Chester Boys Basketball advances to State Quarter-Finals

Report by Terry Thomas

The Chester Clippers (22-6) continued on their quest to achieve their goal of a State Championship with a 61-51 victory over the Hershey Trojans. With the win Chester awaits the winner of the Abington Heights vs Martin L. King Jr game which will be play on Friday, March 17th. Chester senior Jamar Sudan led the way in the first quarter with 8 of his game high 19 points while the Clippers pressure (not press) defense limited the Trojans to 3 first quarter points. Chester led 13-3 at the end of the quarter. Chester fell asleep in the 2nd quarter but a put-back bucket from junior Brian Randolph III enabled the Clippers to tie the game at 22 at the intermission. The energized Clippers ran out to a 10-0 run to start the 3rd quarter with treys from sophomore Michael Smith and senior Ahrod Carter and buckets from Randolph and Sudan. A dunk from senior Jordan Camper and consecutive baskets from Randolph allowed the Clippers to maintain their 10 point cushion to the end of the 3rd quarter. Chester - 40, Hershey - 30. Chester used baskets from sophomore Jaimhy Evans, senior Larry Yarbray Jr, Sudan and Camper to keep their 10 point lead. Holding a 49-39 lead at the 3:50 mark in the final quarter, Randolph would drop in the final field goal for the Clippers before the parade to the foul line would begin. With only two team fouls at this point, Hershey was forced to foul intentionally (although they weren't called that way) in an attempt to get back in the game. This allow the Clippers to run precious time off the clock. Chester went to the free throw line on 7 of their last 8 possessions knocking down 10 of 13 shots to secure the win.

Brian Randolph III scored a career high 15 points and Ahrod Carter dropped in 10 to join Sudan in double figures. Three Clippers erased the boards with 9 rebounds apiece, Sudan and Randolph and point guard Michael Smith recorded another career high with his 9 rebounds (surpassing his previous high of 7 recorded in the team's 1st round win over Milton Hershey). Camper added 6 rebounds and 1 blocked shot to his totals to go along with his 7 points while Carter and Smith led the team with 3 assists apiece. Jamihy Evans finished the evening with 5 points, 2 assists and 2 rebounds.

Chester's Quarter-finals game is scheduled for Saturday, March 18th at a site and time to be determined.

Chester's Quarter-Finals Game is Set

The Chester Clippers will take on the Abington Heights Comets on Sunday, March 19th. The game will be played at Liberty High School in Bethlehem. Tip-off is slated for 2:00 p.m.