The Clippers improved to 3-0 with a thrilling 70-63 victory over the Reading High Red Knights. The contest was the main event of the Hoops Group Challenge played on the campus of Albright College in Reading, PA. And the packed house didn't leave disappointed, as both teams gave all they had in the contest. The lead changed hands several time and there was even the threat of a possible overtime if not for the clutch free throw shooting by the Clippers in the final minute.
The third period represented the patented Clippers of old outscoring their the Red Knights 29-17 to grab a 53-43 advantage going into the final period. The senior back-court of Conrad Chambers who scored 8 of his 11 points and Johnson who contributed 7 led the way coupled with the 6 points from 6'8" power forward Tyrell Sturdivant. Tyrell started the game wearing protective goggles after receiving seven stitches over his right eye in the McCaskey contest. The goggles lasted all of two minutes before they were returned to Coach Harris on the bench.
With Gabe Adesina's two points, he finished with 4, the starters accounted for 23 of the 29 points. Sophomore Jahmi Bailey dropped in four points and Watkins added two to finish with 6 points.
The Red Knights were not going away lightly as they started the fourth period with a 10-4 run of their own forcing the Clippers into a timeout at the 5:31 mark and their lead now at 57-53. After exchanging baskets Reading called for a timeout at the 3:40 and the score resting at 59-55. And then the fun began.
Mahir Johnson connected on 1 of 2 free throws for a 60-55 lead.
I'd like to give a special shout-out to Lonnie Walker Jr, the son of Alvernia University Hall of Famer Lonnie Walker Sr. Lonnie Jr is a 6'4" freshman who plays both ends of the floor and saw major minutes in tonight's contest. Before fouling out in the 4th, he contributed seven points with 5 coming in the pivotal 4th including the trey that cut Chester's lead to 60-58.
The Clippers squandered their next three possessions missing an open trey and two front ends of 1 and 1's. Reading's Zhykeir Burdine was fouled on a three point shot and went 3 for 3 on the line and the Clippers now trailed 60-61 at the 3:06mark. Burdine finished with 22 points. On the Clippers next possession, 6'7" sophomore Marquis Collins fed Sturdivant in the paint and he was fouled for an old-fashioned three point play giving his team the lead 63-61 with 1:39 left in the contest. Reading would score tying the game at 63 with 1:03 left. Johnson would score Chester's go-ahead basket with a jumper from the corner at the 0:47.6 mark. Chester - 65, Reading - 63. Sturdivant would rebound the next two missed Reading shots and after being fouled on both, drained four consecutive foul shouts. Johnson would go 1 for 2 to close out the scoring.
Off his 25 point performance, Mahir Johnson earned the game MVP honor. Tyrell Sturdivant would be the only other Clipper in double digits with 17 points but once again he finished with a double-double, his 3rd of the young season, by grabbing 11 rebounds. In total, eight of the nine Clippers who saw action in tonight's contest had their name entered in the scoring column.
After a short night's sleep, the team arrived at the Clip Joint about 11:30 p.m., the Clippers will be off to Cheltenham High School for a 12:00 pm date on Saturday, December 14th with Delaware's Sanford High School as part of the Coaches vs. Cancer contest.
Footnote: Sanford was the only team to defeat the 2010-2011 State Champion Clippers. Chester finished that season with a record of 31-1. Sanford also went on to win the Delaware State Championship that same season.
by Terry Thomas
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