Lady Jackets improve against Lady Warriors, but still can’t sting often and hard enough for the win
By Jim Beers
CHESTER — Chester hosted Wesclin in a home matchup Monday February 3. The Lady Jackets were coming off a good Week 10 with prestigious wins over Benton, 47-32, and Carterville, 51-47, in overtime. On Monday the girls from Chester had high hopes of stinging the Warriors in Colbert Gymnasium on Rocky Bridges Court.
The last time the two teams met was in the 6th game of the season on Monday December 2 on the road on Wesclin’s home court. The Jackets were young and green at that point and suffered a 35-point loss, 66-31. Chester was 2-4 at that time with wins over Steeleville and Sparta in the 2024 Sparta Tournament.
Since that time the Lady Jackets have won seven more games, have improved significantly, and have gained a great deal more experience and confidence. Hopes were high for a win and perhaps a bit of revenge against Wesclin.
Prior to the start of the Varsity game, Chester High School Athletic Director, Jennifer Cartwright made a special presentation to CHS basketball player Lexi Mott, a junior. At the Red Bud game Monday January 13, 2025, at Red Bud, Mott reached the 1000th scoring mark of her high school career.
Mott is only the third Lady Jacket in program history to reach the 1000th point scoring mark. Mott joins Jennifer (Knowles) Coleman, and Destiny (Williams) Kiner in the Lady Jacket 1000 Point Club. Cartwright presented Mott with a gold basketball labeled with her 1000th Point Career Achievement with Jacket fans and players cheering her accomplishment.
The Warriors started a lineup of just one senior, one sophomore, and three freshmen against Chester. Who would have figured that senior Lauren Marks, No. 4, would have set a career-high 30 points against Chester with a record-high nine (9) 3-pointers? Yes that’s right! Nine 3-pointers for 27 of her 30 points!
In the second match-up of the season, however, the Lady Jackets scored 13 more points against the Warriors (44 vs 31). The Warriors scored just four more points against Chester (70 vs 66). Take away Marks’ 30 points and Chester wins by four points, 44-40. Oh well, that’s basketball!
Officials for the game were Robert Batson, Collin Hirsch, and Mike Kueker. The Warriors are coached by Ben Crawford. He is assisted by MacKenzie Laird, Andrea Feldt, and Melanie Reinhardt. The Lady Jackets are coached by Jeff Mott. He is assisted by Jennifer Coleman, Kevin Cartwright, and Camrynn Howie. Cartwright and Howie are new to the staff.
Wesclin jumped out to an 11-point lead in the first quarter. In that frame, Lauren Marks made her mark well known as she scored four 3-pointers, thee of which were in the opening 3:30 of the game. Chester scored its first points of the game at the 4:33 mark of the first quarter when Lillian Diskey hit a pair of free throws with the clock stopped. Wesclin led, 12-2.
Chester’s Lexi Mott then answered with a 7-0 run of her own to get the Jackets within three points, 12-9 with 2:56 to play in the period. Things were looking good at that point, but the Jackets would never get that close again.
Answered with a 10-2 run of their own, during which Marks hit her fourth 3-pointer of the game. She was devastating to the Jackets throughout the entire night to put a stop to all momentum that Chester would generate. Wesclin led by 11 points, 22-11, after one quarter of play.
Wesclin’s defense was fast, furious, and stingy throughout the game. They guarded the lane well and rebounded well and were quick to create turnovers for the Jackets. Chester’s Lexi Mott managed to score three times in the second frame against a rough and trough Wesclin. Jessica Stumpe managed a 3-pointer and Rylie Conley scored two points on a field goal. Aubrey Coleman got into the scorebook with a free throw.
Wesclin was paced in the second frame by guess who? Lauren Marks! Marks drained three more 3-pointers in what appeared to be an effortless manner. Her total was seven 3-pointers at that time.
Teammate Gwen Murphy, a freshman, knocked down two field goals and Maura Wessel, another freshman, made a bucket. Wesclin outscored Chester, 15-12, in the second quarter to lead by 14 points, 37-23. There was still hope in Popeye Town at halftime!
The third quarter was a huge blow to the Lady Jackets as the Warriors outscored CHS 18-7 behind the efforts of freshman Amilli Dugans who came alive for eight points. Dugans is an excellent ball handler and made each of her four baskets by maneuvering through the Chester defense to the basket for acrobatic layups.
