CHS and West Frankfort exchange leads throughout the game; with 43.7 seconds left, Lady Redbirds make 5-of-8 free throws to steal the win
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – The Chester High School Lady Jackets played their final game of the 2025-26 season Monday February 16 at the 2026 IHSA Class 2A Regional Basketball Tournament at Herrin High School. It was Round 2 of the tournament and Chester was seeded 4th. The opponent was the West Frankfort Lady Redbirds who were seeded 5th.
Tip-Off was 7:30 p.m. and a rather small crowd was on hand to witness the game. Chester was a bit short-handed as senior guard, Aubrey Coleman, had a touch of the flu, and two other underclassmen were injured. Coleman is a regular starter for the Lady Jackets.
West Frankfort drew first blood at the 6:52 mark on a basket by senior, Evyn Lemmon. Her name quickly became very familiar to everyone in the gym as she struck often and hard. Just 22-seconds later Chester answered when Jessica Stumpe knocked down Chester’s first bucket of the game. That scenario also quickly became a theme as the score changed four times and both Chester and West Frankfort tied the game two times each in the first quarter.
For the Jackets it was a three-man show throughout the first quarter as senior Lexie Mott (7), senior Jessica Stumpe (4), and sophomore Marlie Caby (2), teamed-up to score a total of 13 points. The Redbirds were led by senior Evyn Lemmon (9), senior Emma Ridgeway (3), and Presli Britton (1) who united to score West Frankfort’s 11 points. Chester led, 13-11 after one quarter of play.
Chester came into the battle with a roster of just 12 players, including 5 seniors, 2 juniors, 2 sophomores, and 3 freshmen. West Frankfort entered the game with a roster of 16 players, including 7 seniors, 2 juniors, 4 sophomores, and 3 freshmen.
In the game, Chester had scoring from just four players, Stumpe (16), Mott (13), and Diskey (2), who are seniors, and Caby (2), who is a sophomore. The Redbirds had scoring from six players, all who are seniors including Lemmon (26), Margelli (6), Ridgeway (4), Melvin (2), Russell (2), and Britton (1).
West Frankfort won the second quarter, 13-9. The Jackets extended their lead to four points, 15-11, just 25-seconds into the second quarter when Jessica Stumpe hit another basket, her fourth points of the game. Emma Ridgeway hit a 3-pointer a few seconds later to get the Redbirds within one point, 15-14.
Chester’s Jessica Stumpe struck again to extend the CHS lead to three points, 17-14. West Frankfort’s Evyn Lemmon then made back-to-back plays take a Redbird lead, 19-17, when she made a basket at 6:32 and another just 12-seconds later at 6:20. She was fouled on her drive to the basket and completed the traditional three point play to take the lead.
Chester’s Lillian Diskey answered with her only field goal of the game at the 5:33 mark to tie the game at 19-19. Chester then called a time out with 5:12 left in the half. West Frankfort re-took the lead, 21-19, at the 4: 14 mark when Evyn Lemmon sank back-to-back free throws. Teammate Presli Britton sank a free throw at the 2:58 mark to extend West Frankfort’s lead to three points, 22-19.
Chester’s Jessica Stumpe hit a free throw at the 1:50 mark to get Chester back within two points, 22-20. The Redbirds were called for a charge with just 1:15 left in the second frame. Chester’s Jessica Stumpe then tied the game, 22-22, with only 59-seconds on the clock. With 48-seconds on the clock, West Frankfort’s Evyn Lemmon was fouled and made both free throws to take a two point, 24-22, lead into the locker room at halftime.
In the second quarter it was basically the Jessica Stumpe and Evyn Lemmon show as Chester’s Stumpe scored 7-of-9 Lady Jacket’s points and Evyn Lemmon scored 9-of-13 West Frankfort’s points.
Chester outscored West Frankfort, 13-11, in the first quarter and West Frankfort outscored Chester, 13-9, in the second quarter. At the half, the Redbird had a slim, 2-point lead, 24-22, over the Lady Jackets.
The third quarter started the same as it did in the 1st and 2nd quarters, with Chester’s Jessica Stumpe knocking down a basket. The score remained tied for just a short while, after which West Frankfort went on an 8-0 run to lead, 32-24, with 3:43 to play in the 3rd quarter. Senior Evyn Lemmon was responsible for six of those eight points and Tymber Melvin contributed the other two points.
Chester answered that Redbird run with 7-2 run behind the efforts of Chester senior Lexie Mott (5) and none other than senior Jessica Stumpe. West Frankfort’s two points were provided by none other than Evyn Lemmon. With 1:30 remaining in the period Chester trailed by five points, 34-29. Chester’s Lexi Mott went to the line for a pair of free throws with just 1.7 seconds on the clock. She drained both shots to get Chester within three points, 34-31, as the buzzer sounded to end the frame.
