The CHS girls basketball team continues to work hard and fight for wins, but the Lady Jackets have yet to rebound from a sluggish start to the season. They have, however, been showing signs of improvement; against the Vienna Lady Eagles, Chester was non-stoppable in the opening half and led, 30-17 at halftime.
As well, several players are beginning to knock down difficult shots and are playing improved defense.
Bearcats 41, CHS 28
CHS trailed by five points, 13-8, after one quarter of play and were outscored, 9-5 in the second quarter to trail, 22-13 at halftime.
In the first half, Reese Chandler paced Chester with seven points -- a three ball and a pair of two-point field goals. Josie Kattenbraker had a trey in the first quarter and a free throw in the second period. The only other Lady Jacket to score in the first half was senior Katie Shinabargar who knocked down a basket in the second quarter.
The third quarter was not friendly to Chester in either the Christopher or Vienna games. At Christopher, Chester only scored once in the third quarter as sophomore Camryn Howie made a basket. Christopher, on the other hand scored seven points, and led 29-15 after three quarters of action.
In the final period, Chester came out firing and outscored Christopher, 13-12, but it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit. Reese Chandler added a three pointer and a two-pointer in that stretch, Josie Kattenbraker popped a trey, Katie Shinabargar and Alyssa Seymour each hit baskets and Peyton Clendenin sank a free throw.
Game stats
Chester: The Lady Jackets had one player in double figures, Reese Chandler with 12 points. She was followed by Josie Kattenbraker (7), Katie Shinabargar (4), Alyssa Seymour and Camryn Howie (2 apiece) and Peyton Clendenin (1).
Christopher: The Bearcats were paced by Hargrove with a whopping 26 points. She was followed by Gordon (7), Van Hoviebeke (4), Dejear (2) and Freehill (2).
Vienna 53, CHS 39
On Feb. 22, the Lady Jackets hosted the Lady Eagles in a game that was definitely a tale of two halves. Chester led the entire first half and could do no wrong, leading 30-17 at halftime. In the second half Vienna outscored Chester, 36-9, and controlled every aspect of the game.
Chester sophomore Camryn Howie popped a three-pointer in the opening 12-seconds to give Chester an immediate 3-0 lead. Vienna's Emma Ruch answered with a three-pointer of her own to tie the game, 3-3, at the 6:46 mark.
A minute and-a-half later, Chester's Reese Chandler threw in a trey. A minute later Vienna's Natalie Webb drove for a layup, making her shot. She was fouled and made the free throw.
Chester then ripped off a 10-1 run that gave them the lead, 16-7 at the end of the first quarter. That run was started by Kendall Williams who drained a three-pointer followed by a pair of two-point field goals. Josie Kattenbraker scored one point on a free throw at 3:13 and added a field goal at 2:00. Addison Bent closed the quarter for the Lady Eagles, making a free throw at 1:36. The Lady Jacket defense and offense was clicking well throughout the opening 8 minutes of the game.
It looked as if the Eagles were going to get the ball rolling in the opening minute of the second quarter as Addison Bent made the back end of a two-point free throw opportunity and Shaylee Moore hit a field goal to complete a 3-0 Vienna run at 7:02. CHS led, 16-10.
Kendall Williams, however, answered with her second three-pointer of the game at 6:24 and CHS extended its lead, 19-10. Addison Bent hit a field goal at 5:50.
After a Chester time out, Camryn Howie was fouled on a trip to the hoop. She missed the shot, but made both of her free throws to begin a 7-0 run that was finished by Kendall Williams who was also fouled and made both free throws and Reese Chandler who drained her second 3-pointer of the game.
In the final 2:30, Vienna's Rush connected for two points and followed with a three-pointer. Chester's Reese Chandler and Kendall Williams each hit two-pointers and the Lady Jackets took a 13-point lead, 30-17 into the locker room at halftime.
Immediately after the buzzer sounded to end the first half, the Colbert Gymnasium sound technician played, "Welcome to the Jungle" over the Colbert Gymnasium PA system. Unfortunately, it may have stirred up the Lady Eagles, because the they roared out of the locker room fired up.
Just as with the third quarter Saturday night at Christopher, the Jackets were paralyzed the entire third quarter allowed Vienna to bulldoze their way to a huge 24-0 run that gave them a 41-30 lead with just 35 seconds remaining in the third period.
Chester did not score until Reese Chandler managed to get a basket at .35 to give the Lady Jackets their only points of the quarter. The Eagles led, 41-32 at the end of three quarters of play.
During that stretch Vienna could do no wrong. Shot after shot went through the hoop. The Eagles defense was fierce and forced turnover after turnover.
Things didn't get much better in the final 8:00. Alyssa Seymour made a strong move to the basket two minutes into the quarter, but the Jackets still trailed, 41-34.
Vienna's Emme Treat answered with a three-pointer at 5:00 and Addison Bent hit another basket.
Kendall Williams missed both of two free throws at 4:04 but Josie Kattenbraker got Chester within 10 points again, 46-36, just seconds later. At the 3:17 mark, Rush added two more points for the Eagles to extend their lead to, 48-36.
Josie Kattenbraker hit the back end of a two-free throw opportunity and CHS was within 11 points. A minute later Kendall Williams made the front end of a two point opportunity.
Down by 10 points, Chester had to start fouling and the Eagles were sent to the free throw line five times down the stretch. Emma Rush and Emme Treat made all of their attempts and Natalie Webb made one free shot to give Vienna 53 points.
With just 27.4-seconds left to play, Chester's Camryn Howie made a free throw to end the Lady Jacket's offensive effort. The Jackets fell to the Eagles, 53-39, as the final buzzer sounded.
Game stats
Chester: Kendall Williams (13), Reese Chandler (10), Kailyn Absher (8), Josie Kattenbraker (4) and Alyssa Seymour (4).
Vienna: Emma Ruch (22), Emme Treat (13), Addison Bent (10), Shaylee Moore (4) and Natalie Webb (4).
