Lady Jackets go 2-1 on week Solid wins vs. Sesser-Valier and Goreville; but Christopher escapes

The Chester High School girls basketball team has continued to improve throughout 2021. They started the season late and fought COVID restrictions, terrible weather and the loss of two senior players, Josie Kattenbraker and Peyton Clendenin, to a four-game quarantine. But the team has stepped up and played with heart down the stretch.

The result has been much improved play and more competitive games. The Lady Jackets began the season 1-4, but have gone 3-3 in the last six.

CHS 60, Sesser 54

This win completed a season sweep of the Lady Red Devils. The first half was a real barn-burner with six ties and five lead changes. Chester scored first on a Kendall Williams layup at the 7:38 mark, but the Red Devils answered immediately with a Reagan Basso basket a minute later to tie the score, 2-2. Chester's Alyssa Seymour drove to the hoop for two, but Basso made two free throws.

In the quarter, Sesser's Anna Kistner and Ella Zahm hit two baskets apiece and the Red Devils had their biggest lead, 12-8. But Chester chipped away, with a 3 from Kendall Williams, two baskets from Reese Chandler, two free throws from Camryn Howie and then another three-pointer from Kendall Williams at the buzzer, giving Chester the lead, 19-18.

The second quarter featured three more ties and a pair of lead changes. Zahm continued to be hot with two baskets and a 3-pointer and her teammate Micah Reynolds hit another 3. But the Lady Jackets gave as good as they got - Williams hit two baskets and Howie and Chandler both nailed threes. Chandler then knocked down a pair of free throws with 39.2 seconds remaining. With no time left on the clock, Chester's Camryn Luthy went to the free throw line and calmly drained two, giving Chester a 33-29 lead going into the locker room.

The second half was mostly Chester as the Jackets enjoyed a 50-40 lead after three quarters of play, highlighted by a 17-11 run, some great rebounding by Kailyn Absher and baskets by Alyssa Seymour, Kendall Williams, Camryn Luthy and Reese Chandler.

Sesser made things interesting in the fourth quarter using an 11-4 run to pull within three points, 54-51, with just 1:41 remaining in the game. During that run, Reynolds (5), Kistner (3), Zahm (2), and Lilyanne Eastham (1) combined for the Devil's 11 points. But down the stretch, Chester outscored Sesser-Valier, 6-3. Kendall Williams hit two free throws to extend the CHS lead to 56-51.

Sesser's Ella Zahm drained a three-pointer with 8.9-seconds to play to pull the Red Devils within two, 56-54.

Sesser then shot themselves in the foot. They traveled and turned the possession over to Chester, and mishandled an inbounds pass, which Kendall Williams grabbed and hit the final basket of the game.

Game stats

Chester: Kendall Williams (25), Reese Chandler (14), Alyssa Seymour (11), Camryn Howie (9), Kailyn Absher (1).

Sesser-Valier-Waltonville: Ella Zahm (22), Anna Kistner (13), Micah Reynolds (11), Reagan Basso (4), Jolie Tucker (3), Lilyanne Eastham (1).

CHS 47, Goreville 23

The Jackets owned the first quarter, outscoring the Blackcats 12-2 behind Reese Chandler's seven points, baskets from Kendall Williams and Camryn Howie and an Alyssa Seymour's free throw. Chandler's three-pointer was a buzzer-beater to end the first period.

Chester continued to dominate in the second quarter, outscoring Goreville 14-5. The Lady Jackets were 5 for 7 at the free throw line as Howie (2), Kailyn Absher (2) and Seymour (1) connected. Absher also hit a two-pointer and Reese Chandler knocked down a two-pointer and her second 3-pointer of the game. The Lady Jackets led 26-7 at halftime.

Continued sharp play in the 3rd quarter had the Jackets outscoring Goreville, 14-6. Goreville's Miley Kwiatkowski started the period off with a two-pointer for Goreville as they trailed, 26-9. The Jackets then went on an 8-0 run, as Kailyn Absher (2), Reese Chandler (4) and Kendall Williams (2) led that charge. In the final 3:28, Chandler drained her third 3-pointer of the night, Camryn Luthy hit a bucket and Allyssa Seymour knocked down a free throw. Goreville's Jasilyn Westerfield hit a free throw and a bucket for the Blackcats' other three points.

Goreville outscored CHS 10-7 in the 4th quarter, but the Jackets saw some good play from their bench; Camryn Howie, Kailyn Absher and Camryn Luthy.

Game stats

Chester: Was paced by Reese Chandler (19), followed by Camryn Howie (8), Kailyn Absher (8), Alyssa Seymour (5), Kendall Williams (4) and Camryn Luthy (3).

Goreville: Abby Compton (7), Jasilyn Westerfield (6), Miley Kwiatkowski (4), Kait Dunning (2), Macie Tosh (2), Jayden Tripp (1) and Maddison Hefley (1).

Christoph. 43, CHS 40

Christopher sneaked out of Colbert Gym with the a 3-point win on Saturday. The first quarter was a defensive battle, and featured two ties and a Chester buzzer-beater to give the Lady Jackets a 2-point lead after one quarter of play.

The Bearcats exploded in the second quarter, outscoring the Jackets to lead 22-15 at halftime. Christopher's Amiah Hargrove led the charge with seven points. Makayla Dejear and Jessica Gordon each added three-pointers and Gordon added a free throw.

Chester led 15-10 at 3:07 on a Reese Chandler 3-pointer, but Christopher's Gordon hit a free throw to pull within four points, 15-11. The Bearcats then went on a run to end the half.

The third quarter was short and sweet with Chester outscoring Christopher, 10-3 to tie the game at 25-25 after three quarters of play. Alyssa Seymour scored four points and grabbed numerous rebounds. Kendall Williams added four points and Kailyn Absher tied the game 25-25 at the 3:05 mark.

The 4th quarter featured three ties and three lead changes. With the Bearcats leading 42-39 with only 11 seconds left on the clock, Chester's Camryn Howie attempted to score but was fouled. She hit one free throw.

The Lady Jackets tried and failed to get a steal on the inbounds, and had to foul with 8.1 seconds left. Gordon hit one of two and the Bearcats were back up by three, 43-40.

Coach Chris Toledo called a timeout to draw up a last second play. The girls didn't quite get it executed, and as the clock expired, Camryn Howie attempted an off balance three-pointer. It missed, and Christopher escaped with the win, and the Black Diamond Conference championship.

Game stats

Chester: Alyssa Seymour (16), Kendall Williams (11), Kailyn Absher (8), Reese Chandler (3) and Camryn Howie (2).

Christopher: Amiah Hargrove (32), Jessica Gordon (6), Makayla Dejear (3), and Mckensie Jackson (2).