Chester will advance to Championship game, and Sparta will play for Consolation Championship
by Jim Beers
CHESTER – Thursday January 8 was Day 4 of the 2026 Chester High School Lady Jackets Mid-Winter Classic. It was the final day of the Semi-Finals for the Championship games of both the Consolation Bracket and the Tournament Championship Bracket.
Game 7 featured Sparta vs New Athens in the Consolation Bracket and Chester vs Trico in the Championship Bracket. Sparta defeated New Athens, 51-32, and Chester beat Trico, 55-51. Sparta will compete in Game 10 Saturday January 10 at 1:30 noon vs Dupo for the Consolation Championship, and Chester will play for the Tournament Championship Saturday January 10 at 4:30 p.m. vs Marissa.
Game 7: Sparta 51- New Athens 32
The first quarter was competitive with Sparta leading New Athens, 11-8, after the first quarter. The Lady Bulldogs maintained the lead in the second quarter by outscoring the Lady Yellowjackets, 14-8. At halftime, Sparta led, 25-16.
The Lady Bulldogs turned on the steam in the 3rd quarter outscoring New Athens, 16-4, to extend the lead to 41-20. Down the stretch, the Lady Yellowjackets outscored the Lady Bulldogs, 12-10, but it was too-little-too-late, with Sparta securing the win, 51-32.
New Athens had two players score in double figures. Brooke Deterding scored 16 points and Avery Albers scored 10 points. Other contributors included Palin Deterding, Ally Barr, and Nora Hager with two points apiece. The Lady YellowJackets made 4-of-14 free throws (29%). They also made 11 two-pointers and 2 three-pointers.
Sparta also had two players score in double figures. Liberti Johnson scored 14 points and Ruthie Pillers scored 12 points. Other contributors included Sierra Starr (8), Kaylynn French (5), Brynlea Keller (5), Serenity Richardson (4), and Maria Sangurima (3). The Lady Bulldogs made 6-of-9 free throws (67%). They also made 9 two-pointers and 9 three-pointers.
Game 8: Chester 55-Trico 50
The Championship Semi-Final game between the Chester Lady YellowJackets and the Trico Lady Pioneers was an exciting and hard-fought contest between two very feisty and determined teams. It was a great game with lots of ups-and-downs and lots of excitement, drama, and suspense. It was anybody’s game right up until the final seconds.
Trico jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead in the opening 2:20. Ebers, Franklin, and Lovel each hit baskets in that opening run. Chester called a time out at the 5:40 mark.
After the time out, the Lady Jackets went on a 7-0 run of their own to take a 7-6 lead at the 2:14 mark. Trico called a time out after Hazel Helmers was called for a foul at the 2:03 mark. Just 11-seconds after the time out, Chester’s Aubrey Coleman popped a 3-pointer to complete a CHS 10-0 run with just 1:48 remaining in the 1st quarter.
Trico ended the quarter on a 5-2 run as Lovel drained a 3-pointer and Greta Jones knocked down a shot. Chester’s 1st quarter points came from Aubrey Coleman (5), Jessica Stumpe (3), Lillian Diskey (4), and Lexi Mott (2). Chester led, 12-11 at the end of the opening 8:00.
The Lady Jackets buzzed out hard and fast in the second quarter and stung Trico with a 12-0 run to extend their lead by 13 points, 24-11. During that run Jessica Stumpe started the frenzy with a bucket at 6:35. She then got a loose ball and drove coast-to-coast making a layup. She was fouled in the process and completed the traditional three-point play. Chester led, 17-11 with 5:16 to play in the second quarter.
At the 4:22 mark, Chester’s Lexi Mott made the back end of a “two free throw” attempt. CHS led, 18-11. Senior Lillian Diskey then went on a tirade with back-to-back steals and coast-to-coast trips that were completed with exciting made layups. With 2:10 to play, the Lady Jackets led, 22-11.
Not to be outdone, Chester’s Aubrey Coleman got a steal on Trico’s next possession. Coleman took the steal, drove the length of the floor and scored, to extend Chester’s lead to 24-11 at the 1:50 mark. On Chester’s next possession, Lilian Diskey got another steal and drove the length of the floor for what could have been another fast-break score, but her shot missed the spot as she was shooting. No foul was called.
