Lady Jackets consolidation champs in Apple Springs tourney

The Chester Lady Jacket basketball team poses after winning Consolidation in the Apple Springs tournament last weekend.  Pictured are:  Assistance Coach Courtney Tonnies, Lauren Citrano, Abby Grimes, Saydi Handley, Emma Byrd, Blakeney Whitworth, Bree Cooper, Manager Carlen Sluga, Kyli Handley, Lily Read, Manager Bailey Hight and Coach Patrick Sluga. Photo by Jana Rayburn | TCB 

By Jana Rayburn

CHESTER – The Chester Lady Jackets hosted the Kennard Lady Tigers on Tuesday, Nov. 29. The Lady Jackets defeated the Lady Tigers 38-10. Lily Read scored 19 points, Kyli Handley scored 10 points, Blakeney Whitworth scored four points, Abby Grimes scored three points, and Bree Cooper scored two points.

The Lady Jackets lost their first game in the Apple Springs Tournament to Groveton 28-57. Read had 15 points, K.Handley had six points, Grimes and Lauren Citrano scored three points each, and Saydi Handley scored a free throw. Chester faced New Waverly in their second game, and the Lady Jackets defeated New Waverly 55-21. K. Handley led the team with 19 points. Read scored 14 points, Grimes had 12 points, Citrano added six points, and Whitworth scored four points. This win sent the Lady Jackets to the Consolation championship against the Corrigan-Camden Lady Dogs. Chester easily defeated Corrigan-Camden 35-18. Citrano was high point against the Lady Dogs with 12 points. Read scored nine points, K. Handley added six points, S. Handley had four points, and both Grimes and Whitworth added two points a piece.

The Lady Jackets will compete in the West Hardin Tournament on Thursday, Dec. 8 through Saturday, Dec. 10. The Chester Yellowjacket Buzz Link will post tournament game times. The Lady Jackets will host the Leggett Lady Pirates on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 6:00 p.m.

Jackets defeat Tigers

The Yellowjacket varsity boys basketball team defeated the Kennard Tigers on Tuesday, Nov. 29 at J.P. Johnson Gymnasium by a score of 43-16. Jack Rayburn led the team with 11 points. Bradley Davison scored nine points, Jesse Bittick scored eight points, Rick Carlton scored seven points, and Keighen Green and Kai Hilliard each scored four points.

The Yellowjackets played against Richards in their first game of the Apple Springs Tournament on Thursday, Dec. 1. The Jackets lost to Richards 28-56. Scoring for the Jackets were Rayburn with eight points, Bittick with six points, and Davison with five points. Cutter Lowe, PJ. Purvis, Green and Carlton each scored two points, and Hilliard added a free throw. Later that same day, the Jackets took on Apple Springs JV, and won 62-34. Rayburn scored 19 points, Davison added 11 points, Bittick had seven points, and both Lowe and Hilliard scored six points. Also scoring for the Jackets were Jaxon Gay with five points, Purvis with four points, Carlton with three points, and Jakori Davis with one point. The boys advanced to the Consolidation Championship on Saturday and faced the Centerville Bulldogs.

The game was close all throughout, but the Jackets came up short after one overtime by a score of 36-38.

Both teams were in foul trouble near the end, and the Jackets just couldn’t hit their free throws.

Scoring for the Jackets were Rayburn with 13 points, Carlton with 10 points, Davison with six points, and Lowe, Green, and Bittick with two points apiece.

The Jackets will play in the Colmesneil Tournament on Thursday, Dec. 8 through Saturday, Dec. 10. The boys face Goodrich in their first pool game of the tourney on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. The boys will be back for pool play in Colmesneil on Friday with a game at 3:00 p.m against Hull Daisetta and a game at 7 p.m. against Colmesneil. Saturdays bracket will be determined after completion of the pool games. The Chester Yellowjacket Buzz Link will post Saturday game times. The Jackets will travel to Sabine Pass on Tuesday, Dec. 13 for a 6 p.m. game against the Sharks.