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.
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