After 61 straight wins, Chester's basketball team finally loses

After 61 straight wins, Chester's basketball team finally lost as the Clippers fell to the nation's top team, Lone Park (Utah), 73-50, at the City of Palms Tournament in Fort Myers, Fla.

Rondae Jefferson, a senior bound for Arizona, scored a team-high 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. James Kirksey chipped in with eight points and 11 rebounds. Richard Granberry finished with 10 points, and Conrad Chambers scored eight.

Chester's winning streak dated back to Jan. 3, 2011, and included a pair of Class AAAA state titles. The Clippers pulled out four overtime wins, scored more than 80 points 13 times, and held opponents to less than 50 points 33 times.

"It was an unbelievable run," said coach Larry Yarbray. "It's a tribute to the guys that have been in the program the last three years. [They] did something that hasn't happened at Chester High in quite some time."

Chester entered the game ranked No. 1 in Southeastern Pa. by The Inquirer and No. 3 in the nation by MaxPreps. Lone Park is ranked No. 1 by MaxPreps.

Chester will meet Lone Peak again on Jan. 12 as part of the Brandon Jennings Invitational in Milwaukee, Wis.

Chick-fil-A Classic. Rysheed Jordan poured in 21 points, but Vaux fell at the buzzer to Deerfield Beach (Fla.), 68-67, in the opener of the Columbia, S.C., tournament.

Jordan, a senior guard, added 10 rebounds and seven assists. Jarvis Jenkins tipped in the winner as time expired.

Central. Nelson Blackman scored nine of his team-high 20 points in the first quarter to pace Radnor past Marple Newtown, 59-44. Terrance Quinn, a junior guard, aided the effort with 15 points.

Kevin Howie's 10 rebounds and 10 points helped Strath Haven pull out a 48-41 win over visiting Springfield (Delco). Eric Trowery scored a team-high 12 points, and Ty Legree added 10 points. Dan Rutecki led Springfield with 15 points, and Kevin McCormick chipped in with 12.

Ches-Mont. Senior guard Chas McCormick scored 15 of his game-high 19 points in the first half to lead West Chester Henderson over Avon Grove, 67-37. Senior small forward Declan Kane chipped in with 15 points, 13 of which came in the first half.

Suburban One. John Kansas scored a team-high 15 points as Souderton rolled past visiting Central Bucks West, 50-40.

Bicentennial. Jack Kalmes scored six of his nine points in the fourth quarter to help Holy Ghost Prep pull away from MaST Charter, 56-36.

Public. Raheim Washington knocked down a three with 24 seconds left to pull Prep Charter to a 62-60 win over visiting Boys' Latin. On the previous possession, the sophomore point guard hit a three-pointer to get the Huskies within one point. Mustapha Traore led the way with 31 points and 13 rebounds.

Jeremiah "Lump" Worthem's 31 points and 13 rebounds helped Math, Civics & Sciences hold off Constitution, 90-75. The 6-foot-7 senior forward scored 11 of his points in the fourth quarter. Quadir Welton added 15 rebounds.

Jahyde Gardiner grabbed 10 rebounds to go along with his 23 points as Freire Charter downed Engineering & Sciences, 44-40. Shahid Adams added seven rebounds and a pair of assists.

Michael Foster scored 15 points, and John Washington added 16 as Mastery Charter North knocked off Masterman, 59-55.  

Nonleague. Ernest Aflakpui's 11 rebounds helped Archbishop Carroll ease past visiting Gospel of Grace, 56-24.

Lower Moreland put a stranglehold on the lighter weight classes to roll over Academy of the New Church, 60-16.

Joe Kovacs' 29-second pin at 113 pounds highlighted the Lions' six straight wins from 106 pounds to 138 pounds.