CHS falls at Anna-Jonesboro, 60-51; wins over Steeleville, 49-33; and loses at Marissa-Coulterville, 61-35
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – The Chester High School Lady YellowJacket Basketball Team completed a 5-game road swing to kick off the 2025 portion of the 2024-25 season.
The Jackets should have hosted their annual Lady Jacket Mid-Winter Classic Tournament January 6-10 to welcome in the New Year, but the tournament had to be cancelled due to the winter storm of 2025 that brought sleet, rain, ice, and 6’ inches of snow to the area. When Chester finally got to play basketball again, it was already January 13.
Chester’s Lexi Mott (33) led the Jackets in Week 9 with a total of 36 points. She scored 6 at Anna-Jonesboro, 19 at Steeleville, and 11 at Marissa Coulterville. Jim Beers Photo
Coach Jeff Mott said, “We couldn’t practice or play any games for nearly two weeks straight. That really took a toll on us. We haven’t touched a ball since the Saxony Tournament December 14-20 and the Massac County game January 2. It is a shame we couldn’t host our tournament because I really think we could have played with anyone in that 8-team event.”
When the Lady Jackets finally returned to action, they faced a five-game, two week road trip to Red Bud, Carlyle, Anna-Jonesboro, Steeleville, and Marissa-Coulterville. In that swing, the Jackets faced two loses in Week 8 to Red Bud and Carlyle, and a win and two loses in Week 9. CHS lost at Anna-Jonesboro and Marissa-Coulterville, and won at Steeleville.
Anna-Jonesboro 50-Chester 40
The Jackets traveled to AJ Tuesday January 21 to take on the Lady Wildcats. It was a very competitive game with AJ leading by only one point, 16-15, after the first quarter and by one point, 27-26 at halftime.
The Lady Cats outscored the Lady Jackets by three points, 14-11, in the third quarter to lead by only four points, 41-37, after three quarters. Down by just four points going into the fourth quarter the Lady Jackets were still in the game and challenging AJ. The Cats managed to edge the Jackets, 19-14, to win the game by nine points, 60-51.
In the loss, the Jackets had seven players contribute to the offensive production. Jessica Stumpe led Chester with 16 points, followed by Rylie Conley (8), Aubrey Coleman (7), Riley Lochhead (6), Lillian Diskey (6), Lexi Mott (6), and Marlie Caby (2). Chester shot 50% (9-of-18) from the free throw line and made 12 two-pointers and six three-pointers.
Anna-Jonesboro had just five players score out of seven players who entered the game. Three players scored in double figures including J. Shepard (20), K. Craig (18), and Sadler (10). Smith added eight points and Gerardi had 4 points. The Lady Wildcats were 14-of-27 from the free throw line (82%). They recorded 20 two-point field goals and two 3-pointers.
With the loss, Chester fell to 6-13 overall and remained 1-5 in the Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division race.
Chester 49-Steeleville 33
The Jackets got off to a rather slow start at Steeleville. They led by just three points, 8-5, after the first quarter behind the hot hand of Lillian Diskey who drained a pair of 3-pointers. The only other lady Jacket to score was Lexi Mott who made a pair of free throws. Steeleville’s Middendorf and Gladson each hit buckets and Hepp hit one free throw.
The Lady Warriors had a great second quarter outscoring the Lady Jackets 16-5. Going into the locker room, Steeleville led by eight points, 21-13.
Chester’s five points came from Lexi Mott who made a field goal and one free throw and Jessica Stumpe added a field goal.
Steeleville’s Middendorf knocked down a trey and a traditional 2-pointer, and Bess hit a three ball, a pair of 2-pointers, and 2-of-4 free throws. Cole contributed a field goal to give the Warriors their 16 points.
At halftime Coach Mott made some adjustments and the girls had a brief “talking-to”. Apparently the halftime discussion worked because Chester outscored Steeleville, 36-12 in the second half.
The third quarter Rylie Conley came alive and knocked down two 3-pointers and a 2-pointer for eight points. Lexi Mott almost camped on the free throw line and made 6-of-7 free throws and a field goal for eight points. Jessie Stumpe chipped in a pair of field goals to complete Chester’s 20-6 third quarter.
Reiss, Middendorf, and Cole each scored two points apiece for Steeleville’s six points. The Lady Jackets ended the third quarter leading by six points, 33-27.
