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Terry Thomas
Chester High has honored its
All-Time Winningest Coach with the creation of the Fred Picket Classic.
Coach Pickett retired after guiding the Clippers to their sixth State
Championship in 2008. In 13 seasons as the head man, he finished with a
record of 331-80, he appeared in five State Championship games with three
Championships and two Runner-ups, eight District Championships and 11 League
Championships. In 2008, he also guided Chester to a District-1 record of 7
consecutive District Championships and an incredible 36 game win streak; both
breaking records that stood since 1944-1945. And if today's contest is any
indication of things to come, you may not want to miss next year's event. After
trailing since mid-way in the second quarter, Mahir Johnson hit a gliding 15
foot jumper as the horn sounded to give the Clippers a 62-61 come from behind
victory over Philadelphia's Math-Civic-Science Charter Mighty Elephants.
Mahir, Chester's 6'1" shoot guard, made his presence felt in first game at
the Clip Joint scoring 9 of the Clippers 16 first quarter points giving the
crowd reason to cheer as Chester held a16-12 advantage to end the quarter.
Fifty-seven second into the second quarter, the whistle sounded and the referee
signaled for a foul on Chester's #21. He was his second meaning he would spend
the remainder of the quarter sitting next to Coach Yarbray. And for just the
third time this season Chester would scored less than double digits in a
quarter with 9 points and find themselves trailing 29-25 at the half. The
Clippers found their stride offensively in the third, led by seniors Conrad
Chambers and Tyrell Sturdivant who scored 9 points apiece, for a total of 20
points but defensive miscues allowed the Mighty Elephants to drop in 23 points
on 10 made field goals including three treys. Chester found themselves down by
as many as ten points on a couple occasions in the third but with every Clipper
surge MCS would respond with a key basket. Chester found themselves looking up
at a seven point deficient going into the final quarter. Chester - 45,
Math-Civic-Science Charter - 52. The Clipper pressure holding their opponent to
only three field goals and their woeful free throw shooting (2 of 13) by the
Mighty Elephants in the 4th quarter allowed this to become a thriller. Junior
Keyonte Watkins would start the fourth quarter with a bucket followed by
Johnson and Sturdivant and the Clippers would only trail by 1, 52-51. MCS
responded with consecutive baskets to push their lead up to five. With
every Clipper surge the Mighty Elephants would take the wind out of their sails
with a key point here or there. After one of the rare made MCS free throws,
Chester stared at a three point hole with less than 28 seconds on the clock.
Sophomore Marquis Collins hit a 15 foot jumper off a long rebound to cut the
margin to 60-61 . With 5 seconds on the clock, Sturdivant rebounded the missed
MCS free throw and hit Johnson on the left wing. Johnson proceeded to dribble
to the middle of the floor looking for an opportunity to score. With defenders
surrounding him and the clock clicking down, Mahir rose about fifteen feet from
the basket now on the right side of the foul line area and let it go. The horn
sounded and the nets swished. The crowd rushes the floor and the Clippers are
now 5-0.
Chester managed to put three players in double digits, Sturdivant with a
co-game high of 21, oh yes he had another double-double (10 rebounds),
Johnson's 15 and Chambers (11). Marquis Collins and Keyonte Watkins each
finished with four points and Khaleeq Campbell dropped in a try and Maurice
Henry completed the scoring with a nice spin move bucket in the second quarter.
Chester will return to action after the holidays on Saturday, December 28th in
the Pete Nelson Classic on the campus of Widener University when they take on
the Atlantic City Vikings in an 8:00 p.m. tip-off.
Merry Christmas!
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