Wesclin’s three point shooting expert, Lauren Marks, struck again with two more 3-pointers making it nine total treys in the game. Katie Billhartz and Maura Wessel knocked down field goals to round out the 18-point third quarter for Wesclin.
The Jackets were led by Rylie Conley who knocked down two tough shots under pressure. She also connected for 1-of-2 free throws for a total of five points. Lexi Mott knocked down 2-of-4 free throws for Chester’s final points of the period. Wesclin led by 25 points, 55-30, at the end of three quarters.
The fourth quarter was tight with the Lady Warriors edging out the Lady Jackets by just one point. Chester’s Lillian Diskey, who paced the Jackets two days earlier at Carterville with 15 points, had only made two points on free throws going into the fourth quarter. Diskey started things off for CHS in the 4th quarter making a field goal less than a minute into the period.
Lexi Mott then went to work and started driving hard to the basket. She scored on back-to-back possessions making her layups and was fouled on both drives. She then made both free throws giving Chester six more points. The Jackets trailed by 23 points, 61-38, with 5:52 remaining in the game.
At the 3:44 mark Chester’s Aubrey Coleman scored to get the Jackets within 21 points, 61-40. With 3:06 to play in the game, Lexi Mott sank a pair of free throws. CHS trailed, 64-42. With 2:30 remaining, Riley Lochhead popped a field goal for Chester’s final score of the game. The Jackets trailed by 20 points, 64-44. In the final 1:58 Wesclin added another six points to win the contest by 26 points, 70-44.
In the loss the Lady Jackets were led offensively by Lexi Mott who scored 23 points. Other contributors included Rylie Conley (7), Jessica Stumpe (5), Lillian Diskey (4), Aubrey Coleman (3), and Riley Lochhead (2). The Jackets made 15-of-20 free throws (75%). They also made 13 2-pointers and just one 3-pointer. Chester committed 16 player fouls and had 1 technical foul.
Wesclin was led by Lauren Marks who scored 30 points. Included in that 30 points were nine 3-pointers and three free throws. Other contributors included Amilli Dugans (12), Maura Wessel (9), Gwen Murphy (7), Katie Billhartz (7), and Chloe Nordmann (5). The Lady Warriors shot just 28% from the free throw line (5-of-18). They made 13 two-pointers and 13 three-pointers. Wesclin was called for 17 fouls.
Head Coach Jeff Mott said, “We knew that Wesclin would be a tough game. They defended really well and they can be tough from the perimeter! I feel we played hard and played them much better than we did early in the year. We have to work on our man help a little more!”
They knocked down 13 threes and we were trying to cover all of their shooters, but we were just a little late to close out and help. It’s tough to beat a team when they shoot over 50% from behind the arc. Offensively we wanted to get the ball inside with our size advantage and we did that. We just couldn’t get stops on the defensive end of the court!”
With the loss, the Lady Jackets now stand at 9-16 overall and 1-7 in the Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division. The Jackets close out a three-game home stand later this week with “Senior Night” Thursday February 6 and rare Saturday afternoon game February 8 when DuQuoin comes to town for a 4 p.m. tip-off.
JV Game vs Wesclin: Wesclin 29 – Chester 18
The JV game was player with 6:00 quarters. Wesclin led, 10-2, after one quarter of play. In the second quarter the Lady Warriors outscored Chester’s JV 6-4 to lead at halftime, 16-6. The 3rd quarter had a 9-6 period for Wesclin to lead, 25-12, going into the final quarter. Down the stretch, Chester outscored Wesclin, 6-4, but lost the game by 11.
Chester was led by Rylee Shemonic who scored 6 points. She was followed by Carlee Cato (4), Marlie Caby (4), Bailey Hartman (2), and Hannah Crow (2).
Chester High School Athletic Director Jennifer Cartwright presents Lady Jacket Basketball player Lexi Mott (33) with a gold basketball to commemorate her accomplishment of reaching 1000 career points scored in her high school career. Jim Beers Photo
Chester High School junior, Lexi Mott, proudly poses with her commemorative gold basketball that was presented to her at the home game Monday February 3 when Chester hosted Wesclin. Making the presentation was CHS Athletic Director Jennifer Cartwright. The occasion was to recognize Mott for scoring her 1000th Career Point, which occurred Monday January 13 at the Red Bud game in Red Bud, Illinois. With her accomplishment, Mott became one of only three Lady Jacket players to reach the 1000th Point Scoring Mark. The other two players include Jennifer (Knowles) Coleman and Destiny (Williams) Kiner. Jim Beers Photo