Mott, Diskey, Stumpe, and Caby score in double figures
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – The Chester Lady Jackets hosted the Steeleville Lady Warriors Thursday January 22 in a non-conference match-up. There was no Junior Varsity game. The start time was therefor moved up to 6:00 p.m.
The Jackets flew out to a 14-1 lead at the 4:03 mark. In that opening run Lexi Mott scored 4 points. Lillian Diskey knocked down a trey and a deuce, Marley Caby drained a 3-pointer, and Aubrey Coleman made a basket. Steeleville’s Bailey Cole hit a free throw for the Warrior’s only point.
To close out the first quarter Jessica Stumpe, Lexi Mott, and Marlie Caby each scored a basket apiece. Lily Hepp scored two points and 1:14 to play in the period, Bailey Cole hit a layup, was fouled, and made her free throw to complete the three-point play. Chester led, 20-6 after one quarter.
Steeleville opened the second quarter with a 3-pointer by Bailey Cole to bring Steeleville within 11 points 20-9. Chester’s Lexi Mott made a free throw at 7:21, and Steeleville’s Lynlee Rubach answered with a free throw at 7:26. CHS led, 23-10.
Neither team scored until the 5:32 mark when Lexi Mott sank back-to-back free throws. Jessica Stumpe followed with a basket at 4:38 to extend Chester’s lead to 27-10, after the 7-4 opening run by CHS.
Hillary Cowan came into the game and scored a bucket and was fouled. She drained her free throw and Steeleville trailed by 17 points, 27-10 with 4:20 to play in the first half. Marlie Caby answered Cowan’s performance with a basket after which Steeleville’s Karsen Wedemeyer hit a 2-pointer to get Steeleville within 14 points, 29-13, at the 3:35 mark. With 3:30 remaining Chester called a time out.
Neither team scored in the next two minutes. Steeleville then called a time out at the 1:43 mark. After the time out, Chester’s Jessica Stumpe hit a basket with 1:12 left and Steeleville’s Lynlee Rubach was fouled while shooting and made both of her free throws. Chester led, 31-17.
To close out the half. Chester’s Marlie Caby knocked down her second 3-pointer of the game and Steeleville’s Bailey Cole hit a 2-pointer, was fouled and made her free throw. Chester led, 34-20, with .29 on the clock. The Lady Jackets weren’t done yet, however, as Lexi Mott hit a bucket at the buzzer to extend Chester’s lead to 16 points, 36-20 at halftime.
After halftime, Chester used a 19-6 run to pretty much put the game away. An opening run of, 8-0, put Chester up, 44-20 at the 5:53 mark. Steeleville called a time out at that point. Lexi Mott started that run with a basket just 30-seconds into the 3rd quarter. Lillian Diskey then unleashed a 6-0 run of her own when she stole the ball three times in-a-row, drove the length of the floor three times, and made three consecutive running layups.
A 5-2 Chester run extended the lead to 49-22 at the 2:13 mark. During that run, Lexi Mott hit a bucket, Lillian Diskey scored two points and Jessica Stumpe made a free throw. Lily Hepp scored Steeleville’s two points.
At the 1:39 mark, Lily Hepp struck again and knocked down another 2-pointer. CHS led, 49-24. Chester’s Lexi Mott scored all six of Chester’s final points of the 3rd quarter on four free throws and a 2-pointer. Steeleville’s Corinne Mueller hit a bucket at 1:05 and Bailey Cole made a pair pf free throws with just .07 on the clock. CHS led by 27 points, 55-28, after three quarters of play.
Down the stretch, CHS opened the 4th quarter with a 7-0 run in the first three minutes of the period. Lillian Diskey, Jessica Stumpe, and Lexi Mott each hit baskets and Marlie Caby sank a free throw. Chester led by 34 points, 62-28. There was a running clock after Chester achieved a 30-point lead.
At the 2:40 mark Steeleville scored two points when Corinne Mueller sank two free throws. With 1:46 on the clock, Bailey Cole connected for a 2-pointer. To close out the game, and a 6-0 run, Teagen Patterson knocked down a field goal with .50 on the clock, to give the Lady Warriors 34 points. Chester won the game by 28 points, 62-34.
Steeleville had all seven of its players score in the game. Bailey Cole led the Lady Warriors with 16 points. Lily Hepp and Karsen Wedemeyer each added four points apiece. Lynlee Rubach and Hillari Cowan each scored two points apiece. Steeleville made 11-of-19 free throws (58%). They also added 10 two-pointers and one 3-pointer.
Coach Cowan mentioned that his leading scorer, Rylan Reiss, was injured and was unable to play in the game. Steeleville came to Chester with only seven players including two juniors, three sophomores, and two freshmen.
The Lady Jackets had four players score in double figures including Lexi Mott, Lillian Diskey, Jessica Stumpe, and Marlie Caby. Lexi Mott led all scorers on either team with 23 points. Lillian Diskey added 15 points. Jessica Stumpe and Marlie Caby each contributed 11 points apiece. Aubrey Coleman rounded out the Lady Jacket’s scoring with two points. The Jackets also shot (58% from the free throw line (11-of-19). They drained three 3-pointers and 21 two-pointers.
In the win, Natalie Guetersloh saw playing time in all four quarters and contributed to the win. She had some key rebounds and played good defense in her time on the floor. Kinley Davitz, a freshman, saw ample playing time and was not hesitant to mix it up with the upper classmen. Kenna Thompson, a sophomore, also entered the game in the 3rd and 4th quarters.
With the win, Chester improved to an overall record of 12 wins and 10 losses. In the Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division the Lady Jackets have 2 wins and 3 losses.
Next up for the Lady Jackets are two home games. Thursday January 29 CHS hosts Cahokia Conference rival, Okawville, and Saturday January 31 Carterville comes to CHS Colbert Memorial Gymnasium for a non-conference game.
Including the Lady Jacket Mid-Winter Classic, the Lady Jackets finish with 10 home games and just four on the road. The Jackets are currently in the middle of an 8-game home schedule vs one away game which has already passed at Red Bud. The team has already completed 10 weeks of a 13-week regular season.
Marlie Caby (35) a sophomore, was one of four Lady Jacket basketball players to score in double figures Thursday January 22 when Chester hosted Steeleville. Caby scored 11 points and did a great job of handling the basketball. Miss Caby worked her way into the starting lineup this season when senior Riley Lochhead broke her leg. Caby had done an excellent job going up against upper classmen night-after night. Jim Beers Photo
Lillian Diskey (21), a CHS senior, was Chester’s second-leading scorer in the win over Steeleville Thursday January 22. The Jackets won, 62-34, over the Lady Warriors, partly due to Diskey’s 15-point effort and scrappy play and hustle on the court. Over her four years at CHS Diskey has been one of the most improved players of not the most improved player. She now excels in both offense and defense\e and is a leader on the court. Jim Beers Photo
The Chester High School Lady Jacket Basketball seniors have stepped-up their level of play this senior season. Both athletically and via leadership skills on the court, these six seniors have made a lasting impression on a successful season. Pictured (left to right) are Lillian Diskey, Jessica Stumpe, Lexi Mott, Riley Lochhead, Natalie Guetersloh, and Aubrey Coleman. These young ladies have seven more regular season games, four of which are at home at Chester High School, in Colbert Memorial Gymnasium, on Rocky Bridges Court. In addition, they will compete in the 2026 IHSA Regional Basketball Tournament. Jim Beers