Sunday, December 31, 2017

Chester Clippers Boys Basketball slide continues



By Terry Thomas

The Clippers (1-5) ended 2017 with another loss 57-48 at the hands of the Penncrest Lions (8-0) closing the 13th Annual Pete/Jameer Nelson Classic on the campus of Widener University. With junior swingman Rahmaad DeJarnette out for 6 weeks with a fracture ankle, Coach Taylor inserted sophomore Rahmee Gilbert into the starting lineup to defend the county's leading scorer Tyler Norwood who entered the contest averaging 27.8 ppg. Gilbert was able to hold Norwood to just one point in the opening quarter and with senior Isaiah Schmidt coming off the bench with 4 first quarter points, the Clippers trailed 10-13 after the first period. With the Clippers going a frigid 1 of 7 from the free throw line in the 2nd quarter the Lions were able to pull away to a ten point advantage at the half. Chester - 18, Penncrest - 28. The Clippers picked up the defensive intensity in the 3rd quarter holding Norwood to just 2 points and junior Michael Smith began to find his range knocking down 10 of his team high 17 points. This resulted in Chester closing the gap to 31-28 at the end of the quarters. The Clippers found their mark from distance in the final quarter connecting on 5 treys led by Schmidt with 3 and Smith and Gilbert each knocking down one. Chester's aggressive defense limited Penncrest to just four field goal but the Lions began a parade to the free throw line where they hit on 11 of 17 shots that allowed them to hold off Chester's comeback.

Schmidt finished the contest with a career high 13 points on 4 treys (also a career high) and 1 of 2 from the line. As a team, Chester dished 10 assist on 16 made field goals led by Michael Smith with four.

Chester will start 2018 returning to the Clip Joint on January 2nd to take on Bayard Rustin. JV will tip-off at 6:00 with the Varsity to follow.

This will be the start of a three game home stand with Newark (DE) coming in on Thursday, January 4th and Christiana (DE) on Saturday, January 6th.

Saturday, December 30, 2017

Clippers Boys Basketball unable to stop Red Raiders



By Terry Thomas

Chester's (1-4) uneven play against the Coatesville Red Raiders (5-3) to hand the Clippers a 68-46 defeat on the campus of Philadelphia University in the Pete/Jameer Nelson Holiday Classic. The Clippers didn't get their offense started in the first quarter allowing the Red Raiders to pull away 14-4. Senior Brian Randolph III ignited the Clippers in the second quarter with 7 of his 11 points and fellow senior Isaiah Schmidt came off the bench to drop in 4 of his 9 points as Chester closed the gap at intermission. Chester - 19, Coatesville - 27. The Clippers offensive and defensive shortfalls returned in the third quarter scoring just 8 points but allowing their opponents 18 points. The Clippers were now in a 17 point hole entering the final quarter. Chester - 27, Coatesville - 44. Seven Clippers found their way into the scoring column in the final period led by junior Michael Smith with 7 of his team high 12 points but it wasn't enough to offset Coatesville's surge of 24 points. Sophomore Rahmee Gilbert joined Schmidt with points in the final quarter. Randolph and senior Timothy Johnston added 2 points apiece and Sophomore Malik Langley and senior Kylair Blackston each connected on 1 of 2 free throws.

The Clippers inaccuracy at the foul line in the second half connecting on just 7 of 17 free throws provided the opportunity for the Red Raiders to pull off the lopsided victory.

Gilbert and Johnston each finished with 5 points on the night and Rahnel Sparks completed Chester's scoring with two points in the second quarter.

The Clippers return to action tonight, Saturday, December 30th when they take on the defending District-1 Champion Penncrest Lions. The game will be the nightcap of the Pete/Jameer Nelson Holiday Classic on the campus of Widener University. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m.

Saturday, December 23, 2017

Chester Clippers Boys Basketball falls in overtime



By Terry Thomas

The Chester Clippers record dropped to 1-3 falling short in overtime 59-68 to the visiting Sanford Warriors (1-1) in the nightcap of the 2nd Annual Rondae Hollis-Jefferson Classic. After Duke signee, 6'8" Ninanna Njoku, opened the contest with a trey, Chester's Brian Randolph III responded with a trey and the game was on. Sanford answered with two free throws followed by a free throw from Michael Smith and another bucket from Randolph and the Clippers had their first lead of the night 6-5. Sophomore Rahmee Gilbert contributed an old fashioned three point play (his only points of the game) and Smith dropped in 3 more points to give the Clippers the 13-10 advantage after the first quarter. Junior Rahmaad DeJarnette made his presence felt in the 2nd quarter contributing his only 6 points to go along with 4 key rebounds (he would finish the game with 8). Sophomores Zahmir Carroll and Malik Langley each added two points in the quarter to hold off the Warriors and the Clippers took a 25-23 lead into intermission.

The Clippers opened the 3rd quarter on a 11-4 run fueled by juniors Smith and Rahnel Sparks with 7 and 4 points respectively. Chester would go scoreless in their last five possessions which allowed the Warriors to close the gap to 40-37. Rahmaad DeJarnette would not be available for the remainder of the contest after twisting his ankle at the 5:20 mark in the 3rd quarter. He finished the contest with 6 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists. The teams exchanged buckets to open the fourth quarter with Sanford taking the lead briefly at 48-47 before Randolph's put back on a Langley miss gave the Clippers the lead once again 49-48 with 2:54 remaining. Two possessions later, Michael Smith dropped a dime to Randolph to push the lead to 51-48 with 2:02 on the clock. Zahmir Carroll answered Sanford's score with a short jumper to put the margin back at three points 53-50 at the 1:12 mark. After Sanford scored, Chester called for a timeout with 38.9 seconds left in the contest; Randolph responded with his 8th point of the quarter to give the Clippers a 55-52 lead with 22 seconds remaining in the contest. However, after player good defense for 21 seconds, the Clippers left a Warrior with an open look and he drained a trey to send the game into overtime.

In the overtime period there was no wind in the Clippers sails as the Warriors pulled away 13-4 for the wind.

Brian Randolph III lead the way for the Clippers with 18 points, 4 assists and 2 steals with Smith joining him in double figures with 17 and 3 assists. Carroll finished with 8 points and 6 rebounds, DeJarnette (6), Sparks (4), Gilbert (3), Langley (2) and Timothy Johnson knocked down 1 of 2 free throws and hauled in 7 rebounds. The Clippers shared the ball to the tune of 16 assists on 25 made baskets.

The Clippers will return to action next Friday, December 29th when they travel to Philadelphia University to take on Coatesville in the Pete & Jameer Nelson Holiday Classic. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Chester Clippers Boys Basketball get sunk in Reading



By Terry Thomas

On Tuesday evening, the Chester Clippers (1-2) were sunk by the host Reading Red Knights (4-1) 48-65 at the Geigle Complex. Reading was playing their first home game since capturing the school's basketball State Championship in 2016-17. The momentum from the pre-game ceremony carried the Red Knight to a 18-8 outburst over the sluggish Clippers in the opening quarter. While the young Clippers continued to fight they could not overcome their slow start and suffered their second setback of this young season. Coach Taylor went to his bench calling on sophomore Rahmee Gilbert to team-up with Michael Smith in the back-court for the second quarter. The pair combined to score 9 of the teams 13 points as Chester tried to close the gap. They score 4 and 5 points respectively. However, a few untimely turnovers allowed the Red Knights to increase their lead by four at the half. Chester - 21, Reading - 35. Chester used five different scoring in the third quarter to produce their 14 points trying to keep the game competitive. Senior Kylair Blackston scored 4 of his 6 points, Smith and Gilbert contributed 3 apiece while senior Brian Randolph III and junior Javan Graham dropped in two points apiece. Graham finished with 4 points. Reading once again outscored Chester by four to drop the Clippers further behind at the end of the 3rd quarter. Chester - 35, Reading 53. Smith added two points in the final quarter to finish with a team high 12 points and Gilbert laid in 4 to join him in double figures with 11 points establishing a career high. Randolph chimed in with 3 more for a 7 point night. The Clippers continued to play hard but could not overcome their slow start in the contest.

Juniors Rahmaad DeJarnette and Rahnel Sparks joined seniors Timothy Johnson and Zhaid Ferguson in scoring two points each. Gilbert also handed out a team/career high of 4 assists in the contest.

The Clippers will return action at the Clip Joint on Friday, December 22nd when they play host to Sanford (DE) in the nightcap of the 2nd Annual Rondae Hollis-Jefferson Classic. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m.

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Chester High School Basketball Coach Taylor Captures First Win



By Terry Thomas

The Chester Clippers traveled to Lancaster on Monday evening and delivered Coach Taylor his 1st win as Head Coach after defeating the J.P. McCaskey Red Tornadoes 78-56. The host showed their respect and sportsmanship by presenting him with the game ball.

Junior Michael Smith led the way for the Clippers in the first quarter scoring 6 of 15 points as Chester held a slim 12-11 lead at the end of the quarter. Sophomore Zahmir Carroll came off the bench and made his presence felt in the paint with 7 of his 8 points in the 2nd quarter. A McCaskey three pointer at the end of the quarter kept Chester's lead at two points, 32-30 at the half. The Clippers came out of the locker room and played more aggressive on both offensively and defensively. The starting five scored 25 of 27 third quarter points with Brian Randolph (6 of his 15), Rahmaad DeJarnette (6 of his 9), Smith (5), sophomore Rahmee Gilbert and senior Timothy Johnston dropping in 4 apiece. Johnston joined Smith and Randolph in double digits with a career high 13 points. Senior Kylair Blackston layed in the final two points. The Red Tornadoes could only manage 12 points as the Clippers pushed their lead to 59-42. Unfortunately for the host they had no answer for the Clippers on this evening as Chester sailed away in the fourth quarter for the win.

Ten of the thirteen Chester players put their name in the scoring column including Gilbert (6), Blackston (5), junior Javan Graham (4), senior Kavon Spells (2) and sophomore Malik Langley (1). Chester finished the contest with 22 steals led by Randolph's career high of 6.

The team will once against travel into District 3 on Tuesday evening, December 19th when the take on the Reading Knights. The JV game tips off at 6:30 with the Varsity to follow.