Chester rules in Class AAAA

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Chester's boisterous throng of fans kept waiting for the Clippers to hit the gas in Saturday night's PIAA Class AAAA championship game and zoom past a slower, less athletic Mount Lebanon squad.

They waited and waited. Finally, it happened in overtime. And it was well worth the wait.

With an electrifying 12-0 surge in the four-minute extra session, Chester fought past pesky-as-anything Mount Lebanon, 72-60, at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center to earn the program's seventh state boys' basketball title and first since 2008.

"It feels so good," sophomore Rondae Jefferson said. "I don't even know what to say. I'm so happy for the city of Chester."

Junior Erikk Wright led the way with 22 points and six rebounds. A balanced Clippers attack also featured seniors Lamon Church (14 points, eight boards) and DeQuann "Bootsie" Walker (13, six).

After a 16-11 showing and one-and-done appearance in states last season, his second at the helm, Chester coach Larry Yarbray had to wonder about job security. At 9th and Barclay Streets, it's all about winning state championships.

"There's a lot of pressure," Yarbray said. "It comes with the territory. There's joy and relief now. We worked hard to get here."

The Clippers (31-1) have six Class AAAA crowns. In 1983, a year before a fourth classification was added, they won in Class AAA.

"I take my hat off to my players, my coaching staff, and the Chester community," Yarbray said. "A lot of people were involved in making this happen."

For a squad with just one basketball-only starter, Mount Lebanon (27-4) put up a big-time fight. Its leader, Paul Lang, a 6-foot-5, 235-pound forward, is a tight end and Michigan State recruit in football.

"That was a good team," Yarbray said. "They played hard from beginning to end. It's a shame one team has to win and one team has to lose, but that's just the way it is."

With 24 seconds left in regulation, Mount Lebanon's Evan Heaton forged a 57-57 tie with two free throws. On Chester's first go-ahead chance, Lamon Church, making a move toward the lane, was whistled for an offensive foul.

After a Blue Devils turnover, Church's jumper and Jefferson's follow were off the mark.

"We didn't expect that kind of play from them," Jefferson said. "They were physical, smart, and kept battling. They didn't make it easy."

The decisive 12-0 spurt started with Church's three-point play. After Church made 1 of 2 free throws, Wright's inside bucket, Church's tip-in, Jefferson's layup, and Maurice Nelson's layup made it 69-61.

After a Dec. 30 loss to Delaware power Sanford, Chester won 26 straight contests. Over the last five seasons, the squad has a 132-24 record. Yarbray is 71-17 in three years.

In 2007-08, Chester, led by current college standouts Nasir Robinson (Pittsburgh) and Rahlir Jefferson (Temple), went 33-1 and topped District 1 rival Norristown, 81-77, for top state honors.

Chester will return seven of its top 11 players, including starters Wright, Jefferson, and 6-5 forward Richard Granberry.

"We've got a good core coming back," Yarbray said.

Chester   19 15 11 12 15 – 72

Mount Lebanon   12 19 15 11 3 – 60

C: Maurice Nelson 6, Lamon Church 14, Richard Granberry 5, Erikk Wright 22, Rondae Jefferson 7, DeQuann Walker 13, Tymier Butler 5.

ML: Evan Eaton 12, Tyler Roth 11, Paul Lang 17, Luke Hagy 16, Timothy White 4.