By Jim Beers
The Chester Lady Yellow Jackets opened the 2010-2011 girls basketball season at the 2010 Dupo Tournament November 15-20.  
The Lady Jackets lost their first two games to New Athens and Valmeyer by a total of seven points, and then rebounded to beat Dupo by 13 for their first victory of the year.
Chester opened the tournament Tuesday, November 16 against New Athens. The Lady Jackets trailed 22-18 at the half and played the New Athens Yellow Jackets within one point, 9-8, in the third quarter to trail, 31-26 heading into the final period.  In the fourth quarter both teams scored 10 points as New Athens won the game, 41-36.
The Lady Jackets had three players score eight points apiece as Shelly Lyons, Jade Jolly and Hilary Best combined to score 24 points.
With the loss, Chester began the season with a record of 0-1 and earned its way into the loss side of the tournament bracket.
Thursday, November 18 Chester returned to Dupo to take on Valmeyer.
Chester led, 10-8 after one quarter of play. In the second period, Megan Marcinkowska and Shelly Lyons came alive scoring four points apiece, as  Valmeyer could only muster nine points and the Lady Jackets led, 22-17 at the halftime break.
In the second half, Hilary Best was on fire, hitting four baskets for eight points, as Chester scored 14 points in the third quarter.
However, the Chester defense slacked a bit in the third period allowing Valmeyer to knock down a pair of three-pointers.  Andrea and Corine Inman each scored seven points and Chelsea Nabers added two points.  Laura Berry rounded out the scoring frenzy as Valmeyer outscored Chester, 17-14, to trail by only one point, 35-34, going into the fourth period.
During that stretch, the Jackets lost Jade Jolly to a concussion when she was knocked down by a Valmeyer player as she tried to take a charge.  
In the fourth period, Valmeyer’s Bridget Allen hit a three pointer and Corine Inman and Andrea Inman knocked down three two pointers to give New Athens a two point lead, 46-44. Chester had three chances to tie the score in the final seconds but failed to get a shot to fall.
Chester was led by Hilary Best who scored 17 points, followed by Shelly Lyons, Jordan Clendenin and Megan Marcinkowska who each scored six points apiece.  
Chester played the early game Saturday November 20 against the only other team in the tournament without a win—Dupo.  
Chester soared out to an early 15-8 lead in the first quarter.  Ariel Gales came alive against Dupo and scored six points in the first quarter.  In the second quarter ,Chester outscored the Lady Tigers, 8-5 for a comfortable 23-13 lead at the half. Gales added three more points in the second period.
The game slowed down after halftime with each team scoring only a few points. Chester, however, still managed to outscore Dupo 6-5 on two field goals by Hilary Best and one by Kristy Pulliam.  The Lady Jackets led Dupo 29-18 going into the fourth quarter.
In the final quarter, the Lady Jackets outscored Dupo 7-5 to seal trheir first win of the season 36-23.
Gales finished with 11 points, six rebounds, an assist, two blocked shots, a steal, and one deflection.  Best followed with ten points and ten rebounds for her second double-double in as many games.  Best also recorded two assists, one blocked shot and one steal in the win.  
With the win, Chester earned seventh place in the tournament.