On Trico’s next possession, Hazel Helmers broke Chester’s 12-0 run when she knocked down a shot with .49 remaining in the second quarter. Chester’s Jessica Stumpe and Trico’s Hayleigh Franklin each scored in the remaining 30 seconds. At the buzzer, Chester had ended a 14-4 run, to lead by 11 points, 26-15 at the half.
The second quarter was critical to the YellowJacket’s success. The lady Jackets, who basically use five key players, worked extremely hard throughout that period to establish a nice, 11-point lead. Players executed a great game plan and put in an enormous amount of heart and energy to accomplish their goal.
With the loss of senior Riley Lochhead weeks ago to a broken leg, Coach Jeff Mott uses sophomore Marlie Caby as the next in line to round out the starting lineup. Each game Mott relies heavily on those five starters to shoulder most of every game, putting very much stress and physical demand on that group. There is little room or availability of experienced personnel to provide varsity relief. That fact sometimes takes a toll on the Lady Jacket energy level.
That fact was seen in the 3rd quarter as Trico came out strong and determined to challenge Chester throughout the remainder of the game. When the Jackets came out of the locker room after halftime, fatigue was quite apparent from the first half battle. During the 3rd quarter the Jackets committed five early turnovers and committed four key fouls which negatively reflected on the outcome of the period.
Before Chester was forced to call a time out at the3:29 mark, the Lady Pioneers managed a 9-4 run to get within six points of Chester, 30-24. During that run, Whitney Lovel (5), Hayleigh Franklin (2), and Hazel Helmers (2) teamed up to get Trico back in the game. Chester’s Marlie Caby (2) and Jessica Stumpe (2) kept Chester alive.
With just .51 left in the 3rd quarter, the Pioneers managed to tie the game, 33-33. During that run Trico outscored Chester 9-3 on the efforts of Lily Ebers (5), Whitney Lovel (2), and Greta Jones (2). Chester was only able to come up with three points as Lillian Diskey made the back end of a two point freed throw attempt and Carlie Caby connected for a 2-point field goal.
In the final 35.3 seconds, Chester came alive and ended the 3rd quarter with a 5-0 run as Lexi Mott calmly made both of her free throw attempts (2) and Aubrey Coleman drained a 3-pointer at the buzzer (3). Chester re-took the lead, 38-33, to end the period. That five point finish took much wind out of the Trico sails, and gave a renewed life to the Chester effort.
It turns out that the game was far from over, however, as neither team was willing to terminate their desire and intention to win the game! Trico struck first blood with a basket by lily Ebers at the 6:54 mark. CHS still led, 38-35. With 6:08 to play, Chester’s Lexi Mott made a free throw to extend the Lady Jacket lead to 39-35.
At the 5:10 mark Trico’s Greta Jones hit a bucket to get the Lady Pioneers within two points, 39-37. Chester answered with a Lexi Mott 2-pointer making the score Chester 41-Trico 37, with 4:56 to play. The give-and-take continued when Trico’s Lily Ebers connected for two points at the 4:32 mark, to cut the Chester lead to two points, 41-39. With 4:11 to play, Trico called a full time out. During that opening half of the 4th quarter, Trico enjoyed a 6-3 run.
From the 3:38 mark until the 1:46 mark there would be five lead changes and one tie. Trico took the lead, 42-41, at 3:48 when Hayleigh Franklin drained a 3-pointer. At the 3:06 mark, Chester re-took the lead, 43-42, on a Marlie Caby basket. Five seconds later Trico tied the game, 43-43 when Greta Jones hit a free throw. Just 14 seconds later, Chester re-took the lead, 44-43 on a Marlie Caby Free throw. The Lady Pioneers answered with a Greta Jones 2-pointer to re-take the Trico lead, 45-44. The see-saw finished when Chester’s Lexi Mott sank back-to-back free throws to re-take the Chester lead, 45-45, with only 1:46 to play in the game. During that see-saw period, Trico led with a 6-5 offensive production.
