Chester’s Trey McCartney is Tournament MVP; McCartney, TaShawn Palacio and Tallen James are All-Tournament Team Members
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – The Chester High School YellowJackets are the champions of the 62nd Annual Chester Invitational Tournament, better known as the CIT. Chester defeated New Athens in the title game, 59-51, in a game that was not decided until late in the 4th Quarter. The New Athens Yellowjackets finished in 2nd Place.
In the 3rd Place game, the Saxony Lutheran Crusaders used a good second half to win the 3rd Place title over the Valley Warriors by 10 points, 47-37. The Pirates finished in 4th Place.
The Perryville Pirates battled the Valmeyer Pirates in the Consolation Championship game. It was a Pirates vs Pirates battle that wasn’t decided until Perryville unleashed a 25-10 4th quarter to win the game, 64-48. Perryville earned the Consolation Championship trophy while Valmeyer landed in 6th Place.
In the 7th Place Game, the Lebanon Greyhounds led throughout the contest over the Lovejoy Wildcats to earn the 7th Place title. Lovejoy finished the tournament in 8th Place without a victory in the 2026 CIT.
All-Tournament Team
Coaches voted on selections for the 2026 CIT All-Tournament Team. All-Tournament Team members were recognized and team trophies were presented at the end of each of the four “Championship Day” games. The player that earned the most votes was honored as the 2026 CIT Most Valuable Player. The 62nd Annual All-Tournament Team and MVP are listed below:
MVP
Trey McCartney (#32), Chester YellowJackets
All-Tournament Team Members
TaShawn Palacio (#21), Chester YellowJackets
Tallen James (#10), Chester YellowJackets
Cam Steinwagner (14), New Athens Yellowjackets
Sawyer Sullivan (#23), New Athens Yellowjackets
Will Mulholland (#5), New Athens Yellowjackets
James Hope (34), Saxony Lutheran Crusaders
Evan Viox (#12), Valley Catholic Warriors
Note: The MVP is also included as Captain of the All-Tournament Team.
Cheerleading Competition
The cheerleaders of all participating schools were judged during games of the CIT. A panel of four judges rated the cheer squads on several criteria and totaled the points to determine the winner of the 2026 CIT Cheerleading competition. Six of the eight participating schools had cheer squads that competed. The results of the 2026 competition are as follow.
2026 CIT Cheerleading Champion: New Athens
2nd Place: Chester
3rd Place: Saxony Lutheran
4th Place: Perryville
5th Place: Lebanon
6th Place: Valmeyer
Game Results
Game 9: “7th Place” Lebanon 58-Lovejoy 18
Championship Saturday tipped-off at 2:00 p.m. with the contest to determine the 7th Place winner. It was the first game of the 3rd and final round of the tournament. It was Game 9 of the tournament. Lebanon and Lovejoy faced-off in competition.
The Lebanon Greyhounds jumped out to a 21-4 first quarter and followed with another 21-4 second quarter. Lebanon led Lovejoy by 38 points, 42-4, at halftime. The third quarter had the Greyhounds outscoring the Wildcats, 12-7. Lebanon led by 39 points, 54-15, after three quarters of play. The final frame, played with a continuous clock, was a 4-3 advantage for Lebanon to have the Greyhounds defeating the Wildcats by 40 points, 58-18.
In the win, Lebanon had nine players contribute to the total of 58 points. Two players scored in double figures including DeVaughn Ware who led all players on either team with 20 points. Deion Washington scored 14 points. Other contributors included Amjad Adams (7), Kyle Noud (5), Alex Okal (4), Elijah Hodge (3), Corbitt (2), DeMello (2), and Kaiden Wheeler (1).
Lovejoy was paced by William Brown and Odell Jordan who each scored 5 points apiece. Mylan Brown added four points. Jaquan Brown (2), and James Harrell (2) rounded out the Wildcats’ scoring.
Game 10: “Consolation Championship” Perryville 64-Valmeyer 48
The Perryville Pirates and the Valmeyer Pirates met in Game 10 to determine the Consolation Champion. This contest tipped-off at 3:30 p.m.
Valmeyer edged out Perryville, 11-10, in the first quarter. Perryville had a huge 2nd quarter, 20-9, to lead by 10 points, 30-20, at the half. After the popcorn break, the Valmeyer Pirates outscored the Perryville Pirates, 18-9, to trail by only one point, 39-38, after three quarters of competition. Down the home stretch, Perryville outscored Valmeyer by 15 points, 25-10, to win the Consolation Championship by 16 points, 64-48. Perryville earned the Consolation title in 5th Place. Valmeyer finished in 6th Place.
