Chester remains unbeaten after helping Coatesville exit state quarter finals By Dave Conard Sports Editor, CoatesvilleTimes.com
Kriston Miller has been sensational through out the state playoffs
NORRISTOWN—Despite all of the x’s and o’s, hours spent in then gym running suicides and countless time preparing the execution of a game plan, when it comes right down to it basketball is still a game where height and size matter.
A fact that was reinforced on Saturday afternoon, as the Red Raiders run through the PIAA State class AAAA playoffs came fell short of the final four in with an 87-46 loss to defending state champion Chester, who only has three players on their entire roster that are under six feet tall, at Norristown Area High School.
“They were huge,” said Coatesville senior guard Kriston Miller. “Man it’s hard to penetrate the lane against such big guy, They may be able to be beaten, but who ever does it will have to play a perfect game, we did a good job for three quarters and it doesn’t look close on the scoreboard.”
The Clippers, who pushed their season mark to 30-0, got off to a 15-2 start fueled by 6’ 7” junior guard Rondae Jefferson, posting eight of his game high 21 points in the opening frame, in which Chester’s only weakness was their 3-of-10 shooting from the charity stripe.
Kriston Miller goes up under the net against Rodae Jefferson
“We missed a couple of shots early, which gave them the momentum,” added Miller who has been the team’s leading scorer though out the state playoffs. “Letting them get the lead just makes it harder since they are so big inside. It was great to have such a run in the state playoffs after missing 17 games this season, I was glad just to be able to help the team in some way.”
Coatesville (25-7) got it going offensively in the second quarter and had a chance to cut the Clippers lead to single digits following three pointers by Tymeir Miller and Andre Boggs, but Chester got a couple of bombs from beyond the arc of their own from junior guard Darius Robinson to preserve a 16-point edge as the teams headed to locker rooms.
The Red Raiders again narrowed the gap to 11 points at the beginning of the second half, but following back-to back threes by Robinson and power slam by Jefferson which put Chester up 42-23, the defending champs never looked back en route to a 25 point quarter, pushing the game out of reach 61-42 after three periods of play.
“We gave it our all out there,” said sophomore forward Tyler Burke, who had the un enviable task of battling Jefferson and 6’ 6” junior Richard Granberry in the paint.
“We have to find a way to box them out better, they will be back next year and we have to find a way to bet them to move on.”
With Coatesville graduating seniors Nixon, Darryl Gaffney, and Tymeir and Kriston Miller and Chester losing only senior Erikk Wright and Robinson, which saw a lot of playing time, the likely hood of the District One titans having a rematch down the road is very probable.
Damion Nixon will be next season to lead the Red Raiders
The nucleus of Andre Boggs, Burke, Emmett Hunt, Leroy Hoggard, Chris Jones and Eric Trowery, who were all vital cogs in this season success will have another year of working together on the baseball field and gridiron to get ready for another Ches-Mont season and run at the state title.
“I am excited already about next year,” added Burke. “We all work together all year long and are so close as a team, hopefully we will use this experience to build on next year and get0 right back here.”
Coatesville 4 16 22 4 -46
Chester 20 16 25 26 -87
Coatesville (46)
Nixon 4, 4-5, 8; K.Miller 4, 2-2, 6; T. Miller 12, 2-4, 14; Hoggard 2, 0-0, 2;
Burke 4, 0-0, 4; Hunt 2, 0-0, 2; Jones 0, 1-4, 1; Boggs 5, 3-6, 8; Crutchfield 0, 1-2, 1. Totals- 33, 13-23, 46. Three point FG – T.Miller (2), Boggs.
Chester (87)
Dejarnette 2, 2-3, 4; Robinson 18, 1-9 19; Willis 5, 0-0, 5; Butler 2, 3-6, 5; Cottman 8, 2-4, 10, Jefferson 18, 3-4, 21; Nicholson 4, 0-0, 4; Granberry 2, 0-0, 2; Griffin 2, 1-2, 3; Weight 10, 3-7, 13; Reagon 0, 1-2, 1. Totals 71-16-37 Three point FG- Robinson (4), Willis.
Coatesville's Tymeir Miller battles Chester senior Darius Robinson.
Coatesville loss this game before it began. The Red Raiders had a full season and a kindly schedule to work on what should have been their “brand” for beating the bigger teams.
This team’s brand could have easily been and should have been “d”fense.
Anyone with a passing interest in The Raiders could see that they were undersize. Being Rip Hamilton’s home base one would think they would have borrow a page from both UCONN and the Pistons.
Defense wins Championships and the Raiders unprepared approach to the “end game” prove to be there undoing.
Coatesville is a relative small market and must face that fact and a defenseive brand, allows the Raiders a scrapping chance when it faces the larger market teams Its not the size of the dawg in the fight its the fight in the dawg.
Being scrappy has “always” been a staple of the Raider Brand men of steel an Iron will, a defensive staple and the luck of “the Clampets”. Shut them down an let the game come to you.
Hopefully the powers that be realize these facts and with a lil tiny might the effect to be, that of a gusher a slick force and will. Grinding the opponent down to a smooth metallic surface readied to market as an execution of fine “flatten” craftsmanship.
“Failure to prepare is Preparing to fail” John Wooden
That being said your seasons was a fine one Good job!