Chester High boy's basketball starts season with big win

Tyrell Sturdivant earns MVP honors
in his first game as a Clipper

The Clippers (1-0) opened the 2013-14 regular season with an easy 62-46 win over the host Red Raiders in the night cap of the Scholastic Play By Play Tip Off Classic at Coatesville Area High School. 

The scored was tied at 8 before Chester produced a 9-0 run for a 17-8 advantage. With starters Mahir Johnson and Gabe Adesina benched with two fouls in the opening period, senior Conrad Chambers took the helm and guided the Clippers eight of his 13 points as Chester held a 20-13 lead to end the quarter. Both teams displayed the effects of the early season in their play and Chester maintained their seven point advantage for a 27-20 half-time score. 

After playing less than four minutes in the first half, senior shooting guard Mahir Johnson proved to be too much for the Red Raiders scoring 15 of his game high 17 points in the second half. He added 6 in the 3rd and 9 in the fourth. Chester's 6'8" Stoney Brook University signee, Tyrell Sturdivant, was a one man wrecking crew finishing with a double double in his first game as a Clipper. Tyrell was the third Clipper in double figures with 14 points and he hauled in 15 rebounds and was named Game MVP. The Clippers aggressive play enabled them to outscore their opponents 18-11 in the 3rd to take a 45-31 lead into the final quarter. 

Having played all twelve players, Chester was able to wear down the Red Raiders and their lead ballooned to 56-31 off the play of the game; a steal by 5'6" Khaleeq and his alley-opp to Sturdivant. Coatesville stopped the run with an old-fashioned three point play at the 4:57 mark. 

In all, eight Clippers entered the scoring column. Junior Keyonte Watkins led the reserves with 6 points. He was joined by sophomores Marquis Collins (4) , Jahmi Bailey (2) and Khaleeq Campbell (2) along with senior Da'Saun Campbell who also contributed 4 points including a highlight dunk off a steal. 

Chester returns to action on Wednesday, December 11th when they travel to Lancaster to take on J.P. McCaskey coached by former Clipper Steve 'Bird' Powell. Coach Powell entered this season with 397 career wins and is looking to join the exclusive 400-win Club.

by Terry Thomas