Marissa wins championship over Valmeyer; Steeleville wins Consolation Championship; New Athens takes 7th Place
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – The 17th Annual Chester High School “Lady Jacket Mid-Winter Classic” Girls Basketball tournament is in the books. In true fashion of the Mid-Winter Classic theme, the week of January 2-6 closed out with cold, snowy weather to add a bit of pizazz to the event!
Saturday January 6 was Championship Day at the tournament highlighting a week of basketball competition with four games to close out the event and determine title winners and all-tournament team selections.
That day began at high noon (12:00 p.m.) with the 7th Place game between # 8 New Athens and # 7 Cobden. This contest was well played and close throughout the entire 32-minute game. At the final buzzer, the #8 New Athens Lady Yellowjackets came out on top with a 2-point, 41-39 victory to complete the “minor” upset.
The Consolation Championship game tipped-off at 1:30 p.m. and featured #4 Steeleville and #6 Dupo. This game was rather close and competitive throughout the first half, but after halftime, the Lady Warriors of Steeleville slowly edged out the Lady Tigers of Dupo and by mid-way through the 3rd quarter, Steeleville had control of the game and finished with a nice 11-point, 40-29 victory. The Lady Warriors proudly accepted the Consolation Championship trophy.
The Chester High School Lady Jackets won against Sparta, 43-36, Saturday January 6 to earn the 3rd Place trophy in the 17th Annual Lady Jackets Mid-Winter Classic Basketball Tournament. Pictured here with their trophy are the 2023-2024 CHS Lady Jackets. (Front row, left to right): Riley Lochhead, Lillian Diskey, Aubrey Coleman, and Bailey Hartman. (Back row, left to right): Natalie Guetersloh, Jessica Stumpe, Aubrey Colvis, Rylee Shemonic, Lexie Mott, Rylie Conley, Camryn Luthy, and Jazzi Merideth. Jim Beers Photo
In Game 3 of the 4-game afternoon, Chester hosted Sparta at 3:00 p.m. in the battle for 3rd Place. The Lady Jackets flew out to a 16-5 lead after one quarter of play and led, 22-14 at halftime.
After three quarters, CHS led, 34-25, over the Lady Bulldogs, and Chester ended up winning the game by just seven points, 43-36. The Lady Jackets were presented the 3rd Place trophy at the conclusion of the contest.
Chester’s Lexie Mott (33) receives her All-Tournament Team medallion Saturday January 6 during the 3rd Place trophy presentation. Jennifer Cartwright , CHS Athletic Director, presented the medallion just following the trophy presentation to the CHS Lady Jackets who beat Sparta 43-36 to win the 3rd Place position. Mott led her team throughout the 3-gaame tournament with, 54 points, 22 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal. Jim Beers Photo
The Championship game of the 2024 Lady Jacket Mid-Winter Classic tipped-off at 4:30 p.m. and featured the # 1 Seed, Marissa vs the # 3 Seed, Valmeyer. Marissa led the entire game and controlled the flow of action. In the third quarter, the Valmeyer Lady Pirates made a slight move on the Lady Meteors from Marissa, however, it was way too little-to-late, and Marissa finished the game with a 39-14 victory. Valmeyer won the runner-up, 2nd Place trophy while Marissa earned the 1st Place title and Championship trophy.
CHS Athletic Director, Jennifer Cartwright made All-Tournament Team and Trophy presentations at the end of each of the four games to assure that teams and players were on hand to experience the honor of their accomplishments.
The 2024 Lady Jacket Mid-Winter Classic Girls Basketball Tournament All-Tournament Team selections included the following:
Natalie Franklin, Cobden
Addison Mitchell, Dupo
Rylan Reiss, Steeleville
Kenzie Pierce, Sparta
Maddie Schulein, Sparta
Lexie Mott, Chester
Kierstin Miller, Valmeyer
Brooke Miller, Valmeyer
Kennedy Trieb, Marissa
Peyton Biekert, Marissa, Most Valuable Player (MVP)
Chester wins 3rd Place; Lexie Mott makes All-Tournament Team
The 3rd Place game began as if the Lady Jackets might fly out of the hive to sting the Lady Bulldogs for an easy victory. Chester led by 11 points after one quarter of play behind the eight point effort of sophomore Lexie Mott.
During that first quarter swarming, senior Jazzi Merideth hit a 3-pointer, freshman Aubrey Colvis hit a bucket, was fouled and completed a 3-point play by connecting for her free throw, and Aubrey Coleman, a sophomore, made a basket.
The Bulldogs were led by Kenzie Pierce who scored three points and Liberti Johnson who added a 2-point field goal.
