Chester Wins Easy Against Academy Park

By Terry Thomas

The Clippers dominate the middle two quarters (33-15) to dismantle the Knights 77-55 at the Clip Joint. With the win Chester improves to 8-2 overall and 2-0 in Del Val League play. The teams went basket for basket in the first quarter and it ended tied at 18. Junior Karell Watkins led the way for Chester with 7 of his team high 18 points followed by senior Akeem Taylor who deposited 6 of his 15 points. Senior Zahmir Carroll drop a trey of his 11 and senior Rahmee Gilbert contributed 2 of his 10.

The 2nd quarter was all together different as the Clippers press and defensive pressure forced many Knight turnovers resulting in a 16-0 run. The run ended when the Knights Tahriq Marrero hit a trey as the buzzer sounded to end the half. It was now Chester - 34, Academy Park - 21. Taylor led with 7, Gilbert floated in 4, Watkins pushed in 3 and Carroll's put-back added the final two.

Chester continued their outburst opening the 3rd quarter with an 8-2 run for a 42-25 lead with 4:52 remaining. The damage was performed by the inside game of Watkins and Carroll scoring 4 points apiece. After a 8-0 spurt by the Knights cut into the margin at 42-33, the Clippers responded with a 9-0 run to end the quarter at 51-33. Watkins dropped in his final 4 points, followed by a trey from senior Faheem Berry and Taylor's final two points.

The Knights could not stop the Clippers as they began the final 8 minutes with a 10-2 outburst led by Berry with 6 of his career high 12 points. The scoreboard now read; Chester - 61, Academy Park - 35. Senior J'shon Lawler came off the bench to score his career high of 5 points. Senior Jahmaige Womack also came off the bench to produce a career high of 5 rebounds to go along with his two points and 1 blocked shot. Juniors Lenny Camacho and Shaquan Horsey also scored two points apiece.

The Clippers ended the contest with five players in double figures with Watkins accounting for a double double with a season high 14 rebounds. The Clippers controlled the boards with a 52-26 rebound advantage.

Next up for the Clippers is a Saturday, January 11th, road trip where they will take on the Harrisburg Cougars out of District 3. The JV game will tip-off at 2:30 p.m. with the Varsity to follow.

JV GAME RECAP

Chester's JV moved their record to 7-2 after crushing the Knights 59-37. Chester led 12-2 after the 1st period led by Nasir Madison with 6. They increased their lead to 26-10 at the intermission. Lenny Camacho put in 8 in the period to share game high of 12 points with Madison. Donziar Ellis and Shaquan Horsey each drop in 5 points as the Clippers pulled away in the 3rd outscoring the Knights 22-8 to hold the lead at 48-18 after 3 periods. Ellis also finished in double figures with 10 points while Horsey ended the contest with 9 points.

The remaining Chester points came from Saahir McMillan and Edward Harmon with 4 apiece, Yinka Itabiyi, Kareem Devore and Keenan Warren - 2 each and William Smith and Jermere Clark each added 1 point.