Jackets lose to Red Bud, 37-23, and win at Perryville Battle of the Border Shootout over Ste. Gen, 54-31
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – After starting Week 4 with a 62-38 stinging at Nashville Tuesday December 12, the Chester YellowJackets split games 11 and 12, losing at Red Bud, 37-23 and winning against Ste. Genevieve, 54-31, at the 2023 Perryville Battle of the Border Shootout.
Red Bud 37-Chester 23
Friday December 15 the CHS YellowJackets played Red Bud at the Musketeers’ gymnasium. It appeared to be either an off-night for both CHS and RBHS, or a good defensive game for both, as neither team seemed to get off to a good start in the competition and the game was low scoring.
After one quarter of play Red Bud led the Jackets by a meager three points, 5-2. In that frame, Red Bud’s Liefer hit a 3-pointer and Lucht scored on a two-point shot. Chester’s one and only score came from a Cayden Brunkhorst deuce.
The second quarter wasn’t much better. It was a one-point difference with Red Bud outscoring Chester, 9-8 to lead, 14-10 at the half.
In that second quarter, The Musketeers received scoring from four different players. Moll hit a three, and Liefer, Easter, and Sternberg each with 2-pointers. Chester’s entire eight points came from one player, Kolton Jany, who hit a 2-pointer and a pair of 3-pointers.
After the break, the Musketeers doubled Chester’s 3rd quarter scoring with 12 points. CHS only mustered up six points. In that frame, Chester’s Lucas Thompson hit a trey and Cayden Brunkhorst hit a 2-pointer. Kolton Jany rounded out the six-point effort by sinking a free-throw.
The Musketeers 12 points came from C. Lucht who drained three buckets, and S. Easter and T. Sternberg who each contributed a 3-pointer. Red Bud extended its led to 26-10 after three periods of competition.
Things didn’t get much better down the stretch as Red Bud outscored the Jackets 11-7 to end the game.
The Musketeers had five players contribute to the 11- point 4th quarter including S. Easter who added five points on a 3-pointer, and 2-of-4 free throw shooting. O. Liefer and C. Lucht each hit 2-pointers and I. Moll and T. Sternberg each added one throw apiece.
For Chester, Tray Peters and Lucas Thompson each drained 3-pointers and Devante Palacio sank the back end of a “two-free-throw” opportunity for the Jacket’s seven-point effort.
The lackluster game ended with Red Bud leading Chester, 37-23, giving the Musketeers an unimpressive win.
In the loss Chester was led in scoring by Kolton Jany who scored nine points. Lucas Thompson drained two 3-pointers for a total of six points. Cayden Brunkhorst added four points. Tray Peters recorded three points on a 3-pointer, and Devante Palacio had one point on a free throw.
Red Bud had two players score in double figures including S. Frazer (10) and C. Lucht (10). O. Liefer added seven points and T. Sternberg scored six points. Rounding out the Musketeer effort was I. Moll who contributed four points.
With the loss, Chester fell to 5-6 overall and 1-2 in the Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division race.
Chester 54-Ste. Gen 31
The Jackets played in the Perryville Battle of the Border Shootout Saturday December 16 against Ste. Genevieve. CHS fully recovered from the funk it was in the night before at Red Bud by performing with a 17-9 first quarter against the Dragons.
Devante Palacio, who had just one point against the Musketeers the night before, exploded with eight of Chester’s 17 points in the first quarter. Kolton Jany scored twice and Lucas Thompson drained a three ball. Cayden Brunkhorst rounded out the 17-point effort with a two-point basket.
Ste. Gen as led by Zach Henderson who scored five points. Carson Kreilich and Devin Flye each added two points apiece.
In the second quarter, the Jackets continued to swarm the Dragons, outscoring them 13-8. Five YellowJackets stung the Dragons in that frame led by Brenden Malley with four points. Lucas Thompson connected for his second three ball of the night for three points and Devante Palacio, Kolton Jany, and Gabe Steele each sank two-pointers.
Tucker Reed scored six of the Dragon’s eight points on three 2-point baskets. Devin Flye added two more points on a basket. Chester led the Dragons, 30-17 at halftime.
The third quarter was a 13-10 advantage for Chester as Devante Palacio had another stellar performance adding seven more points to Chester’s total. Cayden Brunkhorst scored four more points and Kolton Jany hit a bucket for the Jacket’s 13-point period.
Ste. Gen got field goals from Alex Basler, Reed Tucker and Devin Flye. Add to that six points another four points as Evan Schwelss and Zach Henderson each went 2-for-2 from the free throw line.
To close out the game, Chester twisted the dagger with an 11-4 bruising of the Dragons behind the shooting of Kolton Jany who knocked down two field goals and a free throw for five points. Lucas Thompson hit another bucket and Devante Palacio and Cayden Brunkhorst each sank two free throws apiece.
The Dragon’s Devin Flye scored three points on a free throw and a field goal and Alex Basler sank a free throw for Ste. Gen’s four points.
As the final buzzer sounded, the YellowJackets ended Week 4 with a nice win, 54-31, to improve and even their record to 6-6 overall and 1-3 in the conference.
In the win, CHS had two players score in double figures as Devante Palacio had 17 points and Kolton Jany recorded 13 points. Other contributors included Cayden Brunkhorst and Lucas Thompson with eight points apiece, Brenden Malley with four, Tray Peters with two, and Gabe Steele with two.
Ste. Gen was led by Devin Flye who scored nine points. Tucker Reed (8), Zach Henderson (7), Alex Basler (3), Carson Kreilich (2), and Evan Schwelss (2) rounded out the Dragon offensive attack.
Week 5 brings two teams to Colbert Gymnasium in Chester. Cahokia Conference foe Sparta will come Tuesday December 19, and the Carterville Lions will arrive Friday evening for a non-conference matchup.