Chester seeks to get sharp for Spring-Ford challenge

Chester’s first-round survival against Hempfield wasn’t executed with trademark ease.

Against one of the most resilient squads in the PIAA Class AAAA field, repeating that inability to close out a game could curtail the Clippers’ chase of a ninth state title.

Chester’s road to Hershey snakes through Cheltenham Wednesday, when the District One runner-up Clippers (21-7) take on Spring-Ford at 7 p.m.

The Clippers turned on the gas late in a 55-46 win over Hempfield, District 3’s sixth seed, but a margin that hovered near double-digits in the second half wasn’t particularly comfortable in a states opener.

Chester maintained its usual scoring balance — 12 points for Jamar Sudan, 10 for Deshawn Hinson, nine for Khaleeq Campbell, eight for Stanley Davis — but the scrappy Black Knights were resistant to errors in the face of Chester’s press, so often a font of easy baskets. Seven made 3-pointers, tied for the third-most converted in a game this season, also benefited Chester.

Failure to put away Spring-Ford in similar circumstances could bring dire consequences. The Rams (21-7) notched the program’s first states win, trampling Spring Grove 74-43. The Rams, in their second states appearance, are meeting Chester for the first time in PIAA tourney competition. Chester has won all three District One playoff encounters, the last in 2005.

Both teams capitalized on a down District 3 contingent: The district advanced just three of eight entrants from the first round, including champion Reading (which struggled for three quarters with Hatboro-Horsham). The other teams progressing, fifth seed Carlisle and seventh seed J.P. McCaskey, got advantageous matchups with weak district champs (six and two, respectively). District One went 5-5 in the opening round, plus had Hatboro-Horsham and Academy Park (against Roman Catholic) put forth valiant efforts as decided underdogs.

Spring Grove’s weakness afforded Spring-Ford a rare drama-free affair. The Rams survived three overtime contests in districts, including a 61-58 upset of Pennridge to get to states and a two-OT classic with Central Bucks West in the fifth-place game. The Pac-10 champs’ only loss in the last seven came to Ridley, 54-50, in the quarterfinals.

The Rams boast balanced scoring, led by steady senior point guard Nigel Cooke, who provided 20 points against Spring Grove. The Rams don’t have as much height as Hempfield, though 6-foot-5 Cam Reid can score in the post. Matt Gnais and Chucky Drummond are solid backcourt scorers. Spring-Ford also muzzled Spring Grove’s Eli Brooks, who’s received a bevy of Division I offers, to just 12 points.

Also Wednesday:

1-3 Ridley vs. 11-1 Parkland, Geigle Complex, 8

Ending streaks is on the mind of both sides of this AAAA meeting. Ridley banished one and is looking for more; Parkland is hoping to end a lengthy curse.

The Green Raiders glided past Wilson, District 3’s fourth seed, 50-34, their first win in three states trips over four seasons and the program’s first states victory since 2008.

Parkland won its first-round affair for a fourth straight season, trouncing Conestoga, 71-49. The Trojans (26-3) are hoping to end their second-round jinx, eliminated at this juncture each of the last three years.

Parkland has won 24 straight and is regarded as one of the top five teams in Class AAAA. It is driven by a pair of 6-foot-6 wings in Lafayette-bound senior Kyle Stout and junior Sam Iorio, who has several Patriot League offers. Each average around 18 points per game. Kenny Yeboah, a post-oriented forward who stands 6-6, provides a double-figures interior threat.

Ridley’s approach, as it has been all season en route to a program record for wins, will be team-centric. Four players scored nine or more points for the Green Raiders (27-2) Saturday, Brett Foster not among them. Ridley hit 10 3-pointers, tying a season-high, including three apiece from Liam Thompson and Damir Fleming. Julian Wing led the way with 15 points, and with his defensive responsibilities against Iorio and Stout ramping up Wednesday, a similar level of production would be remarkable.

In Tuesday’s games:

12-3 Archbishop Carroll vs. 3-1 Bishop McDevitt, Garden Spot, 7:30

Last year, the Patriots encountered District 3 champ Steelton-Highspire at this stage in what seemed a daunting matchup. They steamrolled the Steamrollers by 29 points, a fate the Crusaders hope to avoid in the Class AAA second round.

Neither team broke much of a sweat in its opener. The Patriots (23-3) scored 26 points in the first quarter and permitted District One champ Holy Ghost Prep just 27 total in a 76-27 shellacking. McDevitt (21-6) toppled Salisbury Township, District 11’s third seed, 75-48.

McDevitt was powered by 1,000-point scorer James Williams, who poured in 30 points. He averages 21 per game, but McDevitt isn’t a one-man show. Guards Nick Gemmell and Tim Kater, the latter a sharp-shooting sophomore and defensive end who stands 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds, can also supply points.

Carroll possesses a pair of Division I talents in Ryan Daly and Josh Sharkey, plus John Rigsby, who scored 21 points against Holy Ghost and has scored in double figures in each of his last five outings to raise his season average to 12.2 ppg. With Miks Antoms and company, Carroll owns a decisive size advantage. McDevitt lists the 6-foot-4, 180-pound Williams as a center.

1-2 Delco Christian vs. 11-2 Shenandoah Valley, Central Dauphin East, 6

The Knights (15-12) own the height edge in the Class A second-round contest, but the Blue Devils have the emotional edge.

Shenandoah Valley (18-8) is on a remarkable run. The Blue Devils overcame a 16-point deficit in the final four minutes of the District 11 semis to top Medical Academy Charter, 75-72, and make states. In the first round, they topped District 4 champ St. John Neumann, 70-59, handing Neumann its first loss. Guard Joel Santana scored 33 points, including the junior from Brooklyn’s 1,000th career, in a game the Blue Devils trailed by double-digits after halftime.

The vertical edge is pronounced for Delco Christian, which dispatched Greenwood, 45-32, in a ragged opener. Santana and backcourt mates Jermaine McNeil and Isaiah Alvarez stand under six feet. Ian McCole, a frontcourt scorer, is 6-foot, while Josh White is the presiding giant at 6-foot-2.

That bodes well for Delco Christian, alleviating the rim-deterring length that stymied Wyatt Harkins in its last loss, to Phil-Mont Christian in the District One final. Harkins scored 23 against Greenwood, and the height advantage should encourage forwards Bryce Shook and Jalen Johns to get going offensive. Against the smaller front, Jordan Parks and T.J. Tann should also do more than just fire jump shots.