Dupo and Chester advance to Championship Bracket; Steeleville and New Athens move to Consolation Bracket
By Jim Beers, Contributing Writer
CHESTER – The second night of the 2023 Lady Jackets Mid-Winter Classic Basketball Tournament is “in the books”.
Games No. 3 and No. 4 completed the opening round of the event with Dupo beating Steeleville, 43-24 in Game No. 3 and Chester winning, 52-28 over New Athens in Game No. 4.
Game 3: The Dupo Lady Tigers and Steeleville Lady Warriors battled to a tie after one quarter, 8-8. In the second quarter The Tigers managed to outscore the Warriors by six points, 13-7, to take a 21-15 lead into halftime.
The third quarter was devastating for Steeleville as Dupo had an 18-5 drive to lead by 17 points, 37-20, going into the final period. Down the stretch Steeleville managed to stay within two points, 6-4, but it was too little too late as the Lady Tigers secured a 19-point victory, 43-24.
Dupo was led by two girls in double figures. Alexis Lewis recorded 18 points while T’Yonna Burris scored 11. Steeleville had one girl in double figures as Hannah Middendorf had 10 points.
With the win, Dupo advanced to the Championship side of the bracket to face Chester in the semi-finals Thursday January 5 at 7:30 p.m. Steeleville moved to the Consolation side of the bracket to face New Athens at 6:00 p.m.
Game 4: The Chester Lady Jackets led throughout the game against the New Athens Lady YellowJackets. The game was close in the opening frame with Chester outscoring New Athens by just three points, 10-7, behind the equal scoring of Camrynn Howie (5) and Emma Diskey (5). Diskey played with confidence and toughness throughout the event.
New Athens scored five of its seven points at the free throw line. The new Athens YellowJackets didn’t score a field goal until the 1:53 mark when Abby Meyer connected for a bucket. The New Athens YellowJackets tied the game at 3-3 at 5:10, but would not get any closer the rest of the game.
Chester unleashed a decisive 15-3 scoring effort against New Athens in the second quarter to lead, 25-10 at halftime. In that blasting, Chester’s only senior, Camrynn Howie, scored 10 of Chester’s 15 points on a pair of 3-pointers and a pair of 2-pointers.
Mallory Kimbrell scored New Athens’s only basket at the 2:41 mark. Kaylee Juenger added a free throw to complete the New Athens three-point effort. Chester led by 15 points at the popcorn break, 25-10.
After halftime New Athens picked up the pace a bit adding seven points on two 3-pointers and a free throw by Juenger and a field goal by Ainslee Sullivan at the 1:59 mark.
Chester added 13 points. Junior Jazzi Merideth started things out with a field goal in the opening minute of the third quarter off of the assist sophomore Riley Conley. Emma Diskey drained back-to-back free throws at 5:05 and Camrynn Howie grabbed a rebound, drove the length of the floor and sank a layup at 4:28 to give Chester a 31-11 lead. New Athens called a time out at 3:51.
Following the time out, Chester’s Riley Conley drained a 3-pointer at 3:29, followed by a free throw at 2:37. CHS led, 35-16. To close out the third quarter, freshman, Jessica Stumpe drained a 3-pointer to give the Lady Jackets a 19-point lead, 38-19.
In the 4th Quarter freshman Lexi Mott came alive for CHS and scored eight points. Jazzi Merideth drained two free throws, and Emma Diskey and freshman Aubrey Coleman each made baskets to increase Chester’s point total by 14 points.
New Athens senior, Kaylee Kimbrell made three field goals and a free throw and Mallory Kohnen got on the books with a basket to give the YellowJackets another nine points. In spite of an 18-point second half effort, New Athens still trailed by 24 points, 52-28 at the final buzzer.
In the win, Chester had three players in double figures including Camrynn Howie (17), Emma Diskey (12) and Lexi Mott (10). Other contributors included Riley Conley and Jazzi Merideth with four points each, Jessica Stumpe (3), and Aubrey Coleman (2).
New Athens was led by two players in double figures including Kaylee Juenger and Mallory Kimbrell with 10 points each. Other contributors were Ainslee Sullivan (4), Abby Meyer (2) and Mallory Kohnen (2).
With the win, Chester will advance to the Championship Bracket to face Dupo in the semi-finals Thursday January 5 at 7:30 p.m. The loss puts New Athens into the Consolation Bracket to face Steeleville Thursday January 5 at 6:00 p.m.
Round 2: Wednesday January 4, 2023
Game 5: No. 5 Valmeyer defeated No. 8 Cobden 48-36 in a consolation semifinal game.
Game 6: No. 1 Sparta was upset by No. 4 Marissa 29-28 in a championship semifinal game.
Two more games tonight: New Athens vs Steelville in a consolation semifinal game at 6 p.m. and Chester vs Dupo in a championship semifinal game at 7:30.
The tournament wraps up on Saturday after taking Friday off.
Photos:
Lady Jacket Emma Diskey puts up a short jumper against New Athens 1-3-23 in Round 1 of the 16th Annual Lady Jacket Mid-Winter Classic Tournament. Diskey was fouled and made one of 2 free throws. For the night Diskey was second in scoring with 12 points. Jim Beers Photo
CHS senior Camrynn Howie fires on of her three 3-pointers against New Athens Tuesday January 3 in Game 4 of thre Lady Jackets Mid-Winter Classic. Howie led all scorers with 17 points in the Jacket’s 52-28 win over New Athens. Jim Beers Photo
The Chester High School Pep Band, under the direction of Steve Colonel, plays for the Lady Jackets Tuesday January 3 when CHS hosted New Athens in Game 4 of the 2023 LJMWC. The band is in its new location behind the Chester bench. Jim Beers Photo
Chester’s Jazzi Merideth (12) is hammered by New Athens senior Jaylee Juenger (10) at the 3:27 mark of the 4th Quarter Tuesday January 3. It was Game No. 4 of the 16th Annual Lady Jackets Mid-Winter Classic. Meridth made both of her free throws to give CHS a 48-25 lead. Jim Beers Photo
Chester freshman Lexi Mott (33) makes a difficult pass around New Athens senior Ainslee Sullivan in the 4th Quarter of Game 4 of the 20243 LJMWC Tuesday January 3. CHS won 52-28 to advance to the Semi-Finals Thursday January 5 against Dupo. Jim Beers Photo
Chester sophomore Riley Conley (4) drives to the hoop in Game No. 4 of the 16th Annual Lady Jackets Mid-Winter Classic Basketball Tournament. CHS won, 52-28 to advance to the Semi-Finals Thursday January 5 against Dupo. Jim Beers Photo