Won against New Athens and Marissa and lost to Carterville, Okawville and Carlyle; now 12-14 overall and 2-4 in conference play
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – The Chester High School YellowJacket Boys have been on a roller coaster in Weeks 9, 10, & 11. Following the 61st Annual Chester Invitational Tournament, the Jackets have won, lost, lost, won, and lost for a 2-and-3 record in the last five games. Chester is now 12-14 overall and 2-4 in the Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division.
Chester 51- New Athens 44 (WON Tuesday January 21 at home)
Week 9 had just one game. Chester hosted New Athens Tuesday January 21. The Jackets won, 51-44. The last time CHS played New Athens Chester won, 50-37, in the CIT.
January 21 the Jackets trailed 19-16 after one quarter of play and tied with New Athens, 10-10, in the second quarter to trail by three points, 29-26 at halftime.
Chester outscored New Athens, 8-7 in the 3rd quarter to trail by just two points, 36-34, after three periods. Down the stretch, the Jackets outscored New Athens, 17-8, to win the game by 13 points, 51-44.
In the win, the Jackets were led by three players who scored in double figures including TaShawn Palacio (14), Brenden Malley (12), and Trey McCartney (11). Other contributors included Kolton Jany (7), and Devante Palacio (4). With the win, Chester improved to 11-11 overall and 2-2 in the Cahokia Conference.
Carterville 38-Chester 24 (LOST at Carterville Tuesday January 28)
The Jackets Traveled to Carterville Tuesday January 28 to take on the Lions. Carterville is typically a very good team and the Jackets kept them to only 38 points and scored 24 against them.
Carterville outscored Chester 10-3 in the first quarter and 12-9 in the second quarter to lead by ten points, 22-12, at the half. The YellowJackets outscored Carterville, 11-9 in the 3rd quarter to get within eight points, 31-23, after three periods. In the final quarter, the Lions outscored the Jackets 7-1 to win the game by 14 points, 38-24.
In the loss, CHS was paced by Kolton Jany who scored nine points. He was followed by Evan Dunning (5), TaShawn Palacio (4), Tallen James (3), Brenden Malley (2), and Devante Palacio (1). With the loss, Chester fell to 11-12 overall and stayed at 2-2 in the Conference as Carterville in not a member of the Cahokia Conference.
Okawville 44-Chester 35 (LOST at home Friday January 31)
The Jackets hosted Okawville Friday January 31 in a close, well-played game that just missed the win for Chester. The Junior Varsity started the night with a 37-24 win over the Rockets JV. CHS was down 10-7 after the first quarter, but took a four point, 16-12, lead at halftime.
In the third period Chester extended its lead to five points, 28-23, and in the fourth quarter the JV Jackets outscored the Rockets, 9-1 to win by 14 points, 37-24.
The Varsity game was tight throughout, with Chester taking a slight one-point lead, 8-7, after one quarter of play. The Rockets outscored the Jackets, 9-4 in the second frame to lead 16-12 at the break.
In the third quarter Okawville edged the Jackets, 15-12, to take a seven point, 31-24 lead into the final stretch. The fourth period proved to be another Okawville slight advantage with the Rockets outscoring Chester 13-11 to win the game by nine points, 44-35.
In the loss, Chester was led by one player who scored in double figures. Kolton Jany scored 17 points. Jany was followed by Tray Peters (6), Cayden Brunkhorst (5), Brenden Malley (4), and TaShawn Palacio (3). With the loss Chester dropped to an overall record of 11-13 and a Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division record of 2-3.
Chester 51-Marissa 46 (WON at Marissa Monday February 3)
The Jackets led throughout the first three quarters, then held on to win down the stretch, 51-46. This was a non-conference game with the Meteors.
CHS edged the Meteors, 9-6 in the first quarter behind TaShawn Palacio who scored five points. TaShawn’s older brother, Devante, took the bull by the horns in the second quarter and paced the Jackets with four points to help give Chester a five point, 25-20, lead at halftime.
The YellowJackets edged Marissa again in the third quarter by three points, 13-10, to lead, 38-30, after three periods. Trey McCartney stepped up with a pair of 3-pointers in that frame to lead the Jackets. Down the stretch the Meteors outscored the YellowJackets by three points, 16-13, but the Jackets held on to win by five points, 51-46.
