No. 10 Jackets play well in first half against No. 1 Crusaders; lose steam down the stretch; final record: 17-16
By Jim Beers
The Chester High School YellowJacket Boys made it to the 2025 IHSA Class 2A Chester Regional Semi-Finals Wednesday February 25. The event was hosted at Chester High School’s Colbert Memorial Gymnasium, on Rocky Bridges Court.
The Semi-Finals featured the No. 1 Belleville Althoff Catholic Crusaders vs the No. 10 Chester YellowJackets in Game 3 at 6:00 p.m. and the No. 4 Pinckneyville Panthers vs the No. 12 Red Bud Musketeers in Game 4 at 7:30 p.m.
Colbert Memorial Gymnasium was nearly full with fans from Chester, Belleville, Red Bud and Pinckneyville. The Chester High School Pep Band, under the direction of Steve Colonel, was on hand to perform music for the occasion.
CHS offered two concession stands for the tournament. The “West Stand”, run by student organizations, sold hot popcorn, a wide variety of candy bars, and approximately 10 varieties of Pepsi Cola beverages.
The “East Stand”, organized and managed by Principal Jeremy Blechle and his Family and Friends, offered numerous “HOT” food items including puled pork sandwiches, hot dogs, jumbo dogs, pizza by the slice, walking tacos, loaded pulled pork nachos, cheese nachos, French fries, cheese fries, pretzels with cheese, loaded fries and fries with cheese.
Extra items include Chips, mozzarella cheese sticks, cotton candy, giant pickles, pickle pops, and Italian ice. For the distinguished drinker, Principal Blechle makes his delicious sweet iced tea! The West concession stand has become known across Southern Illinois as being one of the best if not THE BEST concession stand around!
Game 3: No. 1 Althoff vs No. 10 Chester
The YellowJackets were ready to face the No. 1 ranked team in the state of Illinois Class 2A in their Semi-Final game vs Belleville Althoff Catholic High School. The Jackets played very well in the opening half trailing by just nine points, 19-10, after the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Crusaders only outscored the YellowJackets by one point, 8-7, to lead by 10 points, 27-17, at halftime.
The third quarter was devastating for Chester as Belleville outscored Chester by 13 points, 21-8, to extend their lead to 23 points, 48-25, after three periods. In the final quarter, Althoff just outscored Chester by only three points, 13-10, to win the game by 26 points, 61-35.
The Crusaders had eight players that scored points in their win. Two players scored in double-digits including Dierre Hill (15) and Zach Winkeler (15). These two quality players scored half of Belleville’s points. The other six players scored the remaining 31 points including Bryden Gryzmala (7), Luke Smith (7), Kyle Johnson (7), Steven Brown (5), Patton Leib (3), and Jeremiah Conway (2). The Crusaders shot 83% (5-of-6) from the free throw line. They also hit 16 two-pointers and 8 three-pointers.
The YellowJackets had six players that contributed to their 35 point total. Only one player, senior Devante Palacio, scored in double figures with 10 points. His sophomore brother, TaShawn Palacio, almost hit double digits with nine points. The other four offensive contributors included Kolton Jany (6), Trey McCartney (6), Cayden Brunkhorst (2), and Tray Peters (2). CHS made 9-of-16 free throws (56%). They also drained 4 three-pointers and 7 two-pointers.
Althoff led, 8-0, at the 6:16 mark. Chester’s first points of the game came at 5:29 when TaShawn Palacio knocked down a shot. (8-2). At 5:02, Althoff’s Dierre Hill hit a bucket to extend the Crusader’s lead to 10-2. With 3:14 left in the first quarter, Chester’s Kolton Jany scored two points and Althoff led, 10-4. The rest of the first quarter the Crusaders outscored Chester, 7-6 to lead by nine points, 19-10.
The second quarter was quick and well-played by both teams. Chester opened with a 5-0 run on the lone efforts of Devante Palacio who made back-to-back free throws and a 3-pointer. The Jackets were within four points, 19-15 at the 5:32 mark.
Althoff’s Zach Winkeler answered with a basket, then Chester’s TaShawn Palacio made two free throws to get the score of 21-17 with 4:20 to play in the first half. Belleville Althoff finished the remainder of the quarter on a 6-0 run to go into the locker room ahead by 10 points, 27-17.
The Crusaders came back from the break with renewed energy and brought an intensified defense and more active offense to the court. The Crusaders outscored Chester 21-8 in the 3rd quarter.
Althoff’s Patton Lieb, who was silent in the first half, popped a 3-pointer at 7:08 to kick off the 3rd quarter. Luke Smith scored on a short jumper and Dierre Hill drained his second 3-pointer of the game to complete a quick 8-0 run to extend the lead to 35-17 in the opening three minutes of the period.
Chester didn’t score until the 4:30 mark when Kolton Jany hit the back end of a two-point free throw opportunity. The score was 35-18. Althoff answered with another run of 4-0 to extend the lead again. With 3:51 remaining in the 3rd quarter Belleville led, 39-18, to complete a 12-1 run to open the half. Chester called a time out.
