Chester’s 64-31 loss to Benton ends otherwise promising second half of 2024-25 season
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – The Chester High School Lady Jackets Basketball Team traveled to Benton High School Saturday February 15 for a first round game against the Benton Lady Rangers in the 2025 IHSA Class 2A Regional Basketball Tournament. Tip-off was 2 p.m. and Chester came into the contest with confidence and high hopes for a first-round win.
Just two weeks earlier on Monday January 27, the Lady Jackets had a convincing, 47-32, win over the Rangers at Chester High School’s Colbert Memorial Gymnasium in a late non-conference game. This quality win was part of a 7 win and 3 loss ending to the regular season. The Jackets had a 5-game winning streak going into post-season play.
Benton opened the Regional game with a 22-9 first quarter that set the tone for how the remainder of the game would go. The Rangers had three players who handled the scoring duties in the opening 8-minute quarter.
Mitchell drained a three ball, two traditional field goals and two free throws to lead the Rangers with nine points. Glover also drained a trey, hit a pair of traditional field goals and made one free throw for eight points, and J. Webb scored five points on a 3-pointer and a 2-pointer.
The Lady Jackets were led in the first frame by Jessica Stumpe who scored four points on a pair of short buckets. Aubrey Coleman added a trey and Lexi Mott hit a bucket for Chester’s nine points, The Rangers led, 22-9 after one quarter of play.
Benton threw another dagger in the second quarter as they outscored Chester, 18-3, to make the cut deeper and more devastating for the Lady Jackets.
In the second quarter, six Lady Rangers teamed-up to hurt the Jackets. Mitchell led the charge once again with a pair of three-pointers for six points. Glover and Barry also hit treys for an additional six points. Zazzetti and Morris each hit buckets and J. Webb knocked down a pair of free throws to round out the Ranger’s 18-point effort.
The Benton defense held Chester’s offense to just three points, all of which came from free throws. Lillian Diskey was perfect at the line with 2-for-2 free throw shooting and Aubrey Coleman made the front end of a pair of free throw opportunities. Together Diskey and Coleman recorded Chester’s three-point offensive effort. The Lady Rangers took a huge 28-point, 40-12, lead into the locker room at halftime.
After the halftime break both teams returned to Rocky Bridges Court with renewed energy and the defenses of the Lady YellowJackets and the Lady Rangers stood firm. Chester held Benton to just five points, and the Lady Jackets scored seven points.
Lexi Mott led Chester with three points on a bucket and one free throw. Rylie Conley scored her first points of the game on a field goal, and Jessica Stumpe was perfect, making both of her free throws.
Benton was led by J. Webb who scored four of the Ranger’s five points on two field goals. Zazzetti made one-of-two free throws for Benton’s five point outing. After three quarters of action, Benton led, 45-19.
The final period was a close battle also, however, Benton edged Chester 19-12 in the scorebook. Morris, who only had two points up to the 4th quarter, broke loose and led the Lady Rangers with nine points on a three-pointer, a pair of deuces, and perfect free throw shooting making 2-for-2. McCormick, who had not played to that point, came in and hit a pair of 2-pointers. Rounding out the scoring were J. Webb, Mitchell, and Zazzetti who each had a basket apiece.
Senior Rylie Conley came alive again in the last frame and sank a 3-pointer and a 2-pointer for five points. Lexi Mott made a bucket and sank 3-of-4 free throws. Rounding out the Chester offensive production was Lillian Diskey who made 2-of-2 free throws.
In the loss, Chester was paced by one player who scored in double figures. Lexi Mott recorded 10 points on three 2-pointers and 3-of-4 free throw shooting. Other contributors included Rylie Conley (7), Jessica Stumpe (6), Lillian Diskey (4), and Aubrey Coleman (4). The Lady Jackets shot 65% from the free throw line (11-for-17). They also made seven 2-pointers and two 3-pointers.
Benton had four players score in double figures, led by Mitchell who scored 17 points. Other double-digit scorers included J. Webb (13), Morris (11), and Glover (11). The Ranger’s other 12 points were scored by Zazzetti (5), McCormick (4), and Barry (3). The Lady Rangers made 8-of-12 free throws (67%). They also made 16 two-pointers and 8 three-pointers.
The Lady Jackets closed out their 2024-2025 season with an overall record of 13 wins and 17 losses. Their Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division record was 3-and-7. The Lady Jackets were 2-and-2 in the Sparta Tournament and won the Consolation Championship Trophy at the 2024 Saxony Lutheran Tournament with wins over Cairo, 74-23; Meadow Heights, 43-26; and Kelly, 61-55. Their only loss was to Cape Central, 62-61, but it took an overtime for Cape Central to get the win over Chester.
Lady YellowJacket basketball player Rylie Conley (4) played the final game of her high school career Saturday February 15 when Chester played the Benton Lady Rangers at Benton in Round 1 of the 2025 IHSA Class 2A Regional Basketball Tournament. Conley scored seven points in the 64-31 loss. She has been a key contributor, both offensively and defensively throughout her senior year and has been a major leader for her young Lady Jacket squad. Jim Beers Photo
Junior Lexi Mott (33) was Chester’s top scorer in the Round 1 loss at Benton with 10 points. Throughout her junior season Mott has typically scored on double figures in most games. She has also been a key defensive player and leader for the Lady Jackets. Chester ended its season at Benton in the 64-31 loss with an overall record of 13-17 and a Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division record of 3-7. Jim Beers Photo