Clippers continue Winning Ways

By Terry Thomas

Chester stays undefeated in the Del Val at 5-0 and 13-3 overall with a 76-65 victory over the Penn Wood Patriots. The Patriots were excited to showcase their new floor but it could not change the outcome. Coach Taylor is now 6-0 against Penn Wood. Akeem Taylor Jr got the Clippers started with 8 of his 18 points in the first quarter keeping the Chester within striking distance. With the Patriots hitting a trey as the quarter closed, the Clippers trailed 13-15.

The Clippers started the 2nd quarter scoring with a three consecutive steals resulting in a 7-0 run giving them the lead 20-15 at the 7:10 mark. Chester would not trail the rest of the contest. With the Patriots starting the quarter with the ball, junior Fareed Burton Jr stole the ball and senior Zahmir Carroll scored off an assist from Taylor. On the Patriots next possession it was Taylor with steal and finished with an old-fashioned three point play. Senior Rahmee Gilbert got in the act with the next steal and finished with a layup. The Clippers used a balanced offensive attack during the quarter with six players accounting for the 19 point production. Karell Watkins and Taylor led the way with 5 points each. Faheem Berry contributed a trey and Burton completed the scoring with a bucket. At the intermission, it was Chester - 32, Penn Wood - 27.

The 3rd quarter was dominated by Watkins on the offensive end with 12 of the Clippers 14 points and Taylor's defensive work of 4 blocked shots and 2 steals. Taylor was also put in the other 2 Chester points. The Clippers now led by seven, 46-39, going into the final quarter.

The Clippers intensity continued into the 4th quarter resulting in a 13-5 run giving them a 59-44 advantage at the 4:45 mark. Chester enjoyed their biggest lead of the game, 62-46, with 3:27 remaining. Again the Clippers used a balanced scoring attack with six players scoring, Watkins led with 10 of his team high 28 points followed by Burton with 8 of his 10. Carroll added 4 becoming the fourth Clipper in double figures with 10. Berry added another 3-pointer and Gilbert top off the scoring with 2 points. The Patriots attempt to slow the game down by putting the Clippers on the free throw failed as Chester hit 13 of 14 free throws in the final 8 minutes.

Watkins recorded another double-double with 12 rebound; he also added 2 assists and 2 steals. To go along with his 18 points, Taylor contributed 7 blocks, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 6 steals to his stat sheet. Carroll just missed a double-double with 8 rebounds; he also had 1 block and 1 steal. Junior point guard Burton lit up the stat sheet with 2 assists, 2 blocks, 3 steals and 5 rebounds. High flying Jahmaige Womack came off the bench to record 2 blocked shots.

The team totaled 16 assists on 28 made baskets and 12 blocked shots; it was the 3rd time this season they totaled double digits blocks.

The Clippers continue their road trip on Tuesday, January 28th when they travel to Sharon Hill to take on the Academy Park Knights in Del Val League action. The JV will tip-off at 5:30 with the Varsity to follow.

JV GAME RECAP

For the first time this season, the Chester JV has loss back-to-back games falling 39-51 to the Patriots. The team started slow trailing 15-28 at the half and did not recover. Lenny Camacho was the lone double digit scorer with 13 points. The team's inability to hit free throws in the fourth quarter, 3 of 12, allowed the Patriots maintain their lead.

Chester gets back on Winning Track

Pittsburgh Games

By Terry Thomas

Chester (12-3) rebounded from their Saturday setback with a 65-57 victory over Brooklyn's Bishop Loughlin Lions. The Clippers started fast opening the game with a 9-0 run only to let it slip away and end the quarter dead-locked at 13. After a 3-point play from senior Zahmir Carroll and buckets from Akeem Taylor Jr and Fareed Burton Jr, junior Karell Watkins would break game open scoring 8 of his game high 28 points. The Clippers led 33-20 at the intermission.

The Lions fought back in the third cutting into the Clippers lead. Watkins added 6 points for the Clippers who now led 45-36 at the end of the quarter. Chester regrouped in the fourth quarter and with 1:10 remaining a put-back from Watkins gave the Clippers a 65-48 margin. During that stretch, Watkins put in 8 points followed Burton and Taylor with 5 apiece and two free throws from junior Lenny Camacho. With the benches emptied, the Lions were able to cut into the deficit.

Watkins ended with another double-double adding 17 rebounds to go along with his 28 points. Taylor and Burton joined him in double figures with 13 and 11 points respectively. 

Clippers run aground in Pittsburgh

By Terry Thomas

Chester's (11-3) win streak halted at seven in Pittsburgh after falling 67-86 to the nationally ranked Baltimore Poly Parrots (12-1). The Clippers led 15-13 after the first period, senior Zahmir Carroll took control scoring 11 of his team high 19 points. In the second quarter, Chester could not keep up with the Parrots being outscored 24-13 and looking up at a 28-37 deficit at halftime.

The Clippers came out attacking the basket in the 3rd quarter led by senior Rahmee Gilbert who scored 8 of his 18 points. Chester were able to hang close staying close 47-58 at the end of the quarter. The Clippers continued trading baskets with the Parrots and with 2:50 remaining was still facing the 11-point hole. Gilbert and Carroll continued their attacked and they were joined by junior Karell Watkins who added 5 of his 13 points. The scoreboard now read Chester - 61, Baltimore Poly - 72. On the inside strength of their Marquette signee, 6'8" forward Justin Lewis, the Parrots closed the game on a 14-6 run

 

Chester cruise by Interboro

By Terry Thomas

The Clippers (11-2, 4-0) were too much for the Buccaneers and easily sailed for a 86-34 win. Chester jumped out to a 26-8 first quarter lead and never looked back. Karell Watkins and Akeem Taylor Jr led the way scoring 7 points apiece in the first quarter. Rahmee Gilbert scored 5 of his 7, Fareed Burton Jr dropped in 3 of his 6 and Zahmir Carroll put-back 4 points. The Clippers increased their lead to 39-17 at the intermissions.

Chester played the 3rd quarter as if it was the first proving that the Bucs had no answer for the Clippers inside game. Watkins punished them with 12 of his game high 24 points.  His inside mate Carroll added 6 points and Taylor hit from inside (dunk) and outside (trey) for 5 of his 13 points. Gilbert capped off the scoring with a reverse layup. The Clippers led 64 - 27 at the end of the quarter

The reserves took over the final 8 minutes and it was bombs-away. The Clippers knocked down six treys in the quarter. Faheem Berry launched 3, J'shon Lawler connected on 2 and Lenny Camacho added 1. Berry's three-pointed at the 5:30 mark pushed the score to 67-27 thus invoking the "Mercy Rule". Shaquan Horsey scored off an offensive rebound and Jahmaige Womack went 2 for 2 from the line for the Clippers 22 fourth quarter points. The Clippers finished the game with ten 3-point field goals

The Clippers will travel to Pittsburgh to participate in the 2nd Annual Stand Against Violence Showcase on the campus of Woodland Hills High School. Chester's opponents on Saturday, Jan 18 was changed from New Town (MD) to Baltimore Poly. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. On Sunday, the Clippers will face off at 1:00 p.m. against Bishop Loughlin out of Brooklyn, NY.

JV GAME RECAP

Chester (10-2) stormed passed Interboro with a 24-3 third quarter enroute to a 60-27 win. Edward Harmon led with a game high 17 points and Nasir Madison joined him in double figures with 10 points.