Undefeated Hornets overtake Yellow Jackets in inter-conference rivalry
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The Yellow Jackets travelled to Nashville on Saturday, January 3, for a make-up game against the Nashville Hornets. The Hornets showed why they are an undefeated team this season, defeating the Yellow Jackets, 72-27. The 'Jackets were coming off the holiday season from a tournament at Sesser-Vallier.
Chester claimed a 1-2 tournament record at the Sesser-Vallier Holiday Tournament. On Friday, Dec. 26, the hosts of the tournament, the Sesser-Vallier Red Devils defeated the Yellow Jackets 72-29. On Saturday, the Yellow Jackets rebounded to defeat the Christopher Bearcats with a final score of 54-47. With their final performance at the tournament, the Yellow Jackets squared off against the Vienna Eagles in the semi-final consolation round which resulted in a close loss with a score at the buzzer of 56-50.
At Nashville, on Saturday, the Yellow Jackets were coming back to full strength after suffering injuries and sickness. The 'Jackets were outraced early in the game. The Hornets took an early lead with a score of 23-8 at the end of the first quarter. Aaron Grah, 52, who is nursing a broken nose from the home game against Perryville, drilled a field goal from downtown in the first. Adam Lutz, 23, took in two field goals coming back from a bout with the flu. A healthy Steve Wallace, 25, hit one of two free throws to round out scoring in the first for the 'Jackets.
The second quarter only brought in 2-points for the 'Jackets, both from the foul line. Shane Lawrence, 14, sank both of his free throws, bringing in the only points in the second. The Hornets stole 17-points to make a first half score of 40-10.
David Winters, 13, would bring in the only field goal in the third. Zach Slavens, 35, stepped up to the charity line and drilled three of four. Wallace hit two of four. The 'Jackets killed 7-points while the Hornets took 13. The score at the buzzer was 53-17.
The Yellow Jackets had their high scoring quarter in the fourth, bringing home 10-points. Lutz took the most points, dropping in three field goals from inside. Nick Mathis, 12, and Ron Baughman, 10, each hit a basket apiece. However, it was too little too late with the Hornets stealing 19-points from the 'Jackets. The final buzzer showed a score of 72-27 up in the neon.
The 'Jackets are now 2-11 with a conference record of 0-3. They will have travelled to Shawnee/Wolf Lake on Tuesday, Jan. 6 and will host the 47th annual Chester Invitational Boys Basketball Tournament.