Fall to Okawville, 50-28, then win two-in-a-row vs Carterville, 67-53 and Wesclin, 49-36
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – The Chester High School Lady Jackets have stepped it up in the final weeks of the 2025-26 basketball season. Since the arrival of the New Year, Chester has recorded a 2026 record of 7 wins and 3 losses.
The Lady Jackets have wins against Massac County (50-35), New Athens (45-42), Trico (55-51), Red Bud (46-30), Steeleville (62-34), Carterville (67-53) and Wesclin (49-36). The three losses were to Marissa (54-51), Anna-Jonesboro (55-41), and Okawville (50-28).
The Lady Jackets are currently in Week 12 of a 13-week regular season. Last Week in Week 11 CHS split with one loss and one win, and they have kicked-off Week 12 with a nice win over Wesclin. That win was a landmark as the only time that a Chester Lady Jacket team has ever won a game against the Lady Warriors.
Thursday January 29: Okawville 50-Chester 28
The Jackets only trailed by three points, 10-7, after the first quarter. The second quarter the Lady Rockets outscored Chester, 18-10, to lead by just 11 points, 28-17, at halftime. The third quarter hurt the Jackets quite a bit as Okawville outscored the Lady Jackets by 16-4 to lead by 20 points, 44-21, after three periods. Down the stretch the Lady Jackets outscored the Lady Rockets, 7-6, but lost the game by 22 points, 50-28.
In the loss Chester was led by Lexi Mott who recorded 15 points. Jessica Stumpe also scored in double figures with 10 points. Lillian Diskey rounded out the Chester scoring with a three-pointer.
On Thursday December 11 when Chester played at Okawville the Rockets defeated Chester, 79-38 (41 points). In this second contest Chester held Okawville to 29 fewer points, and lost by 19 fewer points. Thus, the Lady Jackets demonstrated improvement since that first meeting!
With the loss, Chester fell to an overall record of 12-11, and a Cahokia Conference record of 2-4.
Okawville had eight players contribute to their 50 point total, led by Brynn Rhodes who had 15 points. Other contributors included three players with eight points including Jilien Harre, Schae Juenger, and Josephine Schmersahl. Taylor Statler added four points, and Kenley Hackstadt contributed three points. Finally, Lillian Helbig and Addison Hasheider each added two points apiece.
Saturday January 31: Chester 67-Carterville 53
The Lady Jackets hosted Carterville in a rare Saturday afternoon contest January 31 at Colbert Memorial Gymnasium.
Carterville JV 53-Chester JV 43. The JV played at 11:00 a.m. falling to the Lady Lions, 53-43. It was a hard-fought, competitive game with both teams battling for the win right till the end. Chester trailed 12-8 after the first quarter and 26-18 at halftime. In the 3rd quarter the Lions outscored CHSD 15-6 to extend their lead to 41-24.
The 4th quarter the Lady Jackets came on strong and outscored Carterville 19-12 behind the scoring of Bailey Hartman who scored nine points on a trey, two deuces and two free throws. Kinley Davitz added two baskets and Evelyn McKinney drained a 3-pointer. Kenna Thompson knocked down a bucket and Harlow Ebers sank a free throw. Unfortunately it was too-little-too-late because at the final buzzer, Carterville led by 10 points, 53-43.
Chester was led offensively by Bailey Hartman who scored 12 points. Rylee Shemonic also scored in double figures with 11 points. Other contributors included Harlow Ebers who was strong all day and added nine points.
Evelyn McKinney added five points including a buzzer-beater 3-pointer to end the game. Kinley Davitz had four points. Kenna Thompson rounded out the scoring with two points. The JV demonstrated that they have improved significantly since the beginning of the season.
Carterville was led by Nancie Chelangat who scored 14 points and Liesel Balmforth who added 10 points. Other contributors included Landrey Crain (7), Kaylee Din (7), Amelia Harrell (4), Grace Chapman (4), Mackenzie Miller (3), and Andrea Johnson and Maya Griffin with two points apiece.
