Chester falls to Wesclin, 70-44, in Game 25, but gets back-to-back wins against Red Bud, 44-31, in Game 26 on Senior Night, and DuQuoin, 51-42, in Game 27, to finish the trifecta
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – The Chester girls had a rare three-game home stand in Week 11 of the 2024-25 season. The Chester Lady Jackets hosted Cahokia Conference rival, Wesclin, Monday February 3, but fell to the Lady Indians, 70-44.
On Thursday February 6, the Chester girls got their second Cahokia Conference win of the season when they the hosted the Red Bud Lady Musketeers at Colbert Gymnasium at Chester High School. CHS defeated Red Bud 44-31. It was Senior Night for Rylie Conley and “Jeff Mott Support Night”.
To close out Week 11 the Jackets hosted non-conference DuQuoin Saturday February 8 and won, 51-42. It was the third time this season that the Lady Jackets achieved back-to-back wins.
Monday February 3: Wesclin 70-Chester 44
Wesclin was in 2nd Place in the Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division with an overall record of 17-9 and a Cahokia Conference record of 6-2 when they came to town to challenge the Jackets. When the Jackets traveled to Wesclin December 2 the Lady Indians beat Chester, 66-31. With the loss, Chester fell to an overall record of 9-16 and a conference record of 1-7.
Thursday February 6: “Senior Night 2025 for Rylie Conley”: Chester 44- Red Bud 31
Thursday February 6 was “Senior Night 2025” and Lady Jacket fans said goodbye to Rylie Conley (4), a 5’6” guard. Conley is the Jackets’ only senior. Prior to the National Anthem and announcement of the starting lineups, Jennifer Cartwright, CHS Athletic Director, and Stadium Announcer Mike Lochhead, recognized Conley and her parents, Erin Conley (father) and Erica Eggemeyer (mother) center court.
Lochhead read the following announcement, “We would like to take this opportunity to recognize our lone Lady Jacket Basketball senior athlete. The Rylie Conley has dedicated herself to academics and athletics throughout her high school career.”
“The Chester School District would like to honor and thank her for her loyalty and dedication to our athletic programs over the past four years.”
At that point, Conley and her parents were presented with flowers and orange and black balloons as a token of appreciation as Jackets fans cheered and applauded her accomplishments on the Lady Jacket Basketball Team.
The Jackets buzzed out to a 13-8 lead after one quarter of play. As was appropriate for Senior Night, Rylie Conley scored Chester’s first points of the game with back-to-back free throws and give Chester a 2-1 lead at the 5:28 mark.
Lillian Diskey and Aubrey Coleman each popped a three pointer and Lexi Mott banged one in from inside as CHS led, 10-6 with 1:08 remaining in the first quarter. To close out the period, Diskey connected for her second trey and the Jackets led, 13-8 at the end of the opening 8:00.
Red Bud was paced by Lilly Minemann (3), Ava Wagner (2), Norah Wagner (2), and Jeda Friess (1) for their eight points.
Chester managed to outscore the Lady Musketeers in the second quarter by just two points, 7-5. In that frame Talia Carter opened action draining a 3-pointer to get the Musketeers within two points, 11-13, in the opening seconds.
Jessica Stumpe answered for CHS with a bucket at 4:25 to get the Jackets ahead, 15-11. A minute later Stumpe was fouled and sent to the free throw line and made a pair of free throws to extend the Chester lead to 17-11.
Nora Rothlisberger then made a pair of free throws at 2:32 to get Red Bud back within four points, 17-13. At the buzzer, Chester’s Jessica Stumpe knocked down a 3-pointer to give the Lady Jackets a seven point lead, 20-13, going into the locker room at the break.
In the third quarter Lexi Mott was fouled at the 6:44 mark and made both of her free throws to extend Chester’s lead to 22-13. Stumpe scored again 44-seconds later and further extended the Chester lead to 24-13 with 6:06 to play in the 3rd quarter.
Red Bud’s Ava Wagner answered with a trey at 5:23 and Chester led, 24-16. Lexi Mott was sent to the line again at 5:05 and made both of her free throws to extend the Lady Jacket’s lead to 28-16. Red Bud’s Talia Carter hit a bucket at the 4:45 mark to make things interesting and get Red Bud back within eight points, 26-18. Kendra Ehret added two points on a field goal to get the Musketeers even closer, 26-20, with 2:59 remaining in the period.
To close out the third quarter, Chester went on a 5-2 run to end the period ahead by nine points, 31-22. In that run, Chester’s Lexi Mott hit a bucket and later a free throw and Lillian Diskey knocked down a basket. Kendra Ehret hit Red Bud’s basket.
In the final quarter the Lady Jackets outscored the Lady Musketeers, 13-9. In that frame Rylie Conley, Lillian Diskey, and Aubrey Coleman combined for six of Chester’s 13 points with a field goal apiece. Lexi Mott took care of six points on a basket and 4-of-5 free throws. With 25.5 seconds on the clock, Lillian Diskey drained a free throw for Chester’s 44th point.
Red Bud was sent to the free throw line 12 times in the fourth quarter. They made seven of those 12, including Lilly Minemann (2), Ava Wagner (1), Talia Carter (2), and Emma Carter (2). Kendra Ehret rounded out the Musketeers’ scoring with a 2-pointer. Chester won by 13 points, 44-31.
The Musketeers had eight players score in the loss, but none with double figures. Scorers included Ava Wagner (7), Talia Carter (7), Lilly Minemann (6), Kendra Ehret (4), Norah Wagner (2), Emma Carter (2), Nora Rothlisberger (2), and Jeda Friess (1). The Musketeers shot 67% from the free throw line (12-of-18).