Chester’s Tray Peters scored his first, and unfortunately, his final points of the game, following the CHS time out, at the 3:23 mark, to give the Jackets 20 points. A minute later, Althoff’s Cayden Clay picked Chester’s pocket, drove the length of the floor and scored. Belleville led, 41-20 with 2:40 left on the clock.
Seven seconds later, CHS orchestrated a 3-0 run on a free throw by TaShawn Palacio and a field goal by Kolton Jany. The Crusaders led, 41-23 at the 1:55 mark.
To close out the third quarter, Althoff completed a 7-2 run. Zach Winkeler and Luke Smith each hit 2-point field goals. Chester answered with two free throws made by TaShawn Palacio with 32.0 seconds on the clock to have Chester within 20 points, 45-25. With .9 seconds left, Belleville’s Steven Brown sailed a 3-pointer to end the 7-2 run, and third quarter leading 48-25.
Down the 4th quarter stretch, Althoff concluded the game outscoring Chester by only three points, 13-10. Bryden Gryzmala added three points on a field goal to kick off the period, He was fouled on the shot and completed the 3-point play to lead, 51-25. Luke Smith followed with a 3-pointer. Althoff led, 54-25 with 6:58 to play in the game.
Chester’s Cayden Brunkhorst made a drive to the hoop for a bucket and Trey McCartney drained a 3-pointer to complete a YellowJacket 5-0 run, but Althoff would answer with a 5-0 run to lead, 59-30 with 5:16 remaining in the game.
Both teams battled to close out the game. Chester went out strong with a 5-2 run by Devante Palacio who made a 2-pointer and a trey. Althoff’s Kyle Johnson made a 2-pointer as Althoff won the game, 61-35.
With the win, Althoff eliminated Chester from the tournament and advanced to the Championship game Friday night February 28.
Game 4: No. 4 Pinckneyville vs. No.12 Red Bud
The game between Pinckneyville and Red Bud was similar to Chester’s game with Althoff in regards to the Musketeers playing well very early in the first quarter to trail by only seven points, 17-10.
In the second quarter, however, the Panthers clawed the Musketeers to the tune of 27-13 to take a 44-23 lead into the locker room at halftime. Red Bud trailed by 21 points at the half.
The third quarter was close with Pinckneyville only edging Red Bud by six points, 9-3, to extend the lead to 63-26 going into the final stretch. Red Bud trailed by 37 points.
In the 4th quarter, the Panthers outscored Red Bud, 9-5, to win the game, 72-31. The Musketeers trailed by 41 points.
In the win, Pinckneyville had three players score in double figures including Ty Laur (16), AJ Keith (15), and Tyler McConnell (12). Other contributors included Kolton Smith (8), Riley Bauersachs (7), Brady Conway (5), Trenton Crabtree (3), Lucas Lietz (3), Abel Clark (2), and Brayden Cleland (1). The Panthers were 14-of-17 at the free throw line (82%). They made 14 two-pointers and 12 three-pointers. Altogether Pinckneyville had 10 players contribute to the scoring.
Red Bud was led by just one player who scored in double-digits. Trent Sternberg scored 10 points. Other offensive contributors included Luke Quintin (7), Gentry Donjon (6), Chase Grohmann (3), Lucas Schwartzkopf (3), and Lee Major (2). The Musketeers made 2-of-4 free throws (50%). They made 7 two-pointers and 5 three-pointers. Six Musketeers contributed to the offensive production.
With the loss, Red Bud was eliminate from the tournament. The win propelled the Panthers into the Friday night February 28 Championship game at 7:00 P.M. The majority of available the tickets have been sold. Any returned tickets will be available at Chester High School throughout the day Friday February 28 or at the door the night of the Championship game. Call Chester High School at (618) 826-2302 for information.
Chester’s Devante Palacio (5) shoots s jump shot Wednesday February 25 when Chester battled Belleville Althoff in the 2025 IHSA Class 2A Chester Regional Basketball Tournament Semi-Finals. Palacio was the only YellowJacket to score in double figures in the 61-35 loss. Shown here Palacio shoots over Althoff player Justin Schmoll (14) late in the game when Palacio went on a 5-0 run of his own to end the game with 10 points. Jim Beers Photo
YellowJacket Kolton Jany (13) makes a short drive to the hoop at the 1:55 mark of the 3rd quarter Wednesday February 25 when No.10 Chester faced No.1 Belleville Althoff in the Semi-Final game of the 2025 IHSA Class 2A Chester Regional Basketball Tournament. In spite of being guarded by all five of the Althoff Crusader’s Basketball Team, including Luke Smith (10), Zach Winkeler (25), Patton Leib (33), Dierre Hill, Jr. (22), and Bryden Gryzmala (1), Jany made his shot to give Chester its 23rd point of the game. Jany scored six points in the eventual, 61-35, loss to the No.1 team in Class 2A in the State of Illinois. Jim Beers Photo