Clippers grounded at Temple

By Terry Thomas

Chester bid for a District 1 title and their 10-game win streak was stopped by the #1 seeded Methacton Warriors, 81-54, at Temple's Liacouras Center. Chester will face Bensalem on Friday, February 28 at the Clip Joint to determine District 1's 3rd and 4th seed for the State Tournament. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

The Clippers opened the game with a 9-2 run and the Warriors answered back with a 13-0 run to close out the quarter. Methacton took advantage of Chester bad ball control and their inability to knock down shots. Chester - 9, Methacton - 15.

Chester used five players to produce their 16 second quarter to stay within striking range. Methacton responded with an inside/outside game for 16 points to maintain their halftime lead. Chester - 25, Methacton - 31.

Coming out of intermission the teams exchanged baskets; Akeem Taylor Jr scored with 2:05 remaining in the 3rd quarter and Chester was still down six, 41-47. That when the Clipper ship ran aground. The Warriors connected on three consecutive treys to close the quarter with a 41-56 lead.

The Clippers frigid night continued into the 4th quarter failing to score on the first six possessions. Meanwhile the Warriors were on target with an 8-0 run pushing their lead to 41-64 with 5:45 left in the contest. With the mix of bad shooting and bad ball control, the Clippers were never a threat the rest of the way.

Akeem Taylor Jr led the Clippers with a team high 16 points followed by Karell Watkins with 13 points. Fareed Burton Jr and Rahmee Gilbert each contributed 7 points. Zahmir Carroll added 6 with Faheem Berry and Lenny Camacho supplying 3 and 2 points respectively.

Burton also filled the stat sheet with 4 assists, 5 rebounds, 1 blocked shot and 1 steal. Watkins's string of double-doubles was halted with him grabbing only 7 rebounds. Taylor added 5 rebounds and 1 assists and Carroll provided 4 rebounds, 1 blocked shot and 1 steal. Gilbert contributed 2 assists and 3 steals.