Lady Jackets start season at Sparta tourney
The Chester High School Lady Jacket basketball team opened the 2021-22 season with three games at the 2021 Sparta Girls Basketball Tournament. CHS was seeded in Pool B, which included Freeburg and Red Bud. Pool A consisted of Trico, Sparta and Steeleville.
The Jackets lost to Red Bud, 46-23, in their first game. In their second game, the Lady Jackets fell to Freeburg, 58-31.
On the final day, the Jackets beat Steeleville 65-13 to place fifth.
In the championship game, Freeburg beat Sparta for the tournament title. The Red Bud Lady Musketeers beat the Trico Lady Pioneers to finish third, followed by Trico in fourth and the Lady Warriors in sixth.
<b>Chester falls to Red Bud, 46-23</b>
The Lady Jackets played hard against Red Bud and trailed by just 4 points after one quarter of play. In the second quarter the Jackets outscored the Lady Musketeers, 13-6, behind the offensive action of Alyssa Seymour (4), Maleia Absher (3), Kailyn Absher (2), Jazzi Merideth (2), and Camryn Howie (2). CHS took a nice 19-16 lead into halftime.
After the halftime break, Red Bud tied the game in the third quarter, outscoring Chester 10-7. During that stretch, Kailyn Absher, Howie and Maleia Absher each hit buckets, and Emma Diskey, a sophomore, came off the bench to sink a free throw.
Red Bud's Sievers knocked down a pair of baskets, and Dilley, Wild and Falkenhain each hit buckets to give the Musketeers 10 points. The score was 26-26 going into the fourth period.
Chester's entire program features just 10 players, two seniors, four juniors, three sophomores and one freshman. That will challenge the Lady Jackets throughout the season for two reasons. First the Jackets are very young. Secondly, with only 10 players, fatigue will be a major factor late in games.
After battling hard throughout the first three quarters to lead at halftime and keep the game tied after three periods, fatigue did in fact set in during the fourth quarter to haunt CHS.
Red Bud exploded down the stretch with a 20-point outing behind the shooting of Sievers (8), Dilly (4), and Wild, Kolweier, Diel, and Hess with 2 points apiece. The Lady Jackets, on the other hand, managed just seven points behind Seymour (4), Kailyn Absher (2) and Howie (1).
In the game, Chester was led by Seymour, who was awarded "Player of the Game," with 12 points and 15 rebounds for a double-double. Other contributors included Howie (7), Kailyn Absher (6), Maleia Absher (5), Merideth (2) and Diskey (1).
Red Bud was led by Sievers who had 14 points. Kolweier followed with double figures with 10 points. Other Lady Musketeer contributors included Dilley (8), Wild (4), and Koester, Piel, Hess, Pensoneau, and Falkenhain with two points apiece.
The Lady Musketeers outscored Chester, 20-7, down the stretch to win the game, 46-33 and start the tournament, 1-0.
"We played with Red Bud for three quarters," said CHS head coach Clint Cowan. "We ran out of steam in the fourth quarter and let things get out of hand. I am proud of the girls, however, and liked their effort throughout the game."
<b>Lady Jackets fall to Freeburg, 58-31</b>
Freeburg was considered by most fans to be the favorite to win the tournament. That didn't bother the Lady Jackets, however, as they came into the game confident and ready to face Freeburg.
The first quarter was very competitive with CHS trailing by just five points, 18-13. Seymour started the game on fire, scoring seven of Chester's 13 points on three field goals and one-of-two at the free-throw line. Merideth knocked down a pair of buckets and Kailyn Absher connected for one basket.
For Freeburg, M. Blomenkamp led with two baskets and three-of-four free throws for seven points. M. Schuemmer added a three-pointer and a traditional bucket and K. Hisgen knocked down a pair of two-pointers. N. Peterson finished the 18-point period with one bucket.
