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Just another game: Chester rocks Wissahickon

For the Chester boys' basketball team, it's all about championships.

Chester's Zimir Geiger reacts after a basket.  (Ron Cortes / Staff Photographer)
Chester's Zimir Geiger reacts after a basket. (Ron Cortes / Staff Photographer)Read more

For the Chester boys' basketball team, it's all about championships.

So it wasn't surprising that Darius Robinson showed little excitement after the Clippers turned back Wissahickon, 67-52, Tuesday night in a PIAA District 1 Class AAAA semifinal at Temple's Liacouras Center.

"That was just another game on the schedule," the junior guard said. "We'll show what we're all about on Friday."

That's when top-seeded and unbeaten Chester (26-0) will square off with second-seeded Lower Merion (25-2) at Villanova for the district crown. It's the matchup most expected when the 32-team field was announced.

"If we keep playing this way, we're going to be tough to beat," said Robinson, who netted 21 points against the Trojans. "We're ready - I know that much."

In four playoff outings, the Clippers, who clinched their 33d appearance in the final, have won by an average margin of 33 points. Before beating Wissahickon, the No. 5 seed, the closest gap was 28 points.

"We're doing the things we've done all year," Chester coach Larry Yarbray said. "We want to play fast, get up and down the court, put pressure on the other team. We like to speed the game up."

As usual, Yarbray, whose squad sprinted to a 17-5 lead and was up by 32-17 at halftime, went deep into his bench. Eight players scored.

"They're long and athletic," Wissahickon coach Kyle Wilson said. "Add depth to the equation, and that makes them even tougher. They can beat you in a lot of ways."

Chester also received double-digit scoring from Kareem Robinson (12) and Erikk Wright (11). Rondae Jefferson (eight points) was next in line.

In the third quarter, Richard Grandberry scored inside, off a feed from Jefferson, to give the Del-Val League titlists a 38-20 advantage. They were ahead, 47-30, entering the final eight minutes.

Sophomore guard Chase Wilson, the coach's son, paced the Suburban One League American Conference cochampions with 19 points, including five three-pointers.

Seniors Jordan Reed (13 rebounds) and Tanoh Kpassagnon (three rejections) managed 13 and 10 points, respectively. Wissahickon was seeking its first district crown since winning at the Class AAA level in 1990.

Leading by 53-40 in the fourth quarter, Jefferson and Kareem Robinson hit back-to-back treys to make it 59-40 with less than 5 minutes to play.

Wissahickon (22-4) cut the deficit to 61-48 on Wilson's two free throws. Grandberry's slam, courtesy of a dish from Jefferson, pushed the lead back to 15 with 2 minutes remaining.

Wissahickon   5 12 18 17 – 52

Chester   17 15 15 20 – 67

W: Chase Wilson 19, Tanoh Kpassagnon 10, Kyle Garrett 7, Jordan Reed 13, Chris Carrodorini 3.

C: Kareem Robinson 12, Darius Robinson 21, Richard Grandberry 4, Erikk Wright 11, Rondae Jefferson 8, Tymier Butler 3, Shanier Cottman 3, Zimir Geiger 5.