Chester High School Basketball are repeat Del Val Champs

By Terry Thomas

Chester (15-4) captured Back-To-Back Del Val Championships with a 79-48 victory over the Glen Mills Battlin' Bulls. The win puts the Clippers at 8-0 in league play and secures their spot at the time with a three game lead and just two league games remaining.

With a duplicate performance of their outing against Interboro, Chester opened the game with a 14-0 run and their swarming defense limited the Battlin' Bulls to just 4 first quarter points. Again, Karell Watkins made his presence felt with 10 first quarter points. Chester's super sophomore is making a strong run as a candidate for Delco's Player of the Year with yet another double double consisting of 28 points and 22 rebounds. His 22 rebounds ties him with Tyrell Sturdivant behind Richard Granberry who sits atop the list at 23 of single game performances as a Clippers since statistics were recorded beginning in 1992. However, during this era Watkins is the only Clipper with three 20 or more rebounding games not only in their careers but in a single season. In the 2nd quarter Watkins continued his domination producing 10 more points as the Clippers stretched their lead to 23 points at the half, Chester 42 - Glen Mills 19. Doing the math you will see that Watkins single handily outscored the Battlin' Bulls 20-19.

During the first half outburst senior Rahmaad DeJarnette deposited 7 of his 9 points, Michael Smith chipped in with 4 and junior Akeem Taylor Jr began to heat up with 5 second quarter points. Senior Javan Graham and junior Zahmir Carroll each contributed a bucket.

Uncharacteristically of how the Clippers have performed in the 3rd quarter, their defense was absent allow the Battlin' Bulls to score 21 points. However, Glen Mills could not stop the Clippers who lit up the scoreboard with an additional 23 points. Akeem Taylor led the charge with 7 points followed by Watkins (6), Carroll and Smith with 4 apiece and junior Rahmee Gilbert dropping 2 of his 6 points. Chester led 65-40 at the end of the quarter.

Chester regained their defensive stance in the final 8 minutes limiting Glen Mills to just 8 points to secure the victory giving Coach Taylor his second consecutive Del Val Championship.

Taylor and Smith joined Watkins in double digit scoring with 15 and 13 points respective. Gilbert and Carroll each finished with 6 points to round out Chester's scoring.

Chester will head to Lansdowne on Tuesday, February 5th to take on the Penn Wood Patriots before returning to the Clip Joint on Thursday, February 7th to close out the regular and Del Val League season against the Academy Park Knights.