Lexi Mott and Jessica Stumpe earn All-Tournament Team honors
By Jim Beers
CHESTER — The Chester High School Lady Jackets Basketball Team opened their 2025-2026 season Monday November 17 at the 2025 Lady Bulldogs Sparta Invitational Tournament. The Jackets had less than two weeks practice prior to entering the competitive season, but fared well at Sparta.
The Lady Jackets won two games and lost just one. In the process Chester won the Consolation Championship and Lexi Mott and Jessica Stumpe earned All-Tournament Team honors.
Chester played the first game of the tournament Monday November 17 vs. Trico at 5:00 p.m. It was a hard-fought contest with the game going down to the wire. The Lady Pioneers outscored the Lady Jackets by four points, 15-11, in the 4th Quarter to steal the win. Trico won, 42-38, to advance to the winner’s bracket, while Chester moved to the Consolation side of the bracket.
The Lady Jackets faced Cahokia Conference rivals, the Red Bud Lady Musketeers, in the Consolation Bracket Wednesday November 19 at 5:00 p.m. Chester led 12-7 after the first quarter and 21-14 at halftime.
The Musketeers outscored the Lady Jackets 6-4 in the 3rd Quarter to pull within five points, 25-20, after three quarters of play. Down the stretch, Red Bud once again outscored CHS, 11-10, but it wasn’t enough to overtake Chester as the Jackets claimed the win, 35-31.
Chester advanced to the Consolation Champion game vs Johnston City, and Red Bud moved to face Sparta in the 7th Place contest.
The Lady Jackets faced a rather unknown entity in the game against the Johnston City Lady Indians on Friday November 21 at 6:30 p.m. The Jackets struggled early, trailing by six points, 17-11, after one quarter of play. Chester returned the favor in the second period and outscored the Indians, 15-8, to take a one-point lead at halftime, 26-25.
After the halftime break, Chester returned to the floor with renewed confidence and energy. The Jackets outscored the Indians by 10 points, 17-7, in the 3rd Quarter to take an 11-point lead, 43-32, into the 4th Quarter.
Chester stung the Indians hard and often in the final period, holding them to just four points, and adding 16 points to their point total. At the final buzzer, the Lady Jackets led by 23 points to win the Consolation Championship 59-36.
Game 1: Trico 42-Chester 38
The Jackets were led by two players in double figures, Lexi Mott (15) and Jessica Stumpe (11). Only two other players added points for CHS. Both Riley Lochhead and Lillian Diskey each scored six points apiece. Chester was 13 of 21 from the free throw line (62%). Jessica Stumpe hit Chester’s only 3-pointer.
Trico was led by Whitney Lovel who scored 19 points. She was followed by Hayleigh Franklin (8), Lily Ebers (7), Hazel Helmers (4), and Palynn Fager and Greta Jones with two points apiece.
Head Coach, Jeff Mott said, “We started off shaky with 19 turnovers in the first half. We only had four the entire second half. We didn’t shoot the ball well. On a positive note, we outrebounded Trico 36-26, and played better as the game went on. Lexi had 15 points and 13 rebounds and Jessie had 11 points and 7 rebounds.
With the loss, the Chester Lady Jackets began the 2025-2026 season at 0-1. The loss also sent the Jackets to the Consolation Championship side of the tournament bracket to face Red Bud Wednesday November 19 at 5:00 p.m.
Game 2: Chester 35-Red Bud 31
Against the Musketeers the Lady Jackets had six players score in the 35-point outing. Sophomore Marlie Caby led the Jackets with nine points, followed by Jessica Stumpe (7), Lillian Diskey (5), Aubrey Coleman (5), and Riley Lochhead (2). Chester shot 59% from the free throw line (10-of-17). Lillian Diskey hit the only 3-pointer.
CHS outscored Red Bud 12-7 in the first quarter and 9-7 in the second frame to lead 21-14 at the half. The Lady Musketeers outscored the Lady Jackets, 6-4 in the third quarter and 11-10 in the final period, but the Jackets won by four points, 35-31.
Red Bud was led by Talia Carter who scored 10 points, followed by Emma Carter (8), Kendra Ehret (5), Ava Wagner (5), Nora Rothlisberer (2), and Julia Whelan (1).
CHS Head Coach Jeff Mott said, “It was a great game! We played lockdown defense all night. It was a real team effort! Lexi Mott had 7 points and 10 rebounds. Jesse Stumpe had 7 points and 5 rebounds. Marlie Caby led with 9 points and 7-of-10 from the free throw line (70%).
With the win, Chester improved to 1-1 for the season and advanced to the Consolation Championship game Friday November 21 at 6:30 p.m. CHS battled Johnston City for the Consolation Championship Plaque.
Game 3: Consolation Championship; Chester 59-Johnston City 36
The Lady Jackets earned the trip to the Consolation Championship game Friday November 21 at 6:30 p.m. Chester faced a rather unknown Johnston City Lady Indians for the title.
The Lady Jackets struck first blood with a basket at the 7:48 mark. It took both teams a while to get a firm grip in the battle. JC then went on a 9-0 run to take a 9-2 lead with 4:06 left in the first quarter. Lexi Mott then broke the drought for the Jackets with a traditional three-point play. She knocked down a 2-pointer and was fouled. She drained her free throw and the Jackets came alive.
Chester then mounted a 9-8 run to pull within six points, 17-11, at the end of the first quarter. Mott scored nine of Chester’s 11 points and Jessica Stumpe added a deuce.
Once the Lady Jackets got moving, they flew high in the second quarter outscoring the Lady Indians, 15-8, to close out the first half. Senior Riley Lochhead got the ball rolling with a 2-pointer just a minute into the second quarter.
