Clippers remain atop of the Del Val

 By Terry Thomas

Chester improved their record to 10-3 overall and 5-0 in Del Val League action with a 68-54 win over the Penn Wood Patriots. The Clippers used a 11-0 run midway through the fourth quarter to secure the win. 

Sophomore Larenzo Jerkins led the Clippers with a career high 25 points and matched his career high of 17 rebounds. He also accounted for 3 blocked shots, 2 steals and was an impressive 11 of 12 from the free throw line. Junior Breilyn White joined him in double figures with 14 points. Chester led by 15-7 after the first quarter and increased their lead to 33-23 at the intermission.  

The Patriots closed the gap to 49-43 after three periods. Chester saw their lead disappear to 51-49 with 5:12 left in the final quarter; that's when the run began. The Patriots was able to stop the surge with a free throw at the two-minute mark now trailing 62-50. 

Senior Isaiah Freeman did a yeoman's job on the court matching his career highs of 15 rebounds and 5 steals to go along with his 6 points and 2 assists.

JV GAME SUMMARY

The JV team came up short in the fourth quarter falling 64-71 to the Patriots. Hamza Clay-Goudelock led all scorers with 23 points. Dante Atkins also accounted for double figures with 12 points while Vincent Coleman fell short with 9 points. The see-saw battle had the Clippers lead after the first quarter, 15-13, and the Patriots led at the half, 34-24. Chester stormed back in the third to reduce the deficit to 42-44 going into the final quarter. In the fourth quarter, the Patriots connected on 10 of 12 free throws while the Clippers only managed to make 2 of 8 to close out the game. 

The teams will return to action on Saturday, January 29^th when Christiana visits the Clip Joint for a triple header matinee affair. The Freshman team is scheduled to tip-off at 1:00 with the JV and Varsity to follow. The Varsity game will be streamed on Cmpradio.net on YouTube or Facebook as well as the Chester Upland School District on YouTube.

Chester Surges Pass Academy Park

 By Terry Thomas

Chester put on a 74-40 whooping on the Academy Park Knights at the Clip Joint. Sophomore Larenzo Jerkins scored 11 of his game high15 points in the first quarter and the Clippers defense held the Knights scoreless. Senior Isaiah Freeman scored 7 of his 9 points and sophomore Kevin Rucker added a bucket resulting in a 22-0 score at the end of the period.

The Clippers appeared to play according to the scoreboard instead of the game plan which allowed the Knights to actually outscore them in the second quarter. Chester's lead was reduced to 20 points at the intermission, Chester led 38-18. Coach Taylor could not have been happy with his team's performance.

The Clippers did not stay in the locker room long during the 10-minute intermission. With over 7 minutes remaining, Chester was back on the court preparing for the third quarter. Coach Taylor's message was received loud and clear. Chester came out aggressive at both ends of the court. They opened the quarter with a 10-0 run invoking the Mercy Rule at the 4:30 mark, Chester led 48-18. The Clippers continued to pour it on with a 8-0 run before the Knights finally put the ball in the basket with about 1:45 on the clock. The scoreboard read Chester - 56, Academy Park - 20. The quarter ended 59-20. Seven Clippers put their names in the scoring column in the quarter with Rucker leading the way with 6 of his 12 points. Jerkins added his final 4, sophomore Kyree Womack dropped in 3 of his 12 with junior Breilynd White, senior Qador Lowrie and seniors Freeman and Olayinka "Yinks" Itabiyi each contributing a basket. 

The future of the Clippers played the entire fourth quarter and produced 15 points. The highlight of the quarter occurred when freshman Dallas Thompson hit a trey producing his first Varsity points. Sophomore Vincent Coleman added 4, sophomore Dante Atkinson dropped in a trey, junior Terrence Cobb added a bucket along with sophomore Kyree Womack. Sophomore Jerry Young completed the scoring connecting on 1 of 2 free throws. 

The Clippers ended the game with all twelve players in the scoring column and three in double figures: Jerkins (15), Rucker (12) and Womack (12). 

Chester continues league play on Thursday when they travel to Lansdowne to take on the Penn Wood Patriots at the "Shoe Box". 

JV GAME SUMMARY

Chester's JV (7-2) set the standard for the evening blowing out Academy Park 71-37. Dante Atkinson and Andre Brown led all scorers with 16 points apiece. Chester jumped out to a 24-7 first quarter lead sparked by Atkinson's 9 points and Brown's 7 points. Chester maintained the offensive push with a 20-point second quarter to take a 44-18 lead into intermission. The flow of the game did not change in the third quarter and with 3:30 on the clock Andre Brown fourth trey of the game produced a 58-28 Chester lead resulting in the Mercy Rule. 

Chester Scorers: Atkinson (16), Brown (16), Hamza Clay-Goudelock (8), Jerry Young (8), Andre West (7), Ra'Shaad Dorsey (5), Vincent Coleman (4), Dallas Thompson (4), Karon Wilson (3)

Chester Easily Defeats William Penn (York)

By Terry Thomas

Chester used a 29-13 second quarter outburst to storm pass the William Penn (York) Bearcats 65-36 during the Saturday matinee at the Clip Joint. With the win, the Clippers improve their record to 8-3. Chester used a balanced attack with four players in double figures. Junior Breilynd White led the way with a game high 12 points while senior Qadir Lowrie and sophomores Larenzo Jerkins and Kyree Womack contributed 11 points apiece.

White led the way with 6 first quarter points and Jerkins added five enroute to the Clippers 18-11 first quarter lead. In the 2nd quarter eight Clippers put their names in the scoring column resulting in 29 points as Chester took a 47-24 lead into intermission. Walker (7), White (6), Jerkins & Lowrie - 4 apiece, followed by two each from senior Olayinka "Yinks" Itabiyi, senior Isaiah Freeman, sophomore Kevin Rucker and junior Terrence Cobb.

The Clippers started the third quarter with an 8-0 run capped by Larenzo Jerkins bucket off a feed from Freeman at the 5:50 mark invoking the "Mercy Rule" with the score 55-24. The Bearcats stopped their drought with their only basket in the quarter at the 3:13 mark. Chester led 57-26 at the time. The quarter ended with Chester ahead 59-26.

Nine of the twelve Chester players were able to put their names in the scoring column: White (12), Lowrie (11), Jerkins (11), Womack (11), Itabiyi (5), Rucker (5), Freeman (4), Jerry Young (4), Terrence Cobb (2).

The Clippers team chemistry was in full effect as they handed out a season high 16 assists on 25 made baskets. Senior point guard Qadir Lowrie led the way with 5.

JV GAME SUMMARY

Chester is now 6-3 after the 52-43 win over the William Penn (York) Bearcats. Sophomore Hamza Clay-Goudelock was the lone Clipper in double figures with 14 points. He also contributed 7 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists and 1 blocked shot. Sophomore Emmanual Smith came off the bench to score 7 second quarter points allowing the Clippers to take a 32-12 lead into intermission. The Clippers played 11 players in the contest with 9 putting their names in the scoring column: Clay-Goudelock (14), Dante Atkinson (9), Smith (7), Nazir Berry (6), Dallas Thompson (4), Andre Brown (4), Jerry Young (4), Karon Wilson (2), Vincent Coleman (2).

Jerry Young made his presence felt inside the paint with 9 rebounds and 2 blocked shots. Thompson and Atkinson led with 4 steals apiece.

The Clippers will return to league play on Tuesday, January 25th when they travel to Glenolden to take on the Academy Park Knights. The JV will tip-off at 5:30 with the Varsity to follow.