark when the Redbirds went on a 4-0 run to take a 6-2 lead. The two teams traded baskets until the 1:14 mark when CHS took a brief 10-8 lead.
Chester’s Tray Peters led the charge with a three-pointer and a 2-pointer and Devante Palacio added two field goals. Kolton Jany rounded out the 10-point effort with a free throw. At the buzzer West Frankfort’s Jack Herrell drained a 3-pointer to give the Redbirds an 11-10 lead to end the first quarter.
The second quarter was equally competitive with the Birds outscoring the Jackets by just one point, 18-17. Chester tied the game, 12-12 at the 7:20 mark, but West Frankfort used a 5-0 run to get a five point, 17-12 lead at 6:36.
The Birds extended their lead to seven points, 25-17 with 4:04 to play in the first half. Three pointers by Chester’s Tray Peters and Kolton got the Jackets back within four points at the 1:40 mark, with a score of 27-23. A 4-2 Chester run closed out the 2nd quarter to bring the Jackets within two points, 29-27, at the end of the first half.
The 3rd quarter was a great defensive battle. In this eight minute period the YellowJackets outscored the Redbirds, 7-6, to come within one point, 35-34, of taking the lead. In that stretch, it was the Devante Palacio show as he scored all six of Chester’s points on a pair of field goals and perfect 3-for-3 free throw shooting.
West Frankfort’s seven point effort started when Jack Herrell popped another 3-pointer to get the ball rolling. Quentin Osburn rounded out the quarter with a field goal and 2-of-2 free throw shooting.
Going into the 4th quarter the Jackets were just one point behind. Brenden Malley took the lead for Chester with a field goal just 13-seconds into the quarter. CHS led, 36-35. Kolton Jany, Tray Peters and TaShawn Palacio followed Malley’s lead and completed a 8-0 Chester run to lead, 42-35, with 2:55 to play in the game.
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Jack Herrell got the Redbirds back within one point, 42-41 at the 2:11 mark. On Chester’s next possession, Kolton Jany extended the Jacket’s lead to 44-41 to extend the CHS lead to three points. On West Frankfort’s next possession, the Jacket defense forced a traveling call and Chester got the possession back with 1:16 remaining in the game.
On the next play, TaShawn Palacio recovered a loose ball and scored two points at the 31.4 mark to extend Chester’s lead to five points, 46-41. It appeared as if Chester might be ready to put the game away.
With 25.9 seconds remaining, West Frankfort’s Quentin Osburn drained a two-point field goal to bring the Redbirds within three points, 46-43. The game once again became very interesting.
The final 25 seconds were long, drawn out and nerve-racking. With 20.3 to play, Cayden Brunkhorst went to the free throw line and sank one-of-two free shots to extend the Chester lead to 47-43. Five seconds later (15.3), Devante Palacio fouled out of the game, taking away a top scorer and great defender.
On West Frankfort’s next possession, Quentin Osburn was fouled and went to the line for two shots. He made both and all of a sudden, the game was once again close and anybody’s to take. The Birds trailed by just two points, 47-45.
In the final 13.6 seconds the Jackets defended well and went to the line twice as West Frankfort had to foul to stop the clock. The first time, Kolton Jany missed his first shot, but made the second. CHS led, 48-45. The second foul sent Brenden Malley to the line. Malley sank both shots and sealed the deal, 50-45, to win the game.
The Jackets were led by four players who scored in double figures including Kolton Jany (14), Devante Palacio (11), Tray Peters (10), and Brenden Malley (10). TaShawn Palacio (4), and Cayden Brunkhorst (1), who rounded out the offense. CHS was 9-of-13 (69%) at the free throw line. The Jackets made sixteen 2-pointers and three 3-pointers.
The Redbirds had two players score in double figures including Jack Herrell (19) and Quentin Osburn (14). Other contributors were Eli Tyson (6), Travion Johnson (2), Evan GoForth (2), and Cannon Cornaglia (2). The Redbirds were 5-of-6 from the free throw line (83%). They made eleven 2-pointers and six 3-pointers.
With the win, Chester started the 2025 portion of the season with a win and improved the overall record to 8-9. The conference record remains at 2-2.
In the JV game, the Redbirds escaped the Jackets, 47-40. West Frankfort led 14-12 after one quarter, 20-17 at the half, 35-25 after three periods, and 47-40 to end the game. The Jackets were led by Trey McCartney who scored 14 points. He was followed by Tallen James (9), TaShawn Palacio (7), Gabe Coffman (6), and Danny Worley (5).
