Lady Jackets swarm Steeleville Warriors
The Chester High School girls' basketball team, otherwise known as "The Magnificent Seven," improved to an overall record of 11-12 Thursday, Jan. 20, when the Steeleville Lady Warriors came to CHS Colbert Gym for a nonconference game.
The Lady Yellowjackets swarmed the Lady Warriors right from the opening tipoff, winning 59-28 behind one of the best team efforts for the Chester girls.
"We played really well tonight," said coach Clint Cowan. "We played as a team and everyone got involved."
The Jackets flew out to a 17-10 first quarter lead behind the efforts of seniors Alyssa Seymour and Kaitlyn Absher, who poured in 6 points apiece. Not far behind was junior Camrynn Howie, who knocked down a 3-pointer and a 2-pointer. Absher went 2-for-2 at the free-throw line in the opening frame.
Steeleville's Lauren Wedemeyer kept the Lady Warriors alive as she drained a pair of 3-pointers for 6 of the Warriors' 10 points. Emma Mulholland and Daisy Czapla rounded off the first quarter with field goals.
The second quarter proved to be a game-stopper for the Warriors as Chester outscored Steeleville 20-4 in the second frame to take a 37-14 lead into the locker room at halftime.
In that devastating eight-minute period, Seymour continued to dominate, putting in four layups and short jumpers to pace the Jackets with 8 points.
Howie duplicated her first-quarter production by sinking her second 3-pointer of the half as well as a layup for 5 points. Absher knocked down a pair of 2-pointers for 4 points, and Jazzi Merideth got into the score book with a field goal and 1-of-2 free throws.
The Warriors recorded their 4 points on field goals from Ashlyn Roberts and Avery Roberts.
After halftime the Lady Jackets continued the onslaught. Absher hit a short jumper just 30 seconds in, and Seymour followed with a free throw and layup 30 seconds later.
Steeleville's Mulholland drained a trey to answer Chester's early run, but it was 5:54 before Ashlyn Roberts would hit a field goal to bring her Lady Warriors within 20 points, 42-22.
In the final five minutes of the third, the Jackets shut out the Warriors 12-0 to lead 54-22 going into the final quarter. In that 12-0 run, Absher scored 6 points on a pair of free throws and a pair of field goals. Seymour hit two field goals, and Merideth drove to the basket for a layup.
With Chester leading 54-22, by 30 or more points, the continuous clock rule went into effect and the fourth quarter breezed by quickly.
In that final stretch, Steeleville outscored Chester 6-5. Mulholland drained back-to-back 2-pointers. Chester's Howie answered with a bucket of her own at 4:02 and Rylie Conley hit the back end of a "two free throw" opportunity to bring CHS to 57-26 with 1:34 to play.
Avery Roberts then drained a shot to give Steeleville its final points of the game. Prior to the final buzzer Absher hit one last shot to end the game at 59-28.
The Lady Jackets were led by Seymour, who recorded yet another double-double with 23 points and 19 rebounds. With that accomplishment Seymour set a new single-season rebounding record with 294, beating the previous record of 286 set by Brittany Heins.
Absher also recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. The third Lady Jacket to score in double figures was Howie with 12 points and 6 assists.
The Lady Jacket offense was rounded out by Merideth (5) and Conley, who had 1 point and 4 assists. The Jackets shot 58% from the free-throw line (7-of-12) and made 23 2-pointers and two 3-pointers.
Steeleville was paced by Wedemeyer and Mullholland, who each scored 8 points, followed by Ashlyn Roberts (6), Avery Roberts (4), and Daisy Czapla (2). The Warriors were 0-for-4 from the free-throw line and made 11 two-pointers and a pair of 3-pointers.
"Tonight we moved the ball well and ran our offense and defense well," Cowan said. "I would like to congratulate Alyssa Seymour for setting the new school record for most rebounds in a single season with 294 so far. Alyssa goes in every single night and battles for those rebounds and I am extremely proud and happy for her."
Cowan continued: "I am just all around happy for every single girl on this team. Words cannot describe just how happy I am with where we are right now and how far we have come."
With the win, Chester improves to an overall record of 11-12 and a Cahokia Conference, Illinois Division record of 2-4.
The Lady Jackets game scheduled for Monday, Jan. 24 with Trico, has been postponed and will be rescheduled.
The next game for the Lady Jackets will be Thursday, Jan. 27, when No. 2 Okawville comes to Colbert Gym for a 6 p.m. tipoff, followed by the boys hosting Madison at 7:30 p.m.