Chester took a time out with just 1:32 to play in the game with a one point, 46-45, lead. The game was far from over at that point, however. There was still much action and thrilling excitement left during the final 1:13 of the game!
In the final 1:13 Chester orchestrated a 9-5 run to win the game. During that stretch the Lady Jackets hit 7-of-7 free throws and one field goal. This fact demonstrates the great importance of making free throws with the clock stopped.
Lexi Mott made back-to-back free throws at the 1:13 mark. CHS led, 48-45. With 49.5 seconds left to play, Chester’s Aubrey Coleman hit a field goal. Chester led, 50-45. With 28.4 seconds left, Lillian Diskey made two free throws. CHS extended its lead to 52-45.
Just when it looked as if the Lady Jackets were going to walk away with the win, Trico’s Whitney Lovel drained a 3-pointer with 18.6 seconds left to play in the game to get the Lady Pioneers back within four points, 52-48. Just 4.4 seconds later, Chester’s Lillian Diskey was fouled and went to the line. She sank both free throws to extend Chester’s lead back to six points, 54-48, at the 14.2 mark.
There was still drama to be experienced with 14.2 second on the clock. Chester’s Aubrey Coleman went to the line and made one free throw at the 9.2 mark giving Chester a 55-48 advantage. Trico spent its last bit of time and possession at the free throw line as Hayleigh Franklin hit both ends of a fret how opportunity to give the Lady Pioneers their final score of the game. Chester won, 55-50.
In the win, Chester had 4-of-5 players score in double figures. Lexi Mott had 13 points, and Lillian Diskey, Jessica Stumpe, and Aubrey Coleman each scored 12 points apiece. Marlie Caby added six points. The Lady Jackets made 16-of-23 free throw attempts (70%). They also made three 3-pointers and 15 two-pointers.
Trico was led by Whitney Lovel who scored 15 points, and Hayleigh Franklin who added 14 points. Greta Jones contributed nine points and Lily Ebers added eight points. Finally, Hazel Helmers scored four points. The Lady Bulldogs were 6-of-13 at the free throw line (46%). They also made 4 three-pointers and 16 two-pointers.
CHS Lady Jacket Marlie Caby (35), a sophomore, goes up for a basket Thursday January 8 when Chester hosted Trico in the LJMWC Championship Semi-Final. Caby scored six points and handled thew ball much of the time in the 55-50 win over the Lady Pioneers. Jim Beers Photo
CHS senior Lillian Diskey (21) goes up for one of her many fast break streaks Thursday January 8 when Chester hosted Trico in the Semi-Final of the 2026 Lady Jacket Mid-Winter Classic Basketball Tournament. In the 55-50 win over Trico, Diskey scored 12 points and a great night creating many defensive stops and steals. Jim Beers Photo
Aubrey Coleman (31) a senior Lady Jacket Basketball shooting guard looks to make a pass to one of her teammates Thursday January 8 when Chester hosted the Trico Lady Pioneers in the Semi-Final of the Championship Round of the 19th Annual Lady Jacket Mid-Winter Classic Tournament. For the night Coleman scored 12 points and played scrappy defense. Jim Beers Photo
Jessica Stumpe (24) gets ready to unleash one her many field goals in the game against Trico. The occasion was the Lady Jackets Mid-Winter Classic Basketball Semi-Final round. Stumpe scored 12 points on one 3-pointer, 4 traditional 2-pointers, and perfect 1-for-1 free throw shooting. Her offense and spunky defense helped her team beat Trico by a score of 55-50 and advance to the Championship game Saturday January 10 at 4:30 pm. Jim Beers Photo
CHS senior forward Lexi Mott (33) jumps ball against Trico Lady Pioneer Hazel Helmers (21) in the Semi-Final game of the 19th Annual CHS Lady Jackets Mid-Winter Classic Basketball Tournament. Mott,a senior, was Chester’s highest scorer with 13 points. Her rebounding and defensive efforts helped her team beat Trico, 55-50. Jim Beers Photo