Saturday January 4: Benton 44 – Chester 26
Due to impending winter weather, the Benton game was moved up to 3 p.m. to help get the players and cheerleaders home safely prior to the start of the freezing rain. The Friday night game ended at approximately 9 p.m. Approximately 15 hours later the team had to board busses, travel to Benton, and start their second game in less than 18 hours.
Benton came into the game with an overall record of 14-2. They were big, quick and experienced. The Rangers led, 14-5 after one quarter. Evan Dunning (3) and TaShawn Palacio (2) scored Chester’s five points. Benton’s points came from Schafer (7), Tedeshi (3), Owens (2), and Wiggs (2).
The Rangers outscored the YellowJackets, 12-4 in the second quarter to lead, 26-9 at halftime. Chester had a 4-2 run to trail 16-9 with 4:00 left in the half. During that run, Devante Palacio hit back-to-back free throws and Kolton Jany sank a bucket. Benton ended the half on a 10-0 run to lead by 17 points, 26-9, at halftime.
After the half, the Jackets came back and outscored the Rangers, 14-9. Devante Palacio drained a 3-pointer and Kolton Jany hit a bucket to get Chester within 12 points, 26-14, at the 6:29 mark.
In the final 4:00 Evan Dunning hit a 3-pointer, and Devante Palacio hit a pair of field goals and two free throws for Chester’s 14 points. Benton’s Tedeshi made a trey and a pair of 2-pointers for seven points and Owens hit a bucket. Benton led by 12 points, 35-23 after three quarters.
The final eight minutes had Benton outscored Chester, 9-3. Kolton Jany hit a basket and Devante Palacio made 1-of-2 free throws for Chester’s three points. The Rangers had four players contribute to its nine points including Owens (3), and Schafer, Hamilton, and Tedeshi with two points apiece. The Rangers won, 44-26.
In the loss, Chester only had four players contribute to the point total. Just one of them scored in double figures. Devante Palacio had 12 points, followed by Kolton Jany (6), Evan Dunning (6), and TaShawn Palacio (2). The Jackets were 5-of-6 from the free throw line (83%).
Benton also had just one player score in double figures. Tedeshi scored 20 points. He was followed by Schafer (9), Owens (7), Wiggs (4), Thomas (2), and Hamilton (2). The Rangers went to the free throw line just four times and they were 0-for-4 (0%).
With the loss the YellowJackets ended the week with an overall record of 8-10. Their Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division record stands at 2-2. Next Up for the YellowJackets will be a Cahokia Conference matchup at Wesclin Friday January 10.
In the JV game the Jackets were tied, 7-7 after one quarter of play. The second quarter had Benton JV outscoring Chester JV 17-8 to lead, 24-15 at the halfway mark. In the third quarter both teams only managed to score two points apiece. The score after three periods was 26-17. Down the stretch both teams scored well with the JV Rangers outscoring the JV Jackets 21-17 to win the game, 47-34.
Chester’s Devante Palacio (5) jumps ball against West Frankfort’s Jack Herrell (15) to start the game Friday January 3 at CHS Colbert Gymnasium. Chester got the first possession and ended up winning the game, 50-45. Jim Beers Photo
Brenden Malley (34) makes back-to-back free throws with 2.9 seconds to lay in the game against West Frankfort Friday January 3. Malley’s made free throws gave the Chester YellowJackets a 50-45-point lead and secured the win over the Redbirds. Malley scored in double figures in the win with 10 points to help seal the deal over West Frankfort. Jim Beers Photo
With just 13.6 seconds to play in the game against West Frankfort Friday January 3, Kolton Jany was fouled and went to the free throw line for a chance to score two points. The score was Chester 47 – West Frankfort 45. Jany missed his first shot but made his second to extend Chester’s lead to three points, 48-45. This very valuable point made sure that the Redbirds could only tie with a three pointer. In the final 20.3 seconds the YellowJackets were sent to the free throw line three different times with opportunities to add six points to the close Chester advantage. Cayden Brunkhorst made one free shot, Kolton Jany made one free shot, and Brenden Malley made both of his shots for four of six free throws to seal the game for Chester. In the win the Jackets were 9-of-13 at the line (69%). Jim Beers Photo