The first year Steeleville girls basketball program showed its youth Monday night by blowing a 10-point second half lead en route to a 42-27 loss to Chester.

The Lady Warriors had defeated Chester twice already this season and were in prime position to pull off the hat trick.

However, Steeleville foul trouble late in the third quarter turned into a 25-0 scoring run by the Lady Jackets for the 15-point win.

The win was Chester’s third consecutive, while Steeleville fell to 6-8 on the season.

Megan Lalis scored six points in the first quarter to spark a 10-0 run by Steeleville to open the game. 

Chester made just 2-of-13 shots with 11 turnovers in the quarter as the team trailed 11-4.

Each team scored 11 points in the second quarter as Steeleville got its production from Natalie Ruebke with five points, while Lalis added four.

Chester was just 1-of-7 from the field in the second, but the team got its points from the free throw line going 9-of-14 including a perfect 6-of-6 from Jade Jolly.

At the intermission, Steeleville led 22-15.

The Lady Warriors used a 5-2 scoring run to push their lead to 10-points, 27-17 with 3:23 left in the third.

But that would be the last time Steeleville would score as Chester held them scoreless for the final 11 minutes plus.

After Lalis and Ruebke picked up their fourth foul and were forced to the bench, Chester finished up the third quarter with a 13-0 run to take the lead, 30-27 heading in to the fourth.

Shelly Lyons scored four points in that run and came up with several key steals.

Steeleville couldn’t get back its offensive rhythm in the fourth as three starters fouled out and the squad went 0-of-8 from the field with five turnovers as Chester outscored the team 12-0 for the win.

Shelby Helmers came up big for Chester in the fourth scoring six points.

Helmers and Jolly each had 12 points to lead the Chester attack, while Lalis finished with 11 for Steeleville.

Chester improved to 4-13 on the season.