Evyn Lemmon struck first to kick off the 4th quarter. She drove hard to the basket less than a minute into the final 8 minutes. The Redbirds led, 36-31. At the 7:12 mark Chester’s Jessica Stumpe made the top half of a two-shot free throw opportunity. With that free throw, Chester got within four points, 36-32.
Neither team scored until the 4:23 mark when Chester’s Lexie Mott made her first free throw of the final quarter. She had missed her first three opportunities earlier in the quarter. Her made free throw at 4:23 narrowed the Lady Jacket deficit to just three points, 36-33.
Two more minutes passed until the 2:07 mark when West Frankfort coach, Nathan Dodd called a time out. After the time out neither team scored again for the next minute. With only 1:18 left in the game, Chester coach, Jeff Mott called a time out.
After the time out, both teams struggled to score under great defensive pressures from both defenses. With 43.7 on the clock, West Frankfort’s Evyn drew a Chester foul on one of her monstrous drives to the basket. She made both free throws to extend their lead to five points, 38-33.
The Lady Jackets scored on their next possession on a basket by Lexie Mott with 20.1 seconds to play. West Frankfort led, 38-35. That would be Chester’s last points of the game, however. The Jackets had to foul in the final seconds of the game.
Evyn Lemmon knocked down two free throws at the 18.6 mark to extend Redbird lead to 40-35. Emma Ridgeway hit a free throw with 8.3 seconds left to play. Chester was unable to score in the final 8.3 seconds and West Frankfort finished with the win, 41-35.
Coach Jeff Mott said, “I felt that that we played competitively, but we just couldn’t get a few shots to fall. We were missing starter Aubrey Coleman, and Riley Lochhead stepped in and did a good job.”
“With that being said, when you’re missing a starter that has been part of the flow of the offense for the entire season, it effects the game plan. I felt that the girls stepped up to fill that void, but that’s just hard to overcome.”
As far as he overall season went, I felt that we had a very successful season. We went 17 and 14 and finished tied for 3rd Place in our Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division at 5-5, trailing only Okawville and Carlyle. They are two of the top teams in Southern Illinois!”
“This was the first winning season for Lady Jackets Basketball since 2019. Every one of these girls should be proud of what they have accomplished in their four years of basketball at CHS. They have set the bar for the underclassmen as far as how to play with a winning attitude.”
“They leave everything on the court every single time they take the floor. There is no way we will be able to replace the six seniors and what they have done for this program. Jessica (Stumpe), Lexie (Mott), Aubrey (Coleman), and Lillian (Diskey) have had career years this season!”
In the win, West Frankfort was led by Evyn Lemmon who scored a game-high 26 points. She was followed by Carlie Margelli (6), Emma Ridgeway (4), Tymber Melvin (2), Courtney Russel (2), and Presli Britton (1). With the win, West Frankfort will advance to play Benton in the Regional Championship Thursday February 19 at 6:30 p.m.
Chester was led by two players who scored in double figures including Jessica Stumpe who led the Lady Jackets with 16 points and Lexie Mott who scored 13 points. Lillian Diskey and Marlie Caby each added two points apiece. With the loss the Lady Jackets ended their 2025-26 season with an overall winning record of 17 wins and 14 losses.
In other IHSA Class 2A Regional games at Herrin, No. 8 DuQuoin (50) defeated No. 9 Herrin (46) in the Regional Quarter-Finals Saturday February 14 at DuQuoin. DuQuoin advanced to the Semi-Finals Monday February 16 to face Benton.
In Semi-Final games Monday February 16 at Herrin, In Game 1, No. 1 Benton (67) defeated No. 8 DuQuoin (36) to advance to the Championship game.
In Game 2 No. 5 West Frankfort (41) defeated No. 4 Chester (35) to advance to the Championship game.
Thursday February 19 at Herrin, No. 1 Benton will host No. 5 West Frankfort in the Championship game at 6:30 p.m.
Chester Lady Jacket Jessica Stumpe (24) a senior, led all Chester scorers with 16 points at the Herrin Region Semi-Final. CHS battled West Frankfort to the final seconds, but lost, 41-35. Jim Beers Photo
CHS senior, Lexie Mott (33), sinks a free throw with 4:23 to play in the Herrin Class 2A Regional Tournament. Her free throw got Chester within three points, 36-33. The Jackets battled West Frankfort throughout the entire game but fell short in the final 43.7 seconds to lose 41-35. Jim Beers Photo
This is a shot of Memorial Gymnasium at Herrin High School where the 2026 Herrin Class 2A Regional Basketball Tournament was hosted. The No. 4 Lady Jackets battled the No. 5 West Frankfort Lady Redbirds in the semi-finals. Chester lost the game in the final seconds of the game when the Jackets were unable to score and had to foul to stop the clock. Unfortunately, West Frankfort made 5-of-7 free throws in the 4th quarter to seal the win. Chester ended the 2025-26 season with a winning record of 17 wins and 14 losses. They finished tied for 3rd Place in the Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division with a record of 5-5. Jim Beers Photo