When Chester thinks of options, it thinks of Akeem (Taylor)

CHESTER — As Chester’s basketball season has gone along, both Rahmee Gilbert and Akeem Taylor have found themselves on the sideline with nagging injuries for a game here or there. As a result, coach Keith Taylor has tinkered with new lineup combinations, starting out of necessity but staying out of preference as the Clippers rattle off wins.

Thursday night, with Penn Wood visiting the Fred Pickett Jr. Gymnasium, Keith Taylor opted for a taller lineup, with the guards Gilbert and Akeem Taylor on the bench. But the coach turned to that duo when the game hit crunch time.

Taylor scored eight of his 12 points in the fourth quarter for a balanced Clipper output, and Gilbert keyed a stifling press with seven steals in a 67-50 win in a battle of teams that entered unbeaten in the Del Val League.

Akeem Taylor in particular loomed large. The nephew of the head coach, Taylor spent his sophomore season at Chester Charter School for the Arts as a featured scorer for the fledgling program. Back at The High, he’s one of several cogs in the rotation, and his presence as a consistent secondary scorer is the kind of addition that will make the biggest difference when the postseason arrives.

He did a little of everything Thursday. He scored 12 points, one of four Clippers in double-figures and his eighth double-figure game of the year, though he hasn’t exceeded 14 in a game. He added a team-high three blocks plus five rebounds and two assists. His ability to operate in the soft spot of Penn Wood’s 2-3 zone defense offered the Clippers their best offensive posture, with big man Karell Watkins and Rahmaad DeJarnette occupying the wings to shoot or drive.

“We like to play inside out, start with the inside because we finish there more,” Taylor said. “… I like starting out there because you can create a lot from the middle.”

“He’s been a big help,” DeJarnette said of Taylor. “He’s been doing a lot for us, grabbing rebounds, scoring, driving, a lot of things. He’s accustomed to it because we’ve been playing with him all summer, so he’s used to it.”

Michael Smith ‘3 ball corner pocket’ (that’s @JhPeach27). 43-34 Chester pic.twitter.com/9dxsXLo9L1

— Matthew De George (@sportsdoctormd) January 18, 2019

The freshness of Taylor and Gilbert was evident in the second half. Chester (9-4, 4-0 Del Val) went with its taller starting five, including Javan Graham and the lanky Zahmir Carroll in the middle to free Watkins of defensive responsibility in the post. Taylor and Gilbert were often subbed in in tandem, and with the diminutive Gilbert constantly pestering the ball and Taylor running the floor, the high energy lineup ran past Penn Wood.

“I just know I have to come off the bench with the same energy and keep up the tempo,” Taylor said. “… We run the floor, we bring in the faster lineup for defense and getting more steals.”

PHOTO GALLERY: Penn Wood vs. Chester

Gilbert didn’t score, but he pocketed those seven steals to go with three assists as Chester handed out 14 helpers. Watkins led the way with 21 points despite foul trouble limiting him in the second half. He also grabbed eight boards.

DeJarnette added 16 points, 11 in the second half, and Michael Smith scored 14, including Chester’s only two 3-pointers, to go with four assists in the Clippers’ fifth consecutive win.

Zac Williams straight to the rim. Halftime: Chester 28, Penn Wood 25 pic.twitter.com/J6cybP2fgJ

— Matthew De George (@sportsdoctormd) January 18, 2019

The Patriots (8-5, 3-1) haven’t benefited from the kind of full health the Clippers have returned to. Antonio Campbell returned from seven games out to lead the Patriots with 15 points, but as soon as he checked in, forward Kennedy Poles exited with a leg injury in the first quarter.

Zac-Chae’us Williams scored 13 points to go with team-highs of three assists, four steals and eight rebounds, and Desman Johnson added eight points. But 19 turnovers did in the Patriots, uncomfortable being sped up by Chester’s pressing defense.

“We know that they’re going to throw a lot of turnovers,” DeJarnette said. “So if we press, we can get a lot of steals, get the ball up and get easy buckets.”

Chester led by eight at the end of the first quarter, but Penn Wood crept within three at the half thanks to a Williams drive to the rim at the buzzer. Watkins put together a personal 7-0 run early in the third to stretch the lead back to double-digits at 37-27. It was never closer than six from there on out, with Chester going 8-for-12 at the line in the fourth (and 21-for-28 on the night).

Also in the Del Val:

Glen Mills 66, Academy Park 65 >> Aaron Thompson went off, scoring 34 points and grabbing 25 rebounds as Glen Mills erased a 15-point deficit after three quarters to escape with a win. It’s his second 30-point outing in the last five games.

Nafis Smith paired 12 points with 11 boards for the Battlin’ Bulls (3-10, 2-2).

Naseim Harley led Academy Park (8-4, 2-2) with 17 points, and Jalen Cassidy added 16.

Chichester 52, Interboro 50 >> Calvin Church hit a buzzer-beater to help Chichester get off the schneid in the league. Church scored six points. Josh Hankins led the Eagles (2-13, 1-3) with 16 points, and Jamese Lundy-Byrd added 11.

Alec Wood paced Interboro (1-13, 0-4) with a career-high 22 points. Josh Dellipriscoli turned in an impressive all-around game with three points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists.