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Rick O'Brien: A 2d Nelson is on the rise at Chester

Jameer's brother is now directing the Clippers as a point guard.

As Chester's top perimeter scoring threat the last two seasons, Maurice Nelson had a shoot-first mind-set. Now, after Nelson switched from wing to point guard, a more selfless approach is in order.

"It's not been that tough for me," said the 5-foot-9, 150-pound senior. "If I can score 10 or so points and get as many assists as I can, I'm fine with it. It's all about us getting the 'W.' "

Nelson, younger brother of Orlando Magic lead guard Jameer Nelson, has helped spark the Clippers to a 6-1 start.

Monday, in the finale of the Jameer Nelson Philly.com/Rally Classic, Maurice Nelson produced nine points, six steals, and four assists as the Clippers turned back previously undefeated Norristown, 67-58, at Gwynedd-Mercy College.

Nelson shot 3 for 5 from three-point territory. His two first-quarter treys helped Larry Yarbray's squad to a 17-11 advantage.

"We're trying to get him to learn how to be a point guard," Yarbray said. "He's coming along well. His decision-making will get better as the year goes on."

The third-year starter, averaging 10.7 points, said he talked "all the time" with Jameer, who starred at Chester and St. Joseph's University.

The Clippers won five straight before losing to Sanford (Del.), 62-57. In an 85-72 win at Coatesville, Nelson netted a season-high 20 points, including two three-pointers.

In August, Nelson, 19, was granted an additional year of athletic eligibility by a PIAA District 1 executive committee. He began high school at Cardinal O'Hara but did not play basketball, then played one season at Valley Forge Military Academy before transferring to Chester.

"I wasn't put in the right classes when I was at O'Hara," Nelson said, "and that set me back in terms of academics. For the PIAA to see that and give me another year to play sports, I was grateful and excited."

Nelson, a 1,000-point career scorer, was a slot receiver and cornerback with Chester's football team.

The Clippers, who own six state basketball championships, are coming off a 16-11 season that closed with a loss to La Salle in the first round of the Class AAAA state tournament.

"This year isn't about redemption or anything like that," Yarbray said. "I don't even get into that with the players. We had a very young team last year. That happens."

In addition to Nelson, the catalysts this season are 6-3 junior forward Erikk Wright (16 ppg.), 6-4 senior wing guard Lamon Church (14.4), and 6-5 sophomore forward Rondae Jefferson (9.6). Church and DeQuann Walker, a 6-4 senior reserve forward, came over from Malvern Prep.

"Lamon brings a lot of energy to the court," Nelson said. "DeQuann brings the same kind of intensity."

Against Norristown, the high-leaping Wright scored 16 of his game-high 20 points in the second half, grabbed 11 rebounds (four on offense), and blocked three shots. Jefferson added 12 points, 11 boards (three on offense), two blocks, and two steals.

Turnaround. After going a combined 6-38 the last two years, including a 1-21 mark in 2008-09, Pennridge is 9-1 overall and 3-0 in the Suburban One League Continental Conference.

"Mentally, the kids stayed strong and stuck with it through the bad times," 13th-year Rams coach Dean Behrens said. "They handled things as well as you could ask. They continued to buy into what we were coaching and teaching."

Behind 17 points from senior lead guard Mike Guldin and 16 from junior wing Tim Abruzzo, Pennridge fought past visiting Central Bucks East, 58-52, Tuesday.

Abruzzo averages 20.6 points. "He's a real sharpshooter," Behrens said. "He's got a very good perimeter game. His mid-range jumper has really improved."

Guldin, a third-year starter, averages 15.7 points. Junior forward Andrew Lyons, senior wing guard Rocky Ferrier, and senior forward Kyle Peters round out the starting lineup. The top subs are senior forwards Jared Schaffer and Drew Decew.

Through nine games, the Rams were shooting 45 percent from the field and 73 percent from the free-throw line.

Topflight tourney. On Jan. 22, Penn Wood will compete in the eight-team Brandon Jennings Invitational at Marquette University High in Milwaukee. The Patriots' opponent will be Crenshaw, of Los Angeles.

Tap-ins. Octorara (8-1 overall, 3-0 Ches-Mont League) has double-digit scorers in point guard Lamont Clark (15 ppg.), wing guard Charles Cooper (12 ppg., 22 treys), and forward Dequan Newton (11 ppg.). . . . For top-ranked Neshaminy, Ryan Arcidiacono is averaging 22 points, 5.6 assists, and 5.1 rebounds. The Villanova recruit has hit 19 treys. . . . Westtown's Daniel Ochefu, a 6-10 junior forward, is averaging 16.2 points and 12 boards. Next in line for the Moose are senior forward Longji Yiljep (8.2 ppg.) and freshman guard Floyd Preito (7.7 ppg.). . . . Leading the way for Abington Friends are Jabril Trawick (21 ppg.), Kenny Johnson (14), and Joey Gripper (11). . . . Devon Prep's Duncan Becker, a 6-4 senior, averages 15 points and 12 boards. . . . Academy of the New Church's top scorers are Savon Goodman (15.7 ppg.), Rakeem Christmas (10.4), Dinjiyl Walker (8.9), and Daniel Pittman (8.4). . . . Friends' Central has been spurred by Amile Jefferson (20.2 ppg., 10.9 rpg.), Devin Coleman (14.0 ppg., 9.2 rpg.), and Malique Killing (10.8 ppg., 3.1 apg., 16 treys).