Chester Varsity 67-Carterville Varsity 53: Chester’s varsity led throughout the game. The girls played with energy, physicality, drive and heart. After one quarter, CHS led by four points, 11-7. Marlie Caby started off the quarter with a bucket at the 7:30 mark. CHS led, 2-0. Carterville tied the game, 2-2, five-seconds later when Maya Toliver sank two free throws.
Chester then went on a 9-0 run to lead, 11-4 at the 2:06 mark. With 1:23 to play in the 1st quarter Carterville’s Adi Horstmann drained a 3-pointer to get the Lady Lions within four points, 11-7. That would be as close as Carterville would get the rest of the game. CHS led, 11-7 at the end of the 1st quarter.
The second quarter began just like the first quarter with sophomore Carlie Caby knocking down a field goal. Maya Toliver answered with a basket for Carterville and the score was 13-9 at the 7:36 mark. Caby answered with her second basket of the early 2nd quarter for CHS and Toliver returned the favor at the free throw line making both of her attempts for Carterville. The 4-point Chester lead remained in effect with Chester leading 15-11 at 6:57.
The Lady Jackets then used an 8-0 run to begin a nice lead with a 3-pointer by Lillian Diskey, two free throws by Lexie Mott, and yet another bucket, a three pointer, by Marlie Caby. Chester led, 23-11, with 5:35 remaining in the first half.
Carterville’s Adi Horstmann broke the Chester run with a basket at 4:41. Just 40-seconds later Jessica Stumpe hit a free throw a 4:12 and followed with a field goal at 3:21. Chester led, 26-13. The rest of the 2nd quarter both teams kept trading baskets with Carterville outscoring Chester 6-5.
During that time, Carterville’s Maya Griffin knocked down two field goals, and Seaman and Adie Sykes each sank free throws. Chester’s Marlie Caby popped another shot and Aubrey Coleman came alive and drained a field goal at the 1:15 mark. Chester took a 12 point lead, 31-19, into the locker room at the halftime buzzer.
Both teams battled feverishly in the third quarter exchanging baskets throughout. The first 2:30 were back-and forth. Jessica Stumpe started the fun with a basket at the 7:32 mark. Lillian Diskey popped a field goal at 6:18 and Lexi Mott drove to the hoop at 5:43. Seven seconds later, Lillian Diskey stole the ball, drove the length of the floor, and laid it in for a huge score. The Carterville head coach received a technical foul seven seconds later. Chester led, 39-25 at that point.
The rest of the third quarter, Carterville outscored Chester 13-11 in a see-saw affair that resulted in the Lady Lions going to the free throw line quite often. The Lady Lions made just 5-of 12 free throws in the third quarter. Chester managed a 12-point lead at the end of three quarters of play, 50-38.
The 4th quarter remained competitive with Chester outscoring Carterville, 17-15, to end the game. The Lady Jackets spent quite a bit of time at the free throw line throughout the 4th quarter. They had 17 opportunities and made 11 of those free shots (65%). In addition, Lexi Mott made two field goals and Jessica Stumpe connected for another basket.
Down the stretch, Carterville’s Adi Horstmann connected for three field goals, Maya Toliver hit a shot and sank a pair of free throws, and Kennedy Diel drained a 3-pointer and made two free throws. At the final buzzer, Chester led, 67-53 to win the game by 14 points.
In the loss, Carterville was led by two players who scored in double figures. Adi Horstmann scored 16 points and Maya Toliver who scored 12 points.
Chester was led by four (4) players who scored in double figures including Lillian Diskey who led all players with 17 points. Lexi Mott and Marlie Caby each added 14 points apiece. Jessica Stumpe scored 11 points. Finally, Aubrey Coleman contributed nine points and Natalie Guetersloh recorded two points.
With the win, Chester improved to an overall record of 13-11. This was a non-conference game, so the Cahokia Conference record stayed at 2-4.
Tuesday February 3: Chester 49-Wesclin 36
Week 12 started Tuesday February 3 with a rematch with Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division rivals, the Wesclin Lady Warriors. The first time the Lady Jackets and Lady Warriors met this season was Monday December 22 at Wesclin when the Warriors defeated the Jackets by 21 points, 54-33.
This time the Lady Jackets had other plans for the Lady Warriors. The Jackets are much improved at this time of the season and came locked-and-loaded, and ready to do battle!