The Jackets continued to fly high down the stretch as they stung the Lady Warriors, 16-6, to close out the game. In that last frame, Lexi Mott paved the way with three field goals for six points. Freshman Marlie Caby knocked down a three pointer and hit a 2-pointer for five points. Lillian Diskey drained her third three pointer of the game for three more points and Aubrey Coleman sank a pair of free throws.
The Warriors had a replay of their third quarter with Reiss, Middendorf, and Cole each scoring two points apiece for six points. At the final buzzer, Chester had increased its lead to 16 points, 49-33, for the win.
In the win the Lady Jackets were led offensively by Lexi Mott who score 19 points. Other contributors included Lillian Diskey (9), Rylie Conley (8), Jessica Stumpe (6), Marlie Caby (5), and Aubrey Coleman (2). Chester had a good night at the free throw line making 11-of-15 shots (74%). The Jackets drained six 3-pointers and made ten 2-pointers.
Steeleville had two players score in double figures including Reiss (13) and Middendorf (11). Other contributors included Cole (6), Gladson (2), and Hepp (1). The Warriors made 7-of-11 free throws (64%). They connected for two 3-pointers and ten 2-pointers.
With the win, the Chester Lady Jackets improved to an overall record of 7-13 and a Cahokia Conference record of 1-5).
Marissa-Coulterville 61 – Chester 35
Junior Varsity
Chester traveled to Marissa-Coulterville for a rare Saturday game that began at noon and featured both a JV and Varsity game. The JV played only to quarters. Chester’s JV won that game, 16-14. Offensive contributors included Marlie Caby (5), Natalie Guetersloh (4), Hannah Crow (4), and Rylee Shemonic (3).
Varsity
The Varsity had a rough day at Marissa-Coulterville. The Lady Meteors jumped out to a 14-6 lead in the first quarter and never looked back. In that first frame Jessie Stumpe and Aubrey Coleman hit field goals and Lexi Mott was 2-for-2 at the free throw line, but that was all the Jackets could muster up in the first quarter.
The second quarter was a bit better with CHS scoring nine points, however, the Meteors outscored Chester by eight points, 17-9, to take a 31-15 lead into the locker room at the halfway mark. In that second frame, Lillian Diskey, Aubrey Coleman, and Lexi Mott each scored two points apiece and Rylie Conley scored three points on a field goal and a free throw.
Chester scored six points in the first quarter, nine points in the second quarter and 12 points in the third quarter for increments of three additional points each period. Unfortunately, the Lady Meteors outscored the Jackets again in the third period, 13-12.
Lexi Mott led the charge in the third quarter with a 2-pointer, a 3-point field goal and 2-of-2 free throw shooting for seven points. Aubrey Coleman drained a trey, and Lillian Diskey was 2-for-2 at the line. Marissa-Coulterville led by 17 points, 44-27, after three quarters.
The fourth quarter was not friendly to the Lady Jackets as the Lady Meteors outscored CHS, 17-8, to end the game. Rylee Shemonic hit two free throws in that frame and Lillian Diskey, Rylie Conley, and Marlie Caby each hit buckets. Marissa-Coulterville took the win by 26 points, 61-35.
In the loss, Chester was paced offensively by Lexi Mott who scored 11 points. She was the only Lady Jacket to score in double figures. Other scorers included Aubrey Coleman (7), Lillian Diskey (6), Rylie Conley (5), Rlyee Shemonic (2), Jessica Stumpe (2), and Marlie Caby (2). The Jackets were 9-of-12 from the free throw line (75%). They made 10 two-pointers and two 3-pointers.
Marissa-Coulterville had nine of 11 players score in their win. Two players scored in double figures including Bickert (22) and Krause (11). Other contributors include Villarreal (8), Ka. Klingeman (5), Perry (5), Trieb (4), Ki. Klingeman (2), Kane (2), and Alstat (2). The Lady Meteors made 13-of-23 free throws (57%). They made 21 two-pointers and two 2-pointers.
With the loss, the Lady Jackets fell to an overall record of 7-14 and a Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division record of 1-5. Next up for the Lady Jackets will be a home game January 27 when CHS hosts the Benton Lady Rangers. Thursday January 30 Chester will travel to Okawville to challenge the Lady Rockets.