In the second quarter the Lady Bulldogs bit the Jackets to the tune of 9-5. Kenzie Pierce came on strong scoring five points on a bucket and a pair of free throws, Alexis Tadlock made a basket and one free throw, and Chloe Copple sank a free throw.
Chester stayed in the hive most of the second quarter and scored only five points. Lexi Mott hit one shot and added a pair of free throws and Lillian Diskey made one free throw.
At the end of the first half, Chester led, 21-14. Lexi Mott made 11 of Chester’s 16 points. Kenzie Pierce scored seven of Sparta’s 14 points. The score was tied twice in the opening six minutes of the first quarter, 2-2 at the 5:12 mark and 4-4 at the 2:07. From that point on, Chester led the game.
Chester went on a 12-1 run to close out the first quarter. The Jackets biggest lead was 16-5 after one quarter. Sparta edged its way back in the second frame outscoring Chester, 9-5, to close out the first half, down by just seven points, 21-14.
Jazzi Merideth (12) goes hard to the basket Saturday January 6 when the Lady Jackets defeated the Lady Bulldogs from Sparta to earn the 3rd Place trophy. In the win, Merideth scored 6 points, grabbed 4 rebounds and dished out 3 assists. Jim Beers Photo
During the halftime break CHS Head Coach, Jeff Mott must have shaken the hive a bit because in the third quarter the Lady Jackets flew out of the nest and outscored the Bulldogs, 17-11 to extend their lead to 13 points, 38-25.
Lexie Mott got the ball rolling right away with a bucket. At the 5:31 mark Jessica Stumpe came alive and scored the next eight points on back-to-back-to back baskets, starting with a 3-point shot, then hitting a traditional 2-point bucket, followed by a second trey.
Riley Lochhead, Jazzi Merideth and Aubrey Colvis knocked down shots too and Rylie Conley connected on a free throw.
The Lady Bulldogs almost broke loose from their leash during that span, but the Chester defense held them to 11 points. Kenzie Pierce continued to give the Jackets problems scoring nine points. Chloe Copple hit a free throw as did Liberti Johnson.
Down the stretch, the Lady Bulldogs continued to claw and bite at the YellowJackets, actually outscoring Chester, 11-5, in the 4th quarter.
Lexie Mott (33) goes up strong to attempt a layup against Sparta Saturday January 6 in the 3rf Place game. It was the 17th Annual Lady Jacket Mid-Winter Classic and Mott scored 16 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in the win over the Lady Bulldogs. Jim Beers Photo
Lexie Mott started the Jackets off for Chester’s first two points, both on free throws. Sparta’s Kenzie Pierce hit a free throw and CHS led Sparta, 40-26, with 4:08 to play in the game.
The Lady Jackets still enjoyed a 14-point lead. At the 2:46 point, Chester’s Jazzi Merideth hit a free throw to extend Chester’s lead to 41-26.
In the final 2:27, Sparta outscored Chester, 10-2, behind the scoring of Serenity Richardson (4), Kenzie Pierce (3), and Maddie Schulein (3). Chester’s only score was Aubrey Colvis who knocked down a bucket with .50 to play. Chester won by seven points, 43-36.
In the win, Chester secured the 3rd Place trophy. The Jackets were led in scoring by Lexie Mott who had 16 points. Mott was Chester’s only player scoring in double figures. She also led in rebounds with six.
Sophomore Jesse Stumpe had 8 points, 1 assist and 2 steals. Aubrey Colvis had 7 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal and 2 blocks. Senior Jazzi Merideth scored 6 points, grabbed 4 rebounds, and dished out 3 assists.
Aubrey Coleman and Riley Lochhead each scored 2 points apiece. Coleman recorded 1 assist and 1 steal. Rylie Conley scored 1 point, grabbed 2 rebounds, and dished out 2 assists. Lillian Diskey hit a free throw, grabbed 3 rebounds, and dished 1 assist. Senior Camryn Luthy had 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal.
Sparta was led by Kenzie Pierce who led all scorers and scored 20 points for her team. Pierce was followed by Serenity Richardson and Maddie Schulein who each scored 4 points apiece. Liberti Johnson and Alexis Tadlock each scored 3 points apiece, and Ruthie Pillars and Chloe Copple each scored 1 point apiece.
The win improved Chester’s overall record to 11-8 and closed out Week # 7 with a win. Next up for Chester in Week #8 will be two road trips. The Lady Jackets travel to Red Bud Monday January 8 for a Cahokia Conference matchup with the Lady Musketeers. Thursday January 11 Chester will travel to Carlyle for another Cahokia Conference game against the Lady Indians.