Lexi Mott was stuck on replaying her 9-point performance of the first frame. She added another nine points on four field goals and a free throw, identical to her first quarter scoring. Lillian Diskey rounded out the scoring with a field goal and a free throw. Chester took a slim 1-point lead by halftime, 26-25.
Once warmed up, Chester never cooled off in the second half. The Jackets outscored the Indians 17-7 in the 3rd Quarter to extend their one point lead at halftime into a 43-32, 11-point lead after three periods of competition.
During that stretch, Mott hit two field goals and 2-for-2 free throws. Marlie Caby stepped up with a 3-pointer and a free throw. Jessica Stumpe knocked down a field goal and made a free throw on the foul. Lillian Diskey and Aubrey Coleman each contributed a field goal apiece.
Once the Jacket Express got up steam, there was no stopping them as they proceeded to outscore Johnston City 16-4 to end the game. Jessica Stumpe got hot and drained two three-pointers and a field goal for 8 points during that 8-minute runaway train.
Lillian Diskey hit two field goals and Aubrey Coleman knocked down another basket during the 16-4 YellowJacket run. Rylee Shemonic and Hanna Crow each contributed one point apiece making the back end of a two-free throw attempt. As the final horn sounded in Fulton Gym at Sparta High School, the Lady Jackets had won a 23-point victory, 59-36 to claim the Consolation Championship title of the 2025 Lady Bulldog Invitational Girls’ Basketball Tournament.
In the win, Lexi Mott led the Jackets with a season-high 24 points. Jessica Stumpe also scored in double figures with 13 points. Lillian Diskey just missed double figures with 9 points. Other offensive contributors included Marlie Caby (4), Aubrey Coleman (4), Riley Lochhead (3), Rylee Shemonic (1), and Hanna Crow (1).
CHS knocked down three 3-pointers and twenty 2-point field goals. They were also made 10-of-23 free throw attempts (43%).
Johnston City had offensive production from five players. Abigail Williams led with 11 points, followed by Adrianna Wilkening (7), Grace West (7), Makenzie Mowery (6), and Alana Chambers (5).
With the win, Chester improved to 2-1 for the season and won the plaque for being the 2025 Consolation Champions. In addition, two Chester High School players earned 2025 All-Tournament Team recognition. Lexi Mott and Jessica Stumpe each received medals for their three-game performances. Mott scored a total of 46 points and Stumpe scored 31 points.
Head Coach Jeff Mott commented after the game, “We started out a little slow, but it wasn’t due to effort. We just struggled getting shots to fall in the first half. In the second half, those shots started falling. Our defense was great the entire tournament. The girls played with a lot of heart!”
“Jessica Stumpe and Lexie Mott both had a great tournament and made the All-Tournament Team. Lexie averaged a double-double for the tournament. Against Red Bud Marlie Caby had a huge game. She was 7-for-10 from the free throw line and hit one with 10-seconds left to put us up.”
“As far as the entire tournament went, I would say it was a successful tournament going 2-1 and getting wins over Red Bud and Johnston City. The Trico game was a little disappointing because I know the girls know that it wasn’t their best shot. We struggled scoring and executing the offense. Overall, though, I’m proud of the way we battled all week!”
Monday November 24 the Lady Jackets will open their 2025-2026 home season at Colbert Memorial Gymnasium on Rocky Bridges Court. Their opponent will be a recent familiar foe, the Johnston City Lady Indians.
The Chester High School Lady Jackets Basketball Team won the Consolation Championship of the 2025 Sparta Lady Bulldogs Invitational Tournament. Pictured (Front row, left to right) are Harlow Ebers (13), Kinley Davitz (14), Evelyn McKinney (4), Hanna Crow (12), Bailey Hartman (10), Marlie Caby (35), Kenna Thompson (2), and Maci Ahring (34). Back row left to right) are Riley Lochhead (11), Jessica Stumpe (24), Aubrey Coleman (31), Lexi Mott (33), Rylee Shemonic (00), Natalie Guethersloh (22), and Lillian Diskey (21). The Lady Jackets are coached by Jeff Mott, Head Coach, Kevin Cartwright, Assistant Coach, Jennifer Coleman, JV Head Coach, and Camrynn Howie, Assistant Coach. Jim Beers Photo
CHS Lady Jackets Lexi Mott (33) and Jessica Stumpe (24) pose for a photo immediately after being announced as members of the All-Tournament Team of the 2025 Sparta Lady Bulldogs Invitational Tournament. The two are proudly wearing their All-Tournament Team medals. Jim Beers Photo
Chester High School Lady Jacket forward, Lexi Mott (33) jumps ball against Johnston City’s Amaya Peairs (3) to kick off the 2025 Consolation Championship game of the Sparta Lady Bulldogs Invitational Tournament. The Lady Jackets won, 59-36, to claim the title of the Consolation Championship Bracket. Jim Beers Photo
CHS senior, Riley Lochhead (11) puts up a shot over Johnston City’s Abigail Williams (11) in the second quarter of the Consolation Championship of the Sparta Invitational Tournament. Lochhead made her shot and got the Lady Jackets within two points of the tying the Lady Indians at the 6:44 mark. On her next shot, she was fouled and made 1-of-2 free throws. Jim Beers Photo
Lillian Diskey, a CHS senior guard, goes up for a shot at the 7:40 mark of the second quarter Friday November 21. The event was the Consolation Championship game of the 2025 Sparta Invitational Tournament. Diskey made her shot to energize the Chester Lady Jackets and start a 15-8 Chester run which would give the Lady Jackets a 1-point, 26-25 lead at halftime. Guarding Diskey is Johnston City’s Makenzie Mowery (15). Diskey’s teammates Aubrey Coleman (31) and Jessica Stumpe (24) watch to see the result of her efforts. Jim Beers Photo