Chester honors six seniors in heart-warming pre-game ceremony including Riley Lochhead (11), Lillian Diskey (21), Natalie Guetersloh (22), Jessica Stumpe (24), Aubrey Coleman (31), and Lexie Mott (33)
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – Thursday February 5, 2026 was “Senior Night” at Chester High School for the 2025-26 Lady Jacket Basketball Team. The opponent for the night was the Red Bud Lady Musketeers of the Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division.
The two teams had already met twice this season. The first meeting was in the second game of the very early 2025-26 season on Wednesday February 19, 2025 in the Sparta Lady Bulldog Tournament. Chester won, 35-31.
In the second meeting of the two teams, Chester traveled to Red Bud Wednesday January 12 for a Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division match-up. Chester won that game with a decisive 46-30 victory. That win evened the Jacket’s conference record to 2-2, and improve the overall record to 11-9.
On their 3rd meeting of the 2025-26 season, the Lady Musketeers traveled to Chester High School, Colbert Memorial Gymnasium, to battle the Lady Jackets on Rocky Bridges Court. It is very difficult to beat a team twice in a season, but to accomplish that goal three times was extremely difficult!
It was senior Night at CHS and the Lady Jackets were “fired-up” for the game! In recent years, there has been somewhat of a heated, but healthy rivalry developing between Chester and Red Bud. That rivalry was evidenced on “Senior Night” when the Lady Musketeers took the floor against a Chester team that had already beat them twice this season.
The game was very physical from the opening tip-off until the final buzzer. Both teams fought with high energy, enthusiasm, pride, confidence, and a veracious desire to win! Lots of emotion was exhibited on both sides of the court! At times, despair, frustration, amazement as well as confidence, determination, and joy were apparent.
This was a very long, exciting, entertaining, heart-throbbing and heart-breaking game, all packaged into one long, drawn-out competition. Both teams experienced a wide range of experiences and feelings, but the Chester YellowJackets calmly dealt with the ups-and-downs, highs-and-lows, roller-coaster of a game and never stopped fighting for the victory. Their high level of composure and confidence eventually brought them to a nerve-wracking, two-point, 50-48, overtime win!
A packed Colbert Gym crowd helped to create a wonderful atmosphere, especially for the Lady YellowJackets. These girls have earned a great deal of support from Jacket fans due to their continued improvement and their demonstrations of the ability to overcome hard battles and achieve a winning record.
Chester High School came out with huge support from the CHS Pep Band, CHS Cheerleaders, CHS Dance Team, the CHS Bee Hive Pep Club, the 2025 CHS Football Team, as well as a very large, supportive Community fan base. The excitement in Colbert Gymnasium was “electrifying!”
Prior to game time, underclassmen members of the Lady Jacket Basketball Team and their parents beautifully decorated the gym with a wide array of decorations to set the tone for “Senior Night”.
Junior Varsity Game: Red Bud 42-Chester 20
The evening began with a junior varsity game which tipped-off at 6:00 p.m. The Chester JV was out-manned with several Red Bud players that had height advantages of 5’8, 5’10, 5’10, 5’8, and 5’7. The Musketeers had a roster of 12 players.
The JV Lady Jackets had a roster of eight players. They played hard and battled with heart and determination from start-to-finish, but the physical advantages of the Lady Musketeer squad were almost impossible to overcome.
Chester scored the first three points of the game on an Evelyn McKinney basket and a Kinley Davitz free throw. That’s all the points that CHS would score the remainder of the first quarter. The Musketeers led, 10-3, after one quarter. Red Bud outscored Chester 12-5 in the second quarter, to lead 22-8 at halftime.
A 12-2 third quarter gave Red Bud a 34-10 lead after three periods. In the 4th quarter the JV Jackets outscored the JV Lady Musketeers 10-8 to end strong, but unfortunately it was too-little-too-late, as the Red Bud JV defeated the Chester JV 42-20.
In the loss, Chester was led by Rylee Schemonic who scored six points, followed by Evenly McKinney (4), Bailey Hartman (4), and Kinley Davitz (4). Harlow Ebers added two points.
Red Bud had offensive contributions from seven players, led by Reagan Tallman who recorded 11 points. She was followed by Cabri Hartmann (8), Clare Carnahan (7), Gracie Rahn (6), Tessa Stenzel (4), Ella Cowell (4), and Brynlee Liefer (2).
Varsity Game: Chester 50-Red Bud 48 (in overtime)
Chester opened the game on a 9-0 run. Jessica Stumpe led the charge for Chester with back-to-back 2-point field goals. Lillian Diskey drilled a 3-pointer at the 3:19 mark to give CHS a 7-0 lead. With 3:00 left in the first quarter Lexi Mott made her way to the hoop for two points and Chester led, 9-0.
A familiar theme started late in the first quarter when Red Bud came alive and ended the frame on a 7-4 run of their own to get within six points of Chester, 13-7. During that run Brooke Grohmann drained a three ball, Lilly Minemann made a basket and a free throw, and Ava Wagner put in a free throw. Down the stretch, Lexi Mott and Jessica Stumpe each made buckets. The quarter ended with Chester leading by six points, 13-7.
