The Sparta win is a sweep of the season; Jackets enter Regionals with 4-game win streak
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – The Chester High School Lady Jackets Basketball Team is peaking at the right time. Week 12 closed out the 2024-2025 regular season with wins over Trico, 37-34, in non-conference play, and Sparta, 49-39, to finish the Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division action.
The Jackets won their final four games and 7-of-their- last-10 games, to enter this Saturday’s opening game in the 2025 IHSA Class 2A Regional Tournament with confidence and momentum. Chester will face Benton in Round 1 at Benton at 2:00 p.m. at the Rich Herrin Gymnasium in Benton, Illinois.
The last time the two teams met was Monday January 27 when the Lady Jackets hosted the Lady Rangers at Chester High School, in Colbert Memorial Gymnasium, on Rocky Bridges Court. CHS got the win that night, 47-32.
Tuesday February 11: Chester 37- Trico 34 (at Trico)
The Lady Jackets trailed by two points, 12-10 after one quarter of play, but outscored the Lady Pioneers 13-12 in the second quarter, 7-6 in the third quarter, and 7-4 in the fourth quarter to seal the win, 37-34.
In the first frame, Helmers (4) and Franklin (4) led the Lady Pioneers with Jones and Lovel adding two points apiece to round out the 12-point effort.
Chester had help from five players. Marlie Caby, a freshman, drained a 3-pointer. Jessica Stumpe and Aubrey Coleman each popped 2-pointers. Lexi Mott was 2-for-2 at the free throw line, and Lillian Diskey hit one of two free throws. Trico led, 12-10 after the first quarter.
The Lady Jackets won the second quarter, 13-12, with junior Lillian Diskey leading the way with a bucket and 2-of-2 free throw shooting. Jessie Stumpe drained a 3-pointer and Riley Lochhead hit a bucket and made 1-of-2 free throws. Lexi Mott “banged one in” down low and Rylie Conley made a free throw.
Franklin paced the Pioneers with three 2-pointers for six of Trico’s 12 points. Jones and Lovel hit baskets for two points apiece. Helmers went 2-for-4 at the free throw line to round out Trico’s 12 points. Trico led, 24-23 at halftime.
The second half was a defensive battle with no team scoring more than seven points in third or fourth quarters. Chester outscored Trico 7-6 in the third frame. Senior Rylie Conley stepped up to hit a trey to lead Chester. Lillian Diskey and Aubrey Coleman added 2-pointers to give the Jackets seven points.
Trico’s Jones scored all six of the Lady Pioneers’ points on a 3-pointer, a 2-pointer and a free throw. After three quarters of battle, the game was tied, 30-30.
Down the stretch, the Lady Jackets took care of business with Rylie Conley leading the way with six of Chester’s seven points. Conley hit a field goal and made all four of her free throws. Lillian Diskey was 1 for 2 at the line for Chester’s final point.
Once again, Franklin scored all of Trico’s four points on back-to-back field goals. At the final buzzer, Chester won the game, 37-34.
In the win, the Lady Jackets were led offensively by one player who scored in double figures. Rylie Conley, Chester’s only senior, paved the way with 10 points. CHS had contributions from six other players including, Lillian Diskey (8), Jessica Stumpe (5), Aubrey Coleman (4), Lexi Mott (4), Riley Lochhead (3), and Marlie Caby (3). Chester was 12-of-18 at the free throw line (67%). The Jackets made eight 2-pointers and three 3-pointers.
Trico was led by two players who scored in double figures including Franklin (14) and Jones (10). Other contributors were Helmers (6), and Lovel (4). The Lady Pioneers made 5-of-13 free throws (38%). They also hit 13 two-pointers and 1 three-pointer.
With the win, Chester accomplished its third win in-a-row, and improved to an overall record of 12-16 and a Cahokia Conference record of 2-7.
Chester JV 47-Trico JV 32
The Chester JV was led by Marlie Caby who scored 16 points. Rylee Shemonic also scored in double figures with 14 points. CHS had three other players contribute offensively to the win including Bailey Hartman6), Hannah Crow (6), and Carlee Cato (5). The Jackets were 14-of-25 from the free throw line (56%). They made nine 2-pointers and five 3-pointers.
Trico’s JV was also led by two players who scored in double figures including Lily Ebers (15) and Dalynn Fager (11). Other contributors included Madison Tucker, Sawyer Moore, and Morgan Sickling who each scored two points apiece. The JV Pioneers hit 3-of-4 shots at the line (75%) and made 13 two-pointers and just one 3-pointer.
Thursday February 13: Chester 49-Sparta 39 (at Sparta)
The Lady Jackets stung the Lady Bulldogs 9-7 in the first quarter and never looked back. Chester led the entire game to get its third Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division win of the season and to accomplish its 4th win in a row. The win further completed the Lady Jacket’s second sweep of the year of the Lady Bulldogs.
The victory was accomplished with offensive production from just three Lady Jackets, Lexi Mott, Jessica Stumpe, and Rylie Conley.
In the opening quarter the Jackets outscored Sparta, 9-7, behind the scoring of juniors Lexi Mott and Jessica Stumpe. Mott scored six points on a basket and 4-of-4 free throw shooting. Stumpe popped a three pointer. Sparta’s Richardson drained a 3-pointer and Schulein and Starr each hit baskets. Chester led, 9-7 after one quarter of play.
In the second quarter the Lady Jackets outscored the Lady Bulldogs, 12-9. The Jackets were led by Stumpe and Mott who each scored five points apiece. Stumpe hit 1 trey and a deuce while Mott hit two buckets and a free throw. Rylie Conley completed the 12-point effort with a 2-pointer.
The Lady Bulldogs were paced by Schulein who drained a 3-pointer. Johnson, Pillers, and Starr each made 2-pointers to round out the Sparta nine point frame. At the half, Chester led by five points, 21-16.
After halftime the Jackets did not let up the offensive production. In the third quarter, CHS outscored SHS, 11-8. Rylie Conley and Lexi Mott handled the job with six and five points apiece. Conley hit a bucket and was perfect from the free throw line making all four of her attempts. Mott made a basket and 3-of-4 free throws. Together they made all 11 of Chester’s points.
Sparta’s Schulein hit a trey and a deuce for five of Sparta’s eight points. Richardson knocked down a basket and Johnson made 1-of-2 free throws to round out Sparta’s eight point frame. Chester led, 32-24, after three quarters of action.
To close out the win, the Lady Jackets outscored the Lady Bulldogs, 17-15, down the stretch. CHS was led by Jessica Stumpe who knocked down three 2-pointers and a pair of perfect free throws for eight points. Lexi Mott had seven points on three 2-pointers and a free throw. Rylie Conley hit a basket for two points.
Sparta’s Schulein drained three 3-pointers down the stretch. That trifecta completed her game-high five treys in the loss. Richardson added a pair of 2-pointers and Starr completed the 15-point outing with a two point field goal. At the buzzer, Chester led, 49-39 for the win.
In the win, Chester only had three players score all of the 49 points including Lexi Mott (23), Jessica Stumpe (16), and Rylie Conley (10). The threesome was 15-of-17 from the free throw line (88%). They also made 14 two-pointers and two 3-pointers.
Sparta was led by Schulein who scored 19 of the Lady Bulldog’s 39 points. Richardson had nine points and Starr added six points. Rounding out the Sparta scoring were Johnson (3) and Pillers (2). The Dawgs were 1-of-4 from the free throw line (25%), and they made 10 two-pointers and six 3-pointers.
With the win, the Lady YellowJackets ended the 2024-25 regular season with 13 wins and 16 losses. They also finished the Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division race with 3 wins and 7 losses.