By Terry Thomas
The Chester Clippers
(22-4) finished 3rd in the District-1 Tournament with a 72-64 decision over the
visiting Bensalem Owls (18-8) at the Clip Joint.
With the opportunity to
play an additional game at the Clip Joint, senior Rahmee Gilbert jump started
the team with 8 first quarter points including two treys. Junior Shaquan Horsey
started in place of the injured Zahmir Carroll and scored 4 first big points to
give his team a 15-14 first quarter advantage.
With Horsey saddled in
foul trouble, 6'4" sophomore Nasir Madison got to start the 2nd quarter
and after grabbing a rebound was fouled. He connected on his two free throws
igniting an 11-2 run that ended with his steal and layup forcing the Owls to
call a timeout at the 5:20 mark and trailing 26-16. His four points marked his
career high in only his second varsity game. During the run, Gilbert connected
on his third trey and Akeem Taylor Jr became a force inside the paint. Two
possessions later senior Akeem Taylor Jr was fouled and with 4:18 on clock made
1 of 2 free throws to become the 33rd member of Chester's Boy's 1000 Point
Club. Senior J'shon Lawler entered the contest and took advantage of one of
Taylor's seven blocked shots scored to get the Clipper lead back to 10 points
at 29-19 with 3:40 remaining. The Clippers held off a late Owls run to take a
35-29 lead into intermission.
Chester opened the third
quarter with increased defensive effort resulting in two steals by Taylor and a
blocked shot by Horsey. On the offensive end, junior Karell Watkins made his
presence felt scoring 4 of the Clippers first 6 points giving Chester a 41-31
lead and a Bensalem timeout at 5:51. Watkins added four additional points,
junior Fareed Burton Jr scored his first two points of the contest coupled with
two points apiece from Gilbert and Horsey. Chester took a 49-41 lead into the
fourth quarter.
The Clippers used an
inside/outside theme to start the fourth quarter. Junior Lenny Camacho
connected on a trey, Taylor scored an old-fashion three-point play while
driving to the basket and Watkins was feed on the block for two. On the Owls
next possession, Watkins came up with a steal and a layup; he followed that up
with a rebound and a feed to Taylor on the short corner for a bucket and a 61-45
Clipper lead. The Owls made a little run at the Clippers but a trey from Burton
and then a steal and assist by Burton to Watkins put the game away 68-54
calling for another Bensalem timeout with 1:29 remaining in the contest. Taylor
hit two free throws at 0:56.8, 70-57, and finished the game with a tomahawk
dunk off an assist from Camacho as time expired.
Akeem Taylor Jr made the
most of final game at the Clip Joint finishing with a double-double including a
game high 21 points and 12 rebounds. He also matched his career high of 7
blocked shots giving him a career total of 82 moving him ahead of Kevin
"YesGod TV" Thomas and Richard "Big Dog" Granberry. He also
amassed 5 steals and 2 assists.
Karell Watkins returned
to form with a double-double consisting of 18 points and 10 rebounds. He also
had 4 assist and 2 steals. Rahmee Gilbert was the third Clipper in double
digits with 13 points.
Chester will return to
action in the first round of the State 6A Tournament on Saturday, March 7th.
The Clippers will face off against the 3rd seed out of District-11; the winner
of William Allen vs Easton scheduled for Saturday February 29th. The time and
place of the contest is to be determined.
Update:
Clippers State Tournament Game Information
The Chester Clippers (22-4) will open the State 6A
Tournament on Saturday, March 7th against William Allen (23-5), the 3rd seed
out of District 11. The game will be played at Oxford High School, 705
Waterway Rd, Oxford, PA 19363. Game time is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
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