PIAA Wednesday night action
By
Gregory Goettner
AAAA
Eastern Semifinal:
Chester 67 Simon Gratz
60
The Chester
Clippers defeat Simon Gratz 67-60, in front of packed house at Norristown High
School.
Chester came out strong in the
first quarter building a 16-6 lead, despite early foul trouble from junior
forwards Russell Johnson and Nasir Robinson. The Clippers rallied
behind 58 junior Karon Burton. Burton started off the game hot hitting 3
three pointers including one right before the end of the quarter.
With both Johnson and Robinson
on the bench the Bulldogs took advantage of the smaller Chester line up by
controlling the boards; cutting the Clippers lead 26-21 at halftime. Gratz
senior forward Ishmawiyl Mc Fadden scored 7 of his 16 points in the
second.
To start off the third quarter,
Gratz tied the game up 26-26, senior point guard Josh Scrap Martin had
a big quarter going for 9 points. Chester had a tough time offensively as only
two players scored. Nasir Robinson picked up his fourth foul in the
quarter which led him to the bench for the rest of the quarter. Clippers held on
to a slim 40-39 lead going fourth.
It was a see saw battle
throughout the start of the fourth quarter; but Chesters three junior stars
helped their team prevail 67-60. Burton, Johnson, and Robinson combined for 26
of the teams 27 fourth quarter points. Gratz kept the game close but a big
offensive rebound from Russell Johnson sealed the Clippers trip to the
Bryce Jordan Center.
Leading all scorers was Chester
point guard Karon Burton with 36 points (5 three pointers). This was the
best game Burton played during the post season as he took total control
offensively. Despite being in foul trouble throughout the game Russell
Johnson ended the game with 11 (9 fourth quarter points) and Nasir
Robinson finished with 9 points.
Gratz was led by senior
Ishmawiyl McFadden 16 points, senior Josh Scrap Martin 15 points,
and junior Charles White 15 points.
Rematch: The Clippers
will now face Schenley on Saturday at Penn State University. These two teams met
earlier this year at Cardinal OHara High School, where Schenley defeated the
Clippers 85-74.
AA Eastern Semifinals
Prep Charter 61 Imhotep
Charter 48
For the third time this season
Prep Charter defeated Imhotep Charter 61-49. Prep Charter will look to repeat as
AA state champions on Saturday as they take on Aliquippa. This will be the
second time that these two teams meet also, as Aliquippa defeated Prep Charter
78-70 at York College.
PIAA State Championship
Schedule
Saturday, March 24th,
2007 @ Penn State University, Bryce Jordan Center
2:00pm Prep Charter vs.
Aliquippa
8:00pm Chester vs. Schenley
*Game previews will be out,
Friday March 23rd.
If
you have any questions or comments contact Greg at
greg@metrohoops.com
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