Chester had five players provide offensive points including two with double figures. Lexi Mott led all scorers with 15 points. Lillian Diskey scored 11 points. The other three scorers were Jessie Stumpe (9), Aubrey Coleman (5), and Rylie Conley (4). The Jackets made 14-of-22 free throws (64%). CHS made nine 2-pointers and four 3-pointers.
With the win, Chester improved to an overall record of 10-16. It was Chester’s second Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division win to improve to 2-7.
Thursday February 6 was also Jeff Mott Night!
In addition to being “Senior Night 2025” in which Rylie Conley was honored, and a Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division game with Red Bud, it was also a night in which YellowJacket fans came to support “Jeff Mott”, CHS Lady Jacket Head Coach. Mott is currently fighting Chronic Leukemia. There were numerous activities held at the game to show support for Coach Mott.
Saturday February 8: Chester 51-DuQuoin 42
To close out the three-game Week 11 the Lady Jackets hosted DuQuoin in a late afternoon match-up. The JV gamed started at 4:00 p.m. and the varsity followed shortly thereafter.
The Chester Lady Jackets and DuQuoin Lady Indians were conference mates when both competed in the River-to-River, Mississippi Division years ago. Since that time, Chester has moved to the Black Diamond Conference and now to the Cahokia Conference and the two teams seldom play each other. It was nice to face the girls from DuQuoin again in non-conference action.
The Lady Indians edged the Lady Jackets by one point, 16-15 after one quarter of play. Rylie Conley paced the Jackets with five points on a 3-pointer and a 2-pointer. Lexi Mott also scored five points on a field goal and 2-of-3 baskets at the free throw line. Riley Lochhead, Lillian Diskey, and Jessie Stumpe all hit field goals for the final six points.
The Lady Indians “lived by three” in the opening period as Denault sank a pair of threes, Phillips hit a three, and Eaton drained a three for 12 of DuQuoin’s 16 points. Haynes made a 2-pointer and Hill was 2-for-2 at the free throw line to round out the 16-point effort.
Chester dominated the second quarter outscoring DuQuoin by eight points, 12-5. Aubrey Coleman got back on track with five points on a trey and a deuce to pace CHS. Lexi Mott made a field goal and the Jackets finished the 12-point drive with 5-of-8 at the free throw line. In that free throw shooting exhibition Jessica Stumpe made 3-of-4 free shots and Conley and Diskey were 1-of-2 apiece.
The Indians scored their five points on a pair of field goals by Haynes, and 1-of-2 free throws by Hill. The Lady Jackets led by six points, 27-21, at halftime.
After the halftime break DuQuoin executed another 1-point advantage effort outscoring Chester, 11-10, in the third frame. Hill led the charge with five points, followed by Haynes (4), and Eaton (2).
The Jackets had four-point efforts from two players. Stumpe and Mott each scored four points apiece with two field goals each. Rylie Conley completed the 10-point frame with a field goal. The Lady Jackets still led by five points, 37-32, after three quarters.
Down the stretch Chester held on tight to outscore DuQuoin, 14-10. Jessica Stumpe led the charge with nine of Chester’s 14 points. She made three baskets and sank 3-of-4 free throws. Lexi Mott scored three points on a field goal and a free throw, and Lillian Diskey drained a basket.
DuQuoin was paced by Denault who hit a 2-pointer and a trey for five points. Hill and Haynes each popped 2-pointers and Suhr made 1-of-2 free throws. Chester led by nine points, 51-42 at the buzzer to win the game!
In the loss, DuQuoin was led in scoring by three players in double figures including Haynes (12), Denault (11), and Hill (10). Other contributors were Eaton (5), Phillips (3), and Suhr (1). The Lady Indians shot 78% from the free throw line (7-of-9). They made 10 two-pointers and five 3-pointers.
Chester was led by Jessica Stumpe who scored 18 points. Lexi Mott scored 13 points. Other offensive contributors included Rylie Conley (8), Lillian Diskey (5), Aubrey Coleman (5), and Riley Lochhead (2). The Lady Jackets made 11-of-17 free throws (65%). The Jackets made 17 two-pointers and two 3-pointers.
With the win, Chester improved to 11-16 overall and 2-7 in the Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division. The Lady Jackets will complete their 2024-25 regular season in Week 12 with road trips to Trico Tuesday February 11 and Sparta Thursday February 13.
The Lady Jackets will play the Benton Lady Rangers Saturday February 15 at Benton at 2:00 P.M. in the 2025 IHSA Class 2A Regional Basketball Tournament.
Chester’s Jessica Stumpe (24) warms up prior to the DuQuoin game Saturday February 8 at CHS Colbert Gm. Stumpe has stepped up her play as of late and paced the Lady Jackets in the 51-42-win vs the Lady Indians with 18 points. She also added nine points Thursday February 6 when the Jackets beat Red Bud, 44-31. Jim Beers Photo
It was “Senior Night” Thursday February 6 when the Jackets hosted Red Bud. Chester’s lone senior is Rylie Conley (4). She is a 5’6″ guard who has been a consistent leader for the Lady Jackets over the past four years. Shown here (left to right) with her Head Coach Jeff Mott and parents Erica Eggemeyer and Erin Conley, Rylie is recognized at the Pre-Game ceremony in her honor on Rocky Bridges Court. Jim Beers Photo
Lexi Mott (33) a Chester High School junior, shoots free throws late in the game Thursday February 6 when the Lady Jacxkets hosted Red Bud in a Cahokia Conference match-up. Mott made 3-of-5 free throws in the game and scored in double figures with 13 points. CHS won, 44-31, over the Red Bud Lady Musketeers. Jim Beers Photo