Chester had three players score in double figures to help seal the victory. Trey McCartney led with 13 points, Devante Palacio scored 12 points and Kolton Jany recorded 10 points. Other contributors included TaShawn Palacio (6), Cayden Brunkhorst (4), Tray Peters (4), and Brenden Malley (2). The Jackets were 9-of-16 from the free throw line (56%). They also hit 15 two-pointers and four 3-pointers.
With the win, the YellowJackets improved to an overall record of 12-13 and stayed at 2-3 in the Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division as Marissa was a non-conference contest.
Carlyle 45-Chester 40 (Lost at home Tuesday February 4)
The Jackets played three games in five days with the back-to-back game Monday and Tuesday February 3 and 4. This time the Jackets hosted the Carlyle Indians at Colbert Memorial Gymnasium. Carlyle jumped out to a 15-7 lead after one quarter of play. The second quarter was a one-point advantage for the Indians, 4-3, to take a nine point lead, 19-10, into the locker room at halftime.
Chester came out of the locker room on fire and outscored the Indians, 16-9, to get within two points, 28-26, after three quarters of play.
In that come-back quarter Devante Palacio exploded with back-to-back-to-back baskets starting with a huge 3-pointer followed by two consecutive 2-pointers for seven of Chester’s 16 points. Tray Peters drained a three and made a deuce for five points and Trey McCartney connected for a 3-pointer. Brenden Malley rounded out the 16-point third quarter with a free throw.
The 4th quarter was crucial for both teams as there was only a 2-point difference in score going into the final stretch. The 4th quarter started with Carlye’s Jax Johnson hitting a shot to increase the Indian lead to 30-26. Chester’s Trey McCartney answered with a three-pointer to bring the Jackets within one point, 30-29, with 6:00 remaining in the game.
Carlyle answered with a 5-0 run to boost its lead to 35-29 at the 4:38 mark. The Jackets answered with two free throws by Kolton Jany with 4:12 to go, but the Indians went on another 6-0 run to lead, 41-31, with 2:25 to play.
Chester made a come-back of their own on a 9-1 run, to get within two points again, 42-40, with just 11.1 seconds to play in the game. During that run, Trey McCartney drained a 3-pointer, Devante Palacio hit a pair of buckets, and TaShawn Palacio sank a shot. It was all down to the wire at that point and YellowJacket fans were alive and well with high hopes and wishes.
Just 1.2 seconds later Chester fouled and sent Carlyle’s Hayden Huels to the line. He made both of his free throws to extend the Indian’s lead to 44-40 with 10.1 seconds left on the clock. With 3.4 seconds to play, Carlyle’s Matthew Guthrie stole a Chester inbounds pass to get the ball back. Carlyle’s Jax Johnson was fouled and went to the line. He made one free throw to give Carlyle its final score of 45-40 and the win.
In the hard-fought loss, the YellowJackets had offensive production from seven different players. All Chester players in the game fought hard and gave their best and just missed a prime opportunity to get a great home win over a good Carlyle team. Chester lost to Carlyle December 19 at Carlyle, 41-23.
The Jackets were led offensively by just one player who scored in double figures. Trey McCartney scored 12 points. Other contributors included Devante Palacio (9), Tray Peters (5), Kolton Jany (4), TaShawn Palacio (4), Brenden Malley (4), and Cayden Brunkhorst (2). CHS shot 50% from the free throw line (4-of-8). They made nine 2-pointers and six 3-pointers.
With the loss, Chester ended up with an overall record of 12-14, and a Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division record of 2-4. CHS will end Week 11 Friday February 7 on a road trip to Cahokia Conference rival Red Bud to take on the Musketeers.
Chester High School Basketball player Kolton Jany (13) a 5’11 senior guard for the YellowJackets scored the most total points for CHS in the last five games with 47 points. The Yellowjackets’ spark plug scored seven against New Athens, nine against Carterville, 17 against Okawville, 10 against Marissa, and four against Carlyle. Jany is a regular starter for the Jackets. Jim Beers Photo
Trey McCartney, a 6’1″ YellowJacket sophomore YellowJacket basketball layer has stepped up in the last five games and scored the second-most total points for Chester with 36 points. McCartney scored 11points in the game against New Athens, 13 points against the win against Marissa, and 12 in the narrow loss to Carlyle. Jim Beers Photo