Can anyone stop Chester in Pennsylvania?

Can anyone stop Chester?

It's a question every coach across Pennsylvania is asking themselves and others starting this weekend.

Winning the District 1 Class AAAA (large schools) used to be almost considered a birthright if you played basketball for the perennial southeastern Pennsylvania and state power. It was as if Villanova University's Pavilion was an adjunct home court for the Clippers, winners of seven-straight district crowns (2002-2008).

But something happened to Chester the previous two years, a chink in the allure, if you will. Yes, Chester experienced consecutive uncharacteristic seasons. Yes, Clippers coach Larry Yarbray heard the sniping. And yes, Chester (16 district titles and six state crowns) has returned to prominence among the best teams in the state again this season.

In fact, there doesn't seem to be any team that could stand in Chester's way of winning its fourth state title this century - again setting a standard above any large school in Pennsylvania. Everything says it's where the Clippers are headed: a 26-1 record, a deep reservoir of players that goes 10 deep and a tradition unparalleled to any in the area. When the state playoffs begin this weekend, Chester enters without a loss to a Pennsylvania team this season, opening against Dallastown on Saturday at 6 p.m.

MaxPreps Pennsylvania boys basketball playoff brackets

But it's still the sticky residue of a last year's 16-11 and second-round playoff ouster that still clings to them.

"Last year helped us a lot, because we had a lot of young guys and I think it's fair to say we had to come out with a vengeance this year," said Chester 5-10 senior guard Maurice Nelson, the younger brother of former Chester star Jameer Nelson (now with the Orlando Magic). "We had eight or nine losses by five points or less. It was frustrating. When you go 16-11 and get knocked out early in the state playoffs, you do hear it in Chester. It's funny, because we don't hear too much of that this year. Everyone jumped back on the bandwagon. We had to find that winning attitude again."

Credit the fine job done Yarbray has done for that. Following the Clippers in Chester is like a religion. They're expected to win, and win state titles every year. The carping in corners began doubting Yarbray. That was okay for him, just don't doubt his players.

"People in the community were doubting us and it's okay for them to doubt me, I don't want them doubting the program or the kids," Yarbray said. "I want to put the program in place and teach the kids about expectations. Even games we lost last year were close games. My job is to put kids in place to make plays and this year they're making the plays. What's strange is that we're 26-1 and won the district title and it's almost like we're playing for respect. It's good to have a bunch of guys who have been willing to make sacrifices. Their focus as a group is on a bigger picture and that's why we're winning."

That, and talent, like Nelson, Erikk Wright, and really keep a close eye on burgeoning 6-7 left-handed point Rondae Jefferson, the younger brother of Temple's Rahlir Jefferson.

"We play 10 guys and we're all equal," Rondae said. "Any given night, it's someone's night. There is a lot of ‘us' about this team. I think that's what makes us so special. This is just beginning. We get reminded all of the time that we haven't won anything yet, we have to keep our focus. Our biggest fear is ourselves; that we make mistakes and beat ourselves. But I have one goal, and that's to kiss that state championship trophy like Kobe Bryant did."

A LONG TIME COMING FOR LAMBERT
Octorara's Gene Lambert proved you can go home again - and win. It's been 25 years since Octorara Area (Atglen) has won a PIAA District 1, when the Braves grabbed the Class AA title in 1986. That long streak came tumbling down last weekend when the Braves captured the District 1 Class AAA crown by beating perennial power Holy Ghost Prep, 46-41, at Villanova's Pavilion.

Junior guard Charles Cooper led the Braves with 16 points, and senior guard Lamont Clark poured in 10 for Octorara. Holy Ghost's Tyler Juchno countered with 21 points for the Firebirds.

The Braves (21-4) will now open the state playoffs against District 3 fifth-place finisher Bishop McDevitt (Harrisburg), and first-round victory there could mean a showdown with District 4 champion Mifflinburg (24-1). For now, Lambert, a 1991 Octorara graduate, is focused solely on McDevitt before Octorara starts moving forward to making more history.

A MOUNT-AINOUS MIGHTY MITE
The smallest PIAA Class AAAA (large schools) school is Mt. St. Joseph Academy (Flourtown). The Magic could be the mightiest. "The Mount," as it's known in the Philadelphia area, plowed through some very formidable schools to win its first PIAA District 1 Class AAAA championship, beating opponents by an average of 25 points.

Led by seniors Mary Jo Horgan and Steph Smith, and junior Bridget Higgins, the No. 2 seed Magic rolled over No. 1 seed Council Rock North, 45-23, in the District 1 Class AAAA championship game. It has to be noted that Council Rock North played without junior guard Lauren Gold, who tore up ligaments in her right knee in the quarterfinal round.

The victory propelled the tiniest Class AAAA school in the state to a gigantic 25-2 mark and dropped the Indians to 26-3, and they seemed so disjointed, they trailed at one time 31-4 in the third quarter.

The other interesting twist is that Mount coach John Miller, La Salle's former coach, was looking forward to the challenge of his team playing against a higher level of competition.

Winning the district title has given the Magic a nice path in the PIAA Class AAAA state playoffs. The Mount will open with District 3 seventh-place Harrisburg (17-8), and may not meet a real challenge until the state finals, which could feature an all-Philadelphia powerhouse matchup between the Mount and District 12 champion Archbishop Carroll (20-5).

THANKS FOR NOTHING
It's been a little bit of a rough year for Penn Wood, the 2009 PIAA Class AAAA state champion and 2010 state runner-up. The Patriots feature three Division I-caliber players in Aaron Brown (West Virginia), Shawn Oakman (Penn State for football) and Darian Barnes (receiving mid-major D-I looks). They're 20-8 - having to compete in a play-in game to quality for the PIAA Class AAAA state playoffs.

Penn Wood's woes are not exactly a gratifying reward to District 3 champion York (27-2), which now has to open up with Penn Wood this weekend in the opening round of the state playoffs and lost to the Patriots in the 2009 state finals. Penn Wood could be the most dangerous team in the state playoffs. The Pats are in the Western bracket, and a Penn Wood victory could mean a rematch with Neshaminy, which the Pats chewed up 85-49 on February 6.

"I think it's fair to say we're an angry team and we still have a lot to prove," Oakman said. "We still think we're capable of winning the state championship."

If the Pats advance through the Western bracket, the ironic twist could be a possible state final with Chester, the top seed in the Eastern bracket, featuring two Del-Val League schools separated by about 12 miles. The state final is set for March 26 at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center.

Stay tuned.

STAYING CLEAN
With the PIAA state wrestling finals starting this weekend, a Southeastern Pennsylvania wrestler that bears watching is Plymouth Whitemarsh (Plymouth Meeting) 171-pounder John M. Staudenmayer, who is a pristine 39-0 and a two-time regional champion.

It's been over 10 years since a Plymouth-Whitemarsh wrestler has won a state crown. The defending Beast of the East 171-pound champ has a chance - a good chance - to snap that streak.

Joseph Santoliquito can be contacted at JSantoliquito@yahoo.com.