Chester fell asleep in the second quarter with the only points coming from Hanna Colvis hitting both free throws at the line. Freeburg, on the other hand added 14 points, to lead, 32-15 going into the locker room at the half.
After halftime, things didn't get much better for the Lady Jackets as Freeburg outscored them 12-5 in the third quarter to lead 44-20 going into the final stretch. During the third period, Seymour and Howie each hit baskets and Rylie Conley made one-of-two free throws for Chester's 5 points.
In the third, Freeburg's N. Peterson and B. Borja each drained 3-pointers to pace the Midgets. A. Beredick hit a basket and Schuemmer and Peterson each shot 100% at the free-throw line to add 2 points apiece.
Freeburg stayed consistent in the final period, scoring 14 points. Chester did better, adding 11 points as Howie and Merideth each drained 3-pointers, and Colvis and Seymour hit buckets. Seymour added a free throw to complete Chester's 11 points.
In the loss, CHS was led by one player in double figures in both scoring and rebounding - Seymour with her second double-double in a row. Seymour scored 12 points, followed by Merideth (7), Howie (5), Colvis (4), Kailyn Absher (2) and Conley (1).
Freeburg was led by two players in double figures. Schuemmer recorded 16 points, and Peterson had 13 points. Other contributors were included Borja (9), Blomenkamp (8), Hisgen (5), A. Hesseldenz (5), and Benedick (2).
"The girls played tough tonight. I truly believe Freeburg will be the toughest team we will see all season," Cowan said. "We hung around for a while tonight, but turnovers killed us. We got great minutes from everyone tonight. I thought we rebounded well, but we just couldn't take care of the ball."
<b>CHS beats Steeleville, 65-13, to finish fifth</b>
Both teams came into the fifth place game0-2 in the tournament and with only nine-person rosters. Josalyn Anaya injured an ankle and left the Lady Jackets short-handed.
Chester opened the game with a 23-6 first quarter lead of 17 points. Seymour scored 12 points in that opening frame. Steeleville's Wedemeyer and Mulholland each popped 3-pointers for the Warrior's six points.
The second quarter was also productive for CHS as the Jackets outscored the Lady Warriors, 16-6.
Howie came alive for Chester and knocked down a pair of 3-pointers and a 2-pointer to pace Chester with 8 points. Steeleville's Wedemeyer hit another 3 ball and Mullholland scored a 2-point field goal for the Lady Warrior's 5 points. Chester led, 30-11 at the half.
The YellowJacket express could not be stopped after halftime as CHS outscored Steeleville, 22-2 in the third period. Merideth and Howie each hit four field goals apiece to lead Chester with 16 points. Seymour, Colvis and Conley each connected for field goals to complete the Chester 22-point run.
Steeleville's only points came from Mullholland, who made a 2-pointer for the Lady Warriors. Chester led, 61-13, after three quarters of play.
The Jackets shut out Steeleville 4-0 down the stretch to end the game. Briley Miles and Conley each scored for Chester to end the game, and Chester's defense held Steeleville scoreless as the final buzzer sounded. The Lady Jackets secured the fifth-place finish with a 65-13 win over the Lady Warriors.
"I was happy with the way the girls responded to having a new coach, a new system and having only 10 players on the 2021-22 roster," Cowan said.
"We tied Red Bud late in the game and we were within single digits of Freeburg in the second quarter. The girls played hard and did their best. We just sort of ran out of gas down the stretch. We need to get in better shape, and that's my fault.
"We will work hard at practice and build off of what we learned at the Sparta Tournament. Only having 10 players in the entire program, we will not be able to play a JV schedule this season. The girls have potential and I am excited about things to come."
Kailyn Absher was selected for the 2021 Sparta Girls Tournament All-Tournament Team. The Lady Jackets will play three home games this week.
The game scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 2, against Carlyle has been postponed due to a Christmas concert being held in Colbert Gymnasium. Friday, Dec. 3, the Lady Jackets will host Cobden.