Chester boys basketball (20-5) defeat Abington

The Chester Clippers (20-5) advances to Tuesday night's Semi-finals with a 63-51 victory over the visiting Abington Ghosts (21-4). Their opponent will be the winner of West Chester's Bayard Rustin, a 48-40 winner over Central Bucks West. 

Chester's seniors set out to make their last game at the Clip Joint a winner by combining for 15 of the team's 18 first quarter point. Sophomore Khaleeq Campbell's his team ahead to stay at 11-10. Senior Tyrell led the charge for the Clippers with 5, Mahir Johnson and Gabe Adesina each dropped in 4 and Conrad Chambers floated in 2. Chester - 18, Abington - 12. 

Defensively the Clippers did a better job of protecting the 3-point line in the 2nd quarter holding the Ghost without a trey resulting in a 15-12 quarter. and a 33-22 Chester half-time lead. Tyrell continued his domination with 6 points and sophomore Marquis Collins came in to score his only five points on the night. Junior guard Keyonte Watkins also scored his only points of the quarter, a left handed lay-up off a steal. 

While the Ghost began to find their range in the third, Tyrell stepped up with 8 big points to help maintain the Clipper advantage. Chester had their lead reduced to 8 points, 47-39, at the end of the 3rd quarter. After the Ghost cut the Clippers lead to 6 points at 49-43 with5:30 on the clock; Chester called for a time-out. Coming out the timeout, the Clippers forced consecutive turnovers results in a trey and a lay-up by Mahir Johnson to give his team a double digit lead 54-43. Over the next five minutes Chester would produce a 14-5 run before Abington's trey with 20 second remaining produced the final points of the night. 

Chester senior Brewster Ward had an outstanding night off the bench filling the stat sheet with 4 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocked shots and 2 steals.

Tonight's win earned Coach Yarbray his fifth 20-win season in the six years he's been the Clippers Head Coach and his fourth consecutive trip to the District Final-Four.

#2 seeded Chester will return to action against #14 seeded Rustin on Tuesday, February 25th with a 6:00 tip-off at the Liacouras Center on the campus of Temple University. In the night-cap, 7:30 tip-off, #1 seeded Conestoga will face #5 seeded Pennsbury.

Terry Thomas