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Lady Jackets go 2-2 at Lebanon Tourney

The Chester High School Lady Jackets had mixed results in the 2018 Lebanon Girl's Christmas Tournament, played Dec. 26-29, finishing the tourney at 2-2.

The tournament featured a good field of 16 teams: Greenville, Columbia, Christ Our Rock, Piasa, Lebanon, Freeburg, Father McGivney, Chester, Carlyle, Wesclin, Marissa, Du Quoin, New Athens, Red Bud, Sparta and Steeleville.

Carlyle 59; CHS 49

The first quarter was close with 9th-seeded Carlyle leading, 14-13. The second quarter, 8th-seeded Chester outscored Carlyle, 13-12 to tie the game at halftime.

In the third, the Lady Jackets had trouble getting shots to fall and with rebounding, and Carlyle had the lead, 39-34. In the fourth, the Lady Jackets picked up the pace and added 14 more points as Josie Kattenbraker drained aa three-pointer and a two-point field goal, Destiny Williams made two field goals, Alyssa Seymour hit a field goal and a free throw and Reese Chandler connected for two points. Carlyle, however, scored 20 points.

In the loss, Chester had offensive production from six different players: Destiny Williams (15), Josie Kattenbraker (12), Kendall Williams (8), Alyssa Seymour (7), Reese Chandler (5), and Kailyn Absher (2).

Chester shot just 35 percent (6 of 17) from the free throw line and 31 percent from the field (21 of 68). Reese Chandler led the team in rebounds with six. Destiny Williams led in assists with two. Alyssa Seymour had three steals; Kendall Williams recovered two loose balls and Chandler and Kendall Williams both blocked shots.

The loss in the opening game pushed the Lady Jackets into the consolation bracket for the rest of the tournament.

CHS 65; Steeleville 25

Chester had little trouble the next day with 16th-seeded Steeleville. Chester roared out of the gate, scoring 24 points to in the first quarter start the game. Destiny Williams scored 10 points on five baskets, Kendall William added eight and Josie Kattenbraker recorded six points on a pair of field goals and 2-for-2 free throw shooting. Steeleville managed just five points from Karley Kothe, Alli Wagner and Kylie Ernsting.

In the second quarter the Lady Jackets outscored the Lady Warriors 25-8, and Coach Pat Knowles began substituting off the bench. They took a 49-13 lead into the locker room at halftime.

In the third quarter Knowles continued substituting, but the Jackets still added 10 more points to lead 59-20 after three quarters. Destiny Williams added six points, Kendall Williams had two points and Reese Chandler scored on a field goal.

In the fourth, Knowles pulled his key starters. Chester outscored Steeleville 6-5 to close the game. Maria Nickle, Katie Shinabargar, Ally Rowold, Peyton Clendenin, Audrey Hopper, and Bailey Wahl saw significant action during the closing quarter.

Destiny Williams led the Jackets with 20 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, four steals, and one lose ball recovery. Kendall Williams was next with 16 points, seven rebounds, an assist, five steals and one deflection.

Joie Kattenbraker added 12 points, three rebounds, three steals and a loose ball recovery. The Jackets had three players in double figure scoring and another player, Reese Chandler, was knocking on the door with nine points, one rebound, two assists, five steals, and a deflection.

Rounding out the scoring were Katie Shinabargar (4) and Peyton Clendenin (4). Clendenin also grabbed four rebounds, dished out two assists, and had one loose ball recovery. Shinabargar grabbed one rebound, dished out one assist and had one steal.

For the game Chester was 2 of 4 from the free throw line and 32 of 57 from the field. The ladies also recorded 22 rebounds, 10 assists, 20 steals, two deflections, eight loose ball recoveries, and a pair of blocked shots with only six turnovers.

CHS 48; Du Quoin 47

In the semifinal game the Lady Jackets faced the Du Quoin Lady Indians in what would be a barnburner. Chester opened the game outscoring Du Quoin, 14-9 in the first quarter. The Lady Indians returned the favor in the second quarter outscoring Chester, 17-8, and Du Quoin had a 26-22 lead going into halftime.