The second quarter started like the first with the Lady Jackets opening with a 5-0 run to lead, 17-9 just two minutes into the period. Lexi Mott started the run with a basket and Aubrey Coleman drained a 3-pointer.
The Lady Musketeers responded with a 6-0 run on a 2-pointer by Emma Carter and a three ball by Ava Wagner. Carter hit a free throw a minute later to cap off the Musketeer run. Red Bud was within two points, 17-15 at the 4:10 mark.
The theme of trading runs back-and forth continued as Red Bud’s Ava Carter, Nora Rothlisberger, and Addy Piel each hit back-to-back-to-back baskets. Rothlisberger’s basket tied the game at 19-19 at 1:38 and Piel’s bucket gave Red Bud their first lead of the game, 21-19.
That lead lasted just six seconds, however, as Chester’s Lexi Mott went to work. With 1:03 remaining in the second quarter Mott battled for a short jumper. She made the shot, was fouled, and made her free throw. Chester re-took the lead, 22-21.
After a Chester time out, Lexi Mott came back and barged her way in for another short jumper with 29.5 seconds left on the clock. Chester went to the locker room with a three point lead, 24-21. During the second quarter, Red Bud did, however, outscore Chester, 14-11.
Chester’s Jessica Stumpe began the second half the way she started the first half, with a 5-0 run of her own to extend the Lady Jacket’s lead to eight points, 29-21. She did it with a 3-pointer at 6:30, followed by a 2-pointer a few seconds later. Red Bud called a time out with Chester up by eight points, 29-21.
After the time out, Red Bud’s Lilly Minemann hit a shot to get Red Bud within six points, 29-23. Chester’s Lexi Mott answered with a 4-0 run of her own to extend the Lady Jacket’s lead again, this time by 10 points, 33-32 with 3:42 to play in the 3rd quarter. That would be Chester’s last points of the quarter.
The Lady Musketeers then used the final 3:24 to launch a 9-0 run to get within one point of Chester, 33-32, to close out the third quarter. During that run Emma Carter hit a basket to get things started with a basket at the 3:24 mark to get Red Bud within eight points (CHS 33-RBHS 25). With 2:34 to play, Ava Wagner drained two free throws to get the Musketeers within six points, 33-27.
With 1:27 on the clock in the 3rd quarter, Lilly Minemann hit a huge 3-pointer to narrow the Chester lead to just three points, 33-30. Chester then called a time out to calm things down. With only .28 on the clock, Kendra Ehret knocked down a final shot to get Red Bud within one point, 33-32. That’s how the third quarter would end.
The 4th quarter was a wild affair with four lead changes and three ties. At the final buzzer in regulation play, the score was tied 41-41.
Coming into the 4th quarter Chester had a slim, 33-32 lead. Red Bud’s Kendra Ehret scored a 2-pointer a minute into the period to give the Lady Musketeers a 34-31 lead over Chester (6:57).Chester’s Lillian Diskey answered with a bucket of her own at 6:10 to regain a Chester lead, 35-34. At the 5:40 mark, Chester’s Marlie Caby was fouled and made one of her two free throws to extend the Lady Jacket lead to 36-34. Red Bud called a time out.
After the time out, Red Bud tied the game, 36-36 on Ava Wagner’s 2-pointer. On Chester’s next possession Jessica Stumpe connected on a 2-pointer to re-take Chester’s lead again, 38-36, with 4:00 on the clock. Chester then called a time out at 3:53.
The Lady Jacket defense went to work and held Red Bud scoreless, and at the 3:33 mark when Marlie Caby knocked down another basket to extend Chester’s lead to 40-36. Ten seconds later, Chester’s Lillian Diskey was fouled and made one of two free throws. Chester led, 41-36 with 3:23 to play. Chester then called a time out at the 2:56 mark.
On Red Bud’s next possession Ava Wagner struck again with a basket with 2:43 remaining in the game. She was fouled and completed the three-point play by making her free throw. Red Bud was just two points away, 41-39. Red Bud’s Ava Wagner tied the game, 41-41, with another field goal. On the next play (1:59), Red Bud’s Nora Rothlisberger fouled out of the game.
With only 0:48 on the clock, Red Bud made things really suspense-filled when Lilly Minemann drained a three pointer to take a 44-41 Red Bud lead. Chester’s Marlie Caby answered with a basket 11-seconds later to get Chester back within one point, 44-43.
On Red Bud’s next possession Ava Wagner was fouled and went to the free throw line with 18.8 seconds to play. She missed both free throws and the Lady Warriors still led, 44-43. With just 14.4 seconds to play, Chester’s Lillian Diskey was fouled and went to the free throw line. She made things very scary for Jackets fans when she missed her first free throw. On the second opportunity, Diskey swished her shot and tied the game, 44-44.
Red Bud got the ball with 14.4 seconds to play in regulation. They called time out with 6.6 seconds on the clock. Chester’s defense did a great job keeping the Musketeers from getting the win, and the game went into overtime!
