Saturday, January 4, 2020

Clippers Open the New Year with Win


By Terry Thomas

Chester (6-2) celebrated the New Year at the Clip Joint at the expense of the Bartram Braves to the tune of a 87-55 blowout. Ten of the eleven Clippers entered their names in the scoring column with four of them in double figures. Junior Karell Watkins led the way matching his season high of 21 points.

The teams traded baskets with Chester holding a two-point lead, 11-9, with a Rahmee Gilbert bucket at the 3:25 mark. However, Bartram responded with a 9-2 run to close out the quarter. At the end of the period it was Chester - 13, Bartram - 18.

The Clippers increased the pressure to open the 2nd quarter and after a steal and a breakaway dunk by Watkins at 5:37, Chester had regained the lead 19-18. Chester's relentless defense resulted in three consecutive steals capped by another Watkins baskets to closeout a 14-0 run at 4:36. The score was now Chester - 27, Bartram - 18. After a Bartram timeout, the Braves countered by outscoring the Clippers 12-8 to get within five at the end of the quarter. At intermission it was Chester - 35, Bartram - 30.

Senior forward Zahmir Caroll led the charge in the 3rd quarter scoring 8 of his 12 points as the Clippers built a thirteen-point lead, 53-40, with 3:20 remaining. Junior Fareed Burton Jr performed well in the period with 3 steals, 3 assists and 5 of his 12 points. Senior Akeem Taylor Jr ended quarter with a trey off an assist from Gilbert. Chester - 60, Bartram - 46.

The Clippers maintained their consistency into the final 8 minutes. Carroll opened with quarter with a trey and after a steal by Burton with an assist to Taylor for a dunk; Chester was celebrating with a 72-51 advantage with 4:35 remaining. Burton and senior Faheem Berry joined in with treys as the Clippers were scoring from all points on the court. Berry also enjoyed a career high 6 assists on the afternoon to go along with his 7 points. Junior Lenny Camacho came off the bench to feed senior Jahmaige Womack with an alley-opp dunk to end the game.

The team finished with a season high 20 assists on 36 made baskets led by Rahmee Gilbert with five. Burton and Watkins each had 4, Taylor had 3 and Berry, Carroll, Camacho and senior J'shon Lawler each had one. Chester also recorded 19 steals on the afternoon with Berry and Watkins each with 6. Burton and Gilbert added 3 apiece and Womack chipped in with one to go along with his 2 blocked shots.

Taylor joined Watkins in double figures with 17 followed by Burton and Carroll with 12 apiece. Gilbert had 8, Berry (7), Lawler and junior Shaquan Horsey each had four. Womack closed out the contest with 2 points.

JV GAME SUMMARY

The JV team took out their frustration on the 2019 year ending loss by dismantling the Bartram Braves 63-21 invoking the Mercy Rule. All thirteen Clippers entered the scoring column as the lead from start to finish. They led 19-5 after one, 29-10 at the half and 47-14 at the end of the 3rd quarter. Edward Harmon took advantage of starters minutes and led the team with a game high 12 points. The other scorers were Lenny Camacho (8), Nasir Madison (7), Donziar Ellis (6), William Smith and Shaquan Horsey both with 5. Saahir McMillian, Naeem Scott Jr and Yinka Itabiyi each with 4, Jermere Clark (3) followed by Kareem Devore and Andre Stewart Jr with 2 apiece and Keenan Warren completed the scoring by hitting 1 of 2 free throws.

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