In the first quarter it was Wesclin 7 and Lexi Mott 3. Wesclin had points from Middleton (3), Wessell (2), and Murphy (2). Chester’s only points came from senior Lexi Mott who hit a basket and made one-of-two free throws for Chester’s three points.
Chester turned the tables in the second quarter and outscored Wesclin 17-4 when the Lady Jackets turned up the heat. Six players contributed to the YellowJacket success including Jessica Stumpe who hit a trey, a deuce, and a free throw for six points.
Aubrey Coleman drained a 3-pointer, and Lillian Diskey, Lexi Mott, Marlie Caby, and a familiar face, Riley Lochhead, each scored field goals. It was great to see Lochhead back in the lineup after having to sit out for six weeks with a broken leg.
The Jacket defense held Wesclin to just four points. Billhartz knocked down a 3-pointer and Wessell sank a free throw. At the end of the first half, Chester led by nine points, 20-11.
The third quarter was neck-and-neck. The Lady Warriors edged out the Lady Jackets, 16-15 in this period. Jessica Stumpe led the team with five points in the 3rd quarter and Lexi Mott and Lillian Diskey each had four points. Aubrey Coleman added two points to complete the 15-point effort.
Wesclin was paced by Murphy who scored seven points, followed by Dugans (4), Durbin (3), and Billhartz (2). Chester led by eight points, 35-27 going into the 4th quarter.
Down the final stretch Chester took care of business outscoring Wesclin, 14-9. Lillian Diskey led the charge with six points with Lexi Mott added five. Aubrey Coleman made a pair of free throws and Jessie Stumpe made one-of-two free throws to finish the task.
Middleton and Billhartz each drained 3-pointers and Murphy made a field goal and one-of-two free throws for the Lady Warriors. As the final horn sounded, Chester led by 13 points, 49-36, for the win!
The Warriors Had just one person score in double figures, a testament to the YellowJacket defense. Murphy scored 12 points. Billhartz added eight points, Middleton contributed six points and Dugans (4), Wessell (3), and Durbin (3) rounded out the offensive effort.
Chester, on the other hand, had three players score in double figures. Lexi Mott led all players on either team with 14 points. Lillian Diskey and Jessica Stumpe each scored 12 points apiece. Aubrey Coleman added seven points and both Riley Lochhead and Marlie Caby each added two points apiece.
Head Coach Jeff Mott said, “Tonight was a great team effort! We played excellent defense and had balanced scoring. Wesclin is a really good team coming in with a record of 17-6. They have great three point shooting. We were able to give them problems with our match-up zone and man-to-man defenses”.
“We built a 20-point lead in the third quarter, but we knew Wesclin had a run in them. They got the game to seven points early in the 4th quarter. We were able to settle down and knock down 8-of-9 free throws in the 4th quarter to seal the win.”
The Jackets had great rebounding in the win with Lexi Mott (13) and Jessica Stumpe (12) grabbing a combined 25 boards. Both Mott (14 points and 13 rebounds) and Stumpe (12 rebounds and 12 points) had double-doubles.
With the win, Chester kicked off Week 12 with a great victory over a team that had never been beaten by a Chester team. This was Game 25 of the regular season. Chester improved to an overall record of 14-11, and a Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division record of 3-4.
Closing out the rest of Week 12 will be a Saturday afternoon game at DuQuoin. JV will tip-off at 1:00 P.M. with the varsity to follow at 2:30 P.M.
Lady Jacket Bailey Hartman (10) fires a shot in the game against Carterville JV. Hartman led all players with her 17-point effort. Jim Beers Photo
CHS Lady Jackets and Carterville Lady Lions fight for a loose ball Saturday January 31. Chester lost the loose ball battle but won the game, 67-53.
Chester High School senior Lillian Diskey (21) led all players on either team with 17 points when Chester hosted Carterville Saturday January 31, CHS won, 67-53. Jim Beers Photo
Natalie Guetersloh (22) makes a basket in the second half in the win over the Carterville Lady Lions. Guetersloh is a senior and is playing in some of the last few games of her senior season. Jim Beers Photo