In the win, Perryville had four players score in double figures. Josiah Paisley had 18 points, Parker Shelton added 12 points. Both Karston Schilli and Cole Rodewald each scored 10 points apiece. Waylon Huber (6), Aiden Wendel (4), and Levi Pyland (4), rounded out the scoring.
Valmeyer had two players score on double figures including Evan Hill (20) and Carter McSchooler (12).Gavin Rau just missed double figures with nine points. Chase Snyder (5) and Caleb White (2) completed the scoring.
Game 11: “3rd Place” Saxony Lutheran 47-Valle Catholic 37
The 3rd Place Game started at 5:00 p.m. and featured the Saxony Lutheran Crusaders and the Valle Catholic Warriors. This game was competitive with the Warriors outscoring the Crusaders by seven points, 14-7, after one quarter of play. The second quarter belonged to Saxony who outscored Valle, 10-3, to tie the game, 17-17 at halftime.
The Crusaders continued to outscore the Warriors in the final two quarters, 17-12, in the 3rd quarter and, 13-8, in the final quarter. Saxony led by five points, 34-29, at the end of the third period and won the game by 10 points, 47-37, when the final buzzer sounded. The Crusaders claimed the 3rd Place title and the Warriors finished 4th.
Saxony had two players score in double figures, Zach Roth, who contributed 13 points, and Eli Raddemann who added 12. Rounding out the Crusaders win were Na’Shaun Davis (9), James Hope (6), Simon May (4), and Bryce Gaebler (3). James Hope earned a place on the 2026 CIT All-Tournament Team.
Valle had just one player score in double figures. Phillip Naeger scored 11 points. Other players that contributed included Brody Bertrand (9), Evan Viox (8), Alex Staab (6), Oliver Groffard (2), and Levi Fallert (1). Evan Viox was selected to the 2026 CIT All-Tournament Team. The Crusaders won the 3rd Place trophy and the Valle Warriors finished in 4th Place.
Game 12: “Championship Title Game” Chester 59-New Athens 51
Those who were betting fans had a 100% sure bet that the YellowJackets were going to with the game! The only fact that was left undecided was whether the CHESTER YellowJackets or the NEW ATHENS Yellowjackets would win!
The Championship Game was highly anticipated. The battle tipped-Off at 6:30 pm. A great and very active crowd of Chester fans and New Athens fans gathered on both sides of Chester High School Colbert Gymnasium on Rocky Bridges Court to cheer-on their favorite teams!
New Athens flew out to a quick 12-point, 20-8, lead after the first quarter. New Athens used an attack of three 3-pointers, by Cam Steinwagner (2) and Lane Kimbrell (1), to set things off with nine points. Graer Badgett added two 2-pointers Cam Taylor made a field goal and a free throw, and Kimbrell added two traditional field goals.
Chester’s Trey McCartney (5) and TaShawn Palacio (3) provided the Chester YellowJackets’ eight points. The beginning period had some Chester fans feeling a bit discouraged.
Somebody rattled the Chester YellowJackets’ hive in-between the 1st and 2nd quarters because Chester came out strong in the second quarter and outscored New Athens by 13 points, 27-14. That streak gave Chester the CHS YellowJackets a one-point lead, 35-34 after one half of play!
That streak was led by seven 3-pointers made by the YellowJackets. The shooting barrage was accomplished by Tray Peters (3), Tallen James (2), and Trey McCartney (2). James, Palacio, and McCartney added deuces to round-out the 27-point offensive attack!
The New Athens offense was led by Cam Steinwagner who made a 2-ponter and 5-of-5 free throws for seven points. The other seven points came from Will Mulholland (5), and Cam Taylor, (2). At the popcorn break Chester had edged New Athens by one point, 35-34.
After halftime Chester outscored New Athens by five points in the third quarter. Leading that successful attack were TaShawn Palacio who hit a basket and perfect 2-for-2 free throw shooting. Trey McCartney drained his fourth 3-pointer of the game as well as one-of-two free throws. Tallen James nailed a pair of field goals to round-out the 12-point outing.
In the 3rd quarter New Athens had offense from Cole Dachsteiner (3), Will Mulholland (2), and Cam Steinwagner (2). Chester led by six points, 47-41, going into the final period.
Everything came down-to-the-wire in a wild and crazy 4th quarter. New Athens narrowed Chester’s six point lead to tie the game and even took a 2-point lead during the early-to-mid portion of the quarter.
The score then went back-and-forth until the final minutes of the battle. Chester eventually re-took the lead and managed to use the final minutes to edge ahead of New Athens. At the final buzzer, the Chester YellowJackets had a comfortable eight point lead to win the game and become the Champions of the 62nd Annual Chester Invitational Tournament.
