Perryville advances to Consolation Championship game while New Athens will play for CIT Championship; Lebanon will play for 7th Place; while Valle will play for 3rd Place
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – Round 2 of the 62nd Annual Chester Invitational Tournament tipped 0ff Wednesday January 14. Day 3 featured Game 5 at 6:00 p.m. and Game 6 at 7:30 p.m. Game 5 featured Lebanon vs Perryville on the Consolation side of the bracket and New Athens vs Valle on the Championship side of the bracket.
Game 5: Perryville 61-Lebanon 29
Perryville and Lebanon both had one loss and were competing for the right to advance to the Consolation Championship Game. The loser would move to the 7th Place game.
The first half was devastating for Lebanon. Perryville outscored them 21-1 in the first quarter and shut them out completely in the second quarter. The Pirates led, 34-1 at halftime.
A “light came on” for Lebanon in the second half as they outscored Perryville, 18-16, in the 3rd quarter to trail by 31 points, 50-19, after three periods. Down the stretch, Perryville only outscored Lebanon, 11-10, to win the game by 32 points, 61-29.
In the win, Perryville was led by three players. Aiden Wendel led all players with 15 points. Parker Shelton and Cole Rodewald each scored 11 points apiece. Other contributors included Josiah Paisley (9), Waylon Huber (7), Kade Baudendistel (4), Karston Schilli (2) and Hunter Esselman (2).
Lebanon was led by DeVaughn Ware who scored 10 points, followed by Deion Washington (9), Kyrie Munton (3), Kyle Noud (2), Alex Okal (2), Finch (2), and Kaiden Wheeler (1).
Lebanon will play in the 7th Place Game 9 at 2:00 p.m. Saturday January 17th. Perryville will play for the Consolation Championship in Game 10 Saturday January 17th at 3:30 p.m.
Game 6: New Athens 51-Valle 35
New Athens and Valle each had one win apiece and were playing for the right to advance to the CIT Championship Game. The loser would play for 3rd Place.
This game was very close in the 1st, 3rd, and 4th quarters. The score was tied, 31-31 if only those periods were counted. The second quarter was the deciding factor in the game as New Athens outscored Valle, 20-4, in that frame. At the buzzer, the New Athens YellowJackets had 51 points, and the Valle Warriors had just 35 points. That was the 16-point difference.
New Athens jumped out to a slim, 10-9, lead after one quarter. In the second quarter, the Yellowjackets blew the Warriors away, 20-4, to take a 17-point lead, 30-13, into the locker room at the half.
The third quarter, Valle outscored New Athens, 16-15, with the Yellowjackets leading by 16 points, 45-29. In the final frame, both teams scored six points. At the final buzzer, New Athens led by 16 points, 51-35.
New Athens had eight players contribute to the 51-point total, led by two players who scored in double figures. Cam Steinwagner led all players with 19 points. Sawyer Sullivan scored 13 points. The other six players chipped in to add the final 19 points, including Will Mulholland (6), Lane Kimbrell (4), Cole Dachsteiner (3), Graer Badgett (3), Wyatt Mulholland (2), and Carsen Lauer (1).
Valle was paced offensively by Evan Viox who scored 17 points. Other contributors included Brody Bertrand (7), Alex Stabb (5), Phillip Naeger (4), and Marberry (2).
Valle will play for 3rd Place at 5:00 p.m. in Game 11 Saturday January 17th., while New Athens will play at 6:30 p.m. Saturday January 17th in Game 12 for the 2026 CIT Championship.
Next up at the 62nd Annual Chester Invitational Tournament
Round 2, Day 4: Thursday January 15 at 6:00 p.m.: Lovejoy vs Valmeyer
Round 2, Day 4: Thursday January 15 at 7:30 p.m.: Chester vs Saxony