Lady Jackets win at Red Bud, lose at Carlyle

The Chester High School Lady YellowJackets had a Week 8 packed with exciting basketball on the road. The Jackets traveled to Red Bud Monday, Jan. 10, to take on the Lady Musketeers and to Carlyle Thursday, Jan. 13, to battle the Lady Indians.

Both were Cahokia Conference Illinois Division games and both were very competitive and hard-fought. Chester split for the week, bringing home a conference win from Red Bud and a loss from Carlyle. Head coach Clint Cowan was extremely proud of his team in both contests and praised their efforts for Week 8.

<b>Chester 48, Red Bud 30</b>

The Jackets had a great night at Red Bud, winning 48-30. Going into the game, Red Bud was the favorite, but Chester had other ideas!

"By far this was the best game we have played all season. Red Bud had our number the last couple of times we played them, so it was really nice to go on the road and get this win," Cowan said.

Chester edged the Lady Musketeers in the first quarter by two points, 12-10, behind Lady Jackets work horse Alyssa Seymour. The senior scored 9-of-12 Chester points in that period, with sophomore Jazzi Merideth hitting a 3-pointer to round out the quarter.

Both teams struggled a bit in the second quarter, but Chester managed to outscore Red Bud 8-2, to take a 20-12 lead into the locker room at the half. In that period, Camrynn Howie, Rylie Conley, Merideth and freshman Emma Diskey each scored 2 points apiece.

Coming back after the popcorn break, the Lady Jackets exploded with an 18-7 third quarter for a 38-19 lead. In that nice run, CHS got even output from Merideth (6), and Seymour, Howie, and Kailyn Absher, who each scored 4 points apiece.

In the final eight minutes, Red Bud actually outscored Chester 11-10, but it was too little, too late for the host Lady Musketeers and Chester ended the game with an 18-point victory.

"We jumped out 2-0 and never looked back," Cowan said. "We never lost the lead. Jazzi Merideth sparked us with her best game of her career. Kailyn Absher and Alyssa Seymour dominated the boards and controlled the rebounding game.

"Camrynn Howie got the ball where it needed to be and Emma Diskey, Rylie Conley, and Josalynn Anaya contributed both on defense and on offense. Our entire team played shutdown defense. We held them to 12 points the entire first half and we never let up."

Cowan also commended the Lady Jackets for their teamwork. "I loved the way we were flying around, talking, helping one another, and just plain playing as a team," he said. "I am so happy for and proud of these girls. This is a special group and we are making a name for ourselves."

In the win, the Jackets had six of their seven payers contribute offensively, led by Seymour (19), Merideth (11), Howie and Kailyn Absher with six points apiece, Emma Diskey (4), and Rylie Conley (2).

Seymour recorded yet another double-double with 19 points and 16 rebounds, and Kailyn Absher contributed 6 points and 7 rebounds. Howie led the team in assists with 8, followed by Kailyn Absher with 6 assists. For the night Chester hit 21 2-pointers and one 3-pointer. From the free-throw line the Jackets shot 60% (3-of-5).

Red Bud made seven 2-pointers and three 3-pointers and made 7-of-11 shots from the charity stripe (67%). The Musketeers did not have anyone score in double figures but were led by Sievers who scored 9 points, followed by Dilley (7), Muench (4), Hess (4), Fries (3), Falkenhain (2), and Meyer (1).

With the win, the Lady YellowJackets improved to an overall record of 10-11 and a Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division record of 2-3.

Chester has played Red Bud twice already this season, a 46-23 loss Nov. 17 in their first game of the season and a 49-31 loss Dec. 28 in the Red Bud Christmas Tournament, making this win even sweeter for the Lady Jackets.

<b>Carlyle 59, Chester 39</b>

The Lady Jackets made the long trip to Carlyle Thursday, Jan. 13, to face the Lady Indians for the second time this season in a conference matchup. The Jackets hosted Carlyle in Week 2, losing 55-45.

Chester jumped out to a 12-9 first-quarter lead behind the scoring of Seymour (6) and Conley (5). Merideth put the icing on the cake with a free throw. Carlyle was led by Meyer, who scored 7-of-9 Lady Indian points.

The second quarter was also close and very competitive, but the Lady Indians outscored the Lady Jackets 18-14 to take a 1-point, 27-26 lead into halftime.

During that second period, CHS was led by Seymour, who scored 8 points on four field goals and a free throw. Hoffman paced the Indians with a 3-pointer and 4-of-4 shooting at the line.

"The girls played an amazing game tonight. The score might not show it, but we played well," Cowan said. "We weren't getting any fouls called in our favor, yet we continued to battle and fight the entire game."

The third quarter has often plagued the Lady Jackets this season, and at Carlyle that did not change. Carlyle outscored Chester by 13 points, 18-5, in the third period and allowed the Lady Indians to establish a 14-point lead, 45-31, by the end of the third quarter.

"We were down by just 6 points with only four minutes left in the third quarter, but we still weren't getting any calls going our way," Cowan said. "We had some issues with their press, however we continued to battle through it. With only seven players, our girls eventually ran out of gas."

That fatigue continued in the fourth quarter as the Lady Indians outscored the Jackets 14-8 to secure the win by 20 points, 59-39.

In the win, Carlyle utilized nine players, all of whom scored, including Hoffman (14), Meyer (11), Harns (8), Rolfingsmeyer (6), Schmrink (6), Meyer (4), Persing (4), and Wademan (3). The Indians were 16-of-20 from the free-throw line (80%) and hit 17 2-pointers and three 3-pointers.

Chester was led by Seymour, who scored 22 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for another double-double. Conley added 7 points followed by Howie (4), Merideth (4), and Diskey (2).

Howie also grabbed six rebounds and dished out five assists, and Diskey recorded four rebounds to go with her 2 points. The Jackets hit 14 2-pointers and just one 3-pointer for the night. They also shot 46% (6-of-13) from the free-throw line.

"With Camrynn Howie's five assists, she is now just 11 assists away from setting a new single-season record. The current record of 118 was set by Destiny Williams," Cowan said.

"These girls are an amazing group of girls and I would really like to encourage the community to come out and support them this Thursday, Jan. 20, when we host Steeleville. They have worked so hard day in and day out that I can truly say I am so proud of each and every one of them. This is a special group!"

With the loss the Lady Jackets and dropped them to an overall record of 10-12 and a Cahokia Conference record of 2-4.

The Saturday Jan. 16 game at Christopher was canceled, so the Jackets will return to action Thursday, Jan. 20, when the Steeleville Lady Warriors come to town. Tip-Off is at 6 p.m. Next week the girls will plat at Trico Monday, Jan. 24, and host Okawville at Colbert Gym Thursday, Jan. 27.