In the 4th quarter the Jackets outscored New Athens, 12-10, behind TaShawn Palacio and Trey McCartney who each scored six points apiece. New Athens’ Sawyer Sullivan led the battle for the other Yellowjacket team with three 2-pointers for six of New Athens’ ten points. Cam Taylor and Can Steinwagner each sank shots for the other four points.
In the win, the Chester YellowJackets had three players score in double figures, and the fourth player just missed double figures with nine points.
Trey McCartney led all players on either team with 23 points from six 3-pointers, two 2-pointers and a free throw. TaShawn Palacio added 15 points from six 2-pointers and 3-of-5 free throw shooting. Tray Peters, Chester’s only senior, scored nine points, all on three 3-pointers. Tallen James drained a pair of 3-pointers and three 2-pointers for his 12 point effort.
For the night, the Chester YellowJackets continued their recent “hotness” for making three-pointers by connecting for 11 treys. They also hit 11 two-pointers. At the free throw line CHS was 4-for-7 (57%).
Chester had three players that were selected for the 2026 CIT All-Tournament Team including Trey McCartney, TaShawn Palacio, and Tallen James. McCartney was also the 62nd Annual CIT Most Valuable Player (MVP).
New Athens was paced by Cam Steinwagner who scored 17 points. He was followed by six other players including Cam Taylor (7), Will Mulholland (7), Lane Kimbrell (7), Sawyer Sullivan (6), Graer Badgett (4), and Cole Dachsteiner (3). The Yellowjackets hit five 3-pointers, 15 two-pointers, and made 6-of-10 at the free throw line (60%).
New Athens had three players selected for the 2026 CIT All-Tournament Team including Cam Steinwagner, Sawyer Sullivan, and Will Mulholland.
The 62nd Annual Chester Invitational Tournament (CIT) is in the books. The weather cooperated and the week-long event was carried out without any issues. The 63rd Annual CIT will take place in January of 2027.
Three Chester Yellowjacket Basketball players were selected to the 2926 CIT All-Tournament Team. Pictured (left to right) are Tallen James (10), Trey McCartney (32) and TaShawn Palacio (21). James had 32 points in the 3-day tournament. McCartney (holding the 2026 CIT Championship Trophy) was the 62nd Annual Chester Invitational Tournament CIT Most Valuable Player. He led all players in the tournament in scoring with 56 points. Palacio scored 41 points in the three-game event. These three YellowJacket player helped win the tournament with an undefeated 3-0 record. Christy James Photo
The Chester High School YellowJacket Basketball Team won the 2026 CIT with wins over Valmeyer, 64-30; Saxony Lutheran, 58-29; and New Athens, 59-51. Pictured (left to right) are Mitchell Liter (23), Jaden Ramirez (11), Zane Eggemeyer (33), Kale Sprengel (15), Trey Peters (13) ( with trophy), Rusty Korando (2), TaShawn Palacio (21), (All-Tournament Team), Reed Fricke (55), Trey McCartney (32) (MVP, All-Tournment Team), Tallen James (10) (All-Tournament Team), Kross Jany (12), and Paxton Beam (44). The YellowJackets are coached by Chris Toledo. He is assisted by Nick Severs, Tony James, and Bryce Bainter. Christy James Photo
Following the presentation of the 2026 CIT Championship Trophy to the Chester High School YellowJackets, the team posed for this photo with the 2026 CHS Cheerleaders and Student Cheer Section. Student support was exceptional throughout the entire three-game YellowJacket competitions at the tournament. Christy James Photo
The 2025-26 Chester High Schol YellowJacket Basketball Team and Coaches pose with the Championship Trophy following the presentation of the All-Tournament Team and the Tournament MVP. The Jackets beat New Athens Saturday January 17, 59-51 to win the 2026 title. CHS had three All-Tournament Team members one of which was the 2026 Tournament MVP. Payers include Mitchell Liter, Jaden Ramirez, Zane Eggemeyer, Kale Sprengel, Tray Peters, Rusty Korando, TaShawn Palacio (All-Tournament Team), Reed Fricke, Trey McCartney (MVP & All-Tournament Team), Tallen James (All-Tournament Team), Kross Jany, and Paxton Beam. The Jackets are coached by Chris Toledo. He is assisted by Nick Severs, Tony James, and Bryce Bainter. Christy James Photo
The Chester High School Pep Band, under the direction of Steve Colonel, performs at the 2026 Chester Invitational Tournament (CIT) Championship game Saturday January 17. The band performed at all three Chester games throughout the tournament and definitely provided much energy and motivation for the YellowJackets. Apparently, the band’s lively music and spirit-making psid off because the YellowJackets won the tournament. This performance was the final night of the CIT and the FINAL CIT performance for Mr. Colonel as he will be retiring at the end of the 2026 school year, Christy James Photo