The excitement and nerve-wracking competition continued throughout the entire 4:00 overtime with a lead change, a tie, and three more lead changes before the final horn sounded with Chester on top with a 2 point, 50-48, lead for the win.
Red Bud drew first blood in the O.T. when Lilly Minemann knocked down a shot. Red Bud took a two-point, 46-44 lead. It took Chester two minutes before they tied the game again at 46-46 on Lexi Mott’s bucket (2:00).
Just 20-seconds later (1:41), Jessica Stumpe was fouled and made one free throw. CHS extended the lead to 47-46. Red Bud’s Emma Carter popped a basket with only 1:12 remaining in the overtime to re-take the lead for the Musketeers, 48-47.
Tensions were high and stomach acid was flowing freely among Lady Jacket fans. With just 23.3 seconds left to play, Chester’s Lexi Mott battled her way to yet another Chester field goal. That basket gave Chester the lead, 49-48.
The YellowJacket defense stood tall and firm in the final 23.3 seconds. Chester’s Marlie Caby was fouled with 13.7 seconds to play and made one of her free throws to extend Chester’s lead, 50-48.
With 5.5 seconds on the clock, Jessica Stumpe grabbed a monster rebound on a missed Red Bud shot. Coach Jeff Mott immediately called a time out. When play resumed, Lexi Mott grabbed another dramatic rebound to end the game with Chester winning, 50-48.
When asked for his comments on the game Coach Mott said, “The atmosphere was awesome! The girls don’t get that kind of crowd, band, cheerleaders, and dance team very often. It’s nice to see people come out and support these girls because I really think they are a special group.”
“We knew coming in you can throw out the records because it’s Red Bud. They play physical and tough man-to-man defense. They have played a ton of really good teams really close. We played hard, but we got into a little foul trouble early and that disrupted our flow. What I love is that the next person in line always stepped it up!”
Jessica and Lexi both had huge games. Marlie Caby came up big in several key moments. Aubrey and Lillian both did really well with the pressure and getting the ball into the paint to our posts.”
“It was a great win on Senior Night and it was great to see Lexi move past Jennifer Coleman in all-time scoring in front of that big crowd. Jennifer had 1,566 points and Lexi needed 17 to pass her, which she did and then some. She is now 2nd all time.”
In the win, the Lady Jackets were led by Lexi Mott who scored 21 points. She actually led all players on either team. Jessica Stumpe had 14 points. Marlie Caby added six points and Lillian Diskey had five points. Rounding out the Chester scoring was Aubrey Coleman with four points.
Red Bud was led by Lilly Minemann and Ava Wagner, each who scored 13 points apiece. Other contributors included Emma Carter (9), Nora Rothlisberger (4), Kendra Ehret (4), Brooke Grohmann (3), and Addy Piel (2).
With the win, Chester improved to an overall record of 15 wins and 11 losses. In the Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division, the Lady Jackets improved to an even 4 wins and 4 losses. The Jackets played non-conference DuQuoin Saturday February 7 in a rare afternoon game at DuQuoin.
Chester’s Lillian Diskey (21) sank key free throws for the Lady Jackets in the win over the Red Bud Musketeers Thursday February 5 at CHS. The first was with 3:23 to play in the 4th quarter to give Chester a 41-36 lead and the real “lifesaving” free throw came in 4th quarter with just 14.4 seconds remaining in regulation play and the Jackets down by one point, 44-43 to Red Bud. Diskey made her second free throw to tie the game, 44-44 and send the game into overtime. Jim Beers Photo
Prior to the start of the Chester vs Red Bud game, CHS honored its’ six seniors in a pre-game ceremony. Pictured are (left to right) Lexi Mott (33), Aubrey Coleman (31), Jessica Stumpe (24), Natalie Guetersloh (22), Lillian Diskey (21) and Riley Lochhead (11). Along with the senior
players are their parents. Jim Beers Photo
Jessica Stumpe (24) looks for an open teammate in the first quarter of the CHS vs Red Bud game Thursday February 5. The Lady Musketeer defense, Emma Carter (10) kept Chester’s Lexi Mott (33) all tied up throughout much of the game. In spite of the extremely physical treatment, Mott was the overall top scorer on either team with 21 points. Lexi connected for ten “hard-fought” field goals and was perfect at the free throw line making her “only” free throw of the evening, in spite of the rough play and double-teaming she received all night. In the overtime period, Mott scored Chester’s only two field goals for four of the Lady Jackets’ six points. Jim Beers Photo
Thursday February 5 there was a packed house on hand to support the Lady Jackets basketball team when they hosted the Lady Musketeers from Red Bud. The Chester High School Pep Band played all night and the CHS Dance Team performed at halftime. The CHS Cheerleaders were on hand to cheer and the CHS Pep Club was in the Beehive behind the south basket to keep YellowJacket spirit alive. The CHS Football team was also there to support the girls. Both Chester and Red Bud had big crowds. Shown here, everyone in Colbert Memorial Gymnasium stood to attention as the CHS Pep Band, under the direction of Steve Colonel, played the National Anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner”. Jim Beers Photo