Chester Ends 2023 on a Winning Note

By Terry Thomas

The Chester Clippers (6-1) finished calendar year 2023 on a 5-game winning streak after defeating the visiting Abington (9-3) Ghost 67-51 at the Clip Joint. The win gives the Clippers a 31-6 overall and 23-2 regular season record against the Ghosts. This marked their first meeting since the District Playoffs in 2015.

Senior Dante Atkinson led three Clippers in double figures with a game high of 19 points. The 19 points were also his career high; he also finished with a career-tying 4 assists. Senior Dominic Toy had a season high 14 points and tied his career high of 3 assists and 6 rebounds. Senior Calvin Williams notched his first double-double of the season with 11 points and a career high of 13 rebounds.

The first quarter was a game of runs with Chester starting the contest with a 7-2 advantage. Abington responded with a 7-1 run before an Atkinson bucket gave Chester the lead 10-9 with 1:40 to play. The Ghost reclaimed the lead 13-10 before the Clippers scored the final four points for a 14-13 margin at the end of the quarter.

In a tightly played second quarter, Chester managed to maintain their lead pushing it to an 8-point separation, 31-23, with just over a minute left. Abington took advantage of the Chester mishaps, closing the quarter with a 6-0 run. The Clippers held a slim 31-29 lead at intermission.

The third quarter was another tightly fought affair, the Clippers outscored their opponents 15-13 closing the quarter ahead 46-42. Dante Atkinson scored 8 of his points to help hold off the Ghosts.

The Clippers buckled down defensively in the final eight minutes limiting their opponents to just 9 points while scoring 21 to sail away from the Ghosts. The Clippers were aided by Abington's inability to make free throws; they were 5 of 12 from the charity stripe in the fourth quarter. Abington was able to close the gap to 56-51 with 2:30 to play but was held scoreless the rest of the contest. Chester on the other hand put up 11 points. In the final eight minutes, Williams dropped in 6 points, junior Dallas Thompson came through with 5 from the line and Atkinson was perfect 4 of 4 from the charity stripe. Sophomore Daron Harris chipped in with 4 points and claimed a career high 6 rebounds with Toy finishing the scoring with a rim-rattler slam dunk off an assist from Daron.

Chester will return to action on January 4, 2024 on the road at Del Val League foe Penn Wood Patriots. The JV tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 pm with the Varsity to follow.

JV GAME SUMMARY

The Clippers ran aground in the middle two quarters being outscored 31-15 and fell to the Abington Ghosts, 53-41. Kameron Wilson (6) and Nyrell Pray (5) scored all their points in the opening quarter for Chester's 11-10 advantage. Heading into the fourth quarter trailing 26-41, Ra'Shaad Dorsey scored 6 of his game high 12 points and Tae'Qwann Naylor dropped in all 5 of his points in an attempt to draw close to the Ghost but it was not enough.

The other Chester scorers were Shadrach George (2), Christian Spann (5) and Dominique Gilyard (6).