Coach Knowles made adjustments at halftime and the team came back to outscore the Lady Indians, 12-11 in the third quarter. Chester still trailed 37-34.

In the fourth quarter the Jackets battled back. Kendall Williams hit a field goal and was 5 for 7 on free throws. Destiny Williams hit a field goal and knocked down a pair of key free throws. Reese Chandler hit a huge three-pointer to seal the deal.

Kendall Williams paced the Jackets with 17 points, three assists, four steals, two deflections and one loose ball recovery. Destiny Williams followed with 16 points, one rebound, three assists, and three steals.

Reese Chandler added nine points, five rebounds, one steal and one loose ball recovery. Freshman Alyssa Seymour contributed six points, eight rebounds, one assist, a steal and one blocked shot.

Chester made 11 of 20 free throws and shot 50 percent (4 of 28) from the field. The Jackets also grabbed 23 rebounds, dished out seven assists, had nine steals, recorded six deflections, recovered two loose balls and blocked two shots.

With the win, the Lady Jacket earned a seat in the consolation bracket championship game.

Marissa 38; CHS 36

Chester and 11th-seeded Marissa had not met this season before they faced-off Dec. 29 in the Consolation Championship game.

The Lady Jackets led, 15-6 after the first quarter and the second quarter was a tie with both teams scoring eight points. At halftime, Chester enjoyed a nine-point lead, 23-14.

Knowles said, "We seem to always have ups-and-downs each game. Against the Lady Meteors we played well the first half, but shut down in the third quarter and allowed Marissa to outscore us 17 to 3, and take a five-point 31-26 lead going into the final stretch."

In the fourth quarter Destiny Williams hit two field goals and Josie Kattenbraker made one two-pointer and a free throw. Alyssa Seymour had the composure to drain 3 of 5 free throws.

Chester's defense held the Meteors to just seven points on field goals by Olivia Quigley and Hilary Krouse and 3 of 4 free throw shooting by Bree Portz, but the Jackets were still down by two points, 38-36.

"We had chances to tie or win the game late, but we just could not make our shots," Knowles said. "I even called a time out and drew up a play to hit a three to tie, but it just didn't fall.

"We played well and I am proud of the girls, but sometimes things just don't go your way," he added.

In the loss, Destiny Williams led the Jackets in scoring with 16 points followed by Kendall Williams (10), Josie Kattenbraker (5) and Alyssa Seymour (5). Chester was 8 of 17 from the free throw line and 43 percent from the field (13 of 30).

Marissa got offensive production from five players: Emily Smith (16), Bree Portz (11), Hilary Krouse (6), Grace Middendorf (3), and Olivia Quigley (2). They shot 7 of 14 from the free throw line.

In the loss, Destiny Williams led the team in rebounding with five boards. Destiny Williams, Kendall Williams and Alyssa Seymour each had an assist. Destiny Williams led in steals with three. Reese Chandler had a deflection and Seymour blocked a shot.

For the four game tournament Destiny Williams led the team in scoring with 67 points followed by Kendall Williams (51), Josie Kattenbraker (29), Reese Chandler (26), and Alyssa Seymour (18).

Kattenbraker led in rebounds (13) followed by Kendall Williams (12), Alyssa Seymour (12), Destiny Williams (10), and Chandler (10). Destiny Williams also led in steals with 12 followed by Kendall Williams (10), Chandler (7), Seymour (5), Kattenbraker (3), and Kailyn Absher (3).

Alyssa Seymour led the team in blocked shots with five and Kendall Williams and Reese Chandler each blocked one shot. Kendall Williams led in loose ball recoveries with three and Kendall Williams and Reese Chandler led in deflections with three apiece.

With the final loss Chester fell to 10-7 overall, and finished the tournament at 2 and 2.