Chad Barham's future is Troy football. His present includes leading Chester County basketball

HENDERSON – Chad Barham's first love always has been basketball. Football, though, is his future.

The 6-foot-4 Chester County senior and Troy football signee has been on a basketball court since he can remember. He's a four-year starter for the Eagles in his final run in the TSSAA boys basketball playoffs. It's a run that was extended on Tuesday night with a 60-41 win over Fairview.

The win sends Chester County to the Region 6-3A championship and guarantees the program a Class 3A sectional on Monday.

Barham didn't have the biggest game of his season, but he did help the Eagles (23-6) create a spark. He finished with 10 points. He's trying to lead Chester County back to the TSSAA basketball state tournament for the second straight season and potentially to the Eagles' first state title since 1931.

"Last year was a lot of motivation because we hadn't been in a long time," Barham said.

Barham grew up in a basketball family.

Both his parents, Chad Barham Sr. and Britney Barham, played basketball at Chester County.

In his middle school days, the younger Barham got up at 5 a.m. to get to the gym for early morning workouts.

"Working out saying, I want college basketball, basketball, basketball," Barham said. "My favorite player being LeBron James and just being all around basketball ... I kept saying I was going to make it in basketball. But hey, if God has a plan for me, I'm going to take it."

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Chester County started slowly, leading 23-16 at halftime, but a loose ball ended up in Barham's hands on the right wing. Standing in 3-point territory and no one within 10 feet of him, Barham let the shot go.

He buried the three and sent the home crowd into a frenzy. From there, the Eagles forced a fury of turnovers and gained the momentum on their way to the victory. Chester County faces Creek Wood at 7 p.m. Thursday. Creek Wood beat South Side 56-35 in its region semifinal.

"He can handle the ball, he can post up, he can shoot the ball," said Eagles' coach Collin McPherson. "He can do a lot of different things for us as well and defend the other team's best players. We ask a lot out of him."

But Barham responds. After a mistake, he acknowledges it. After a big play, he celebrates with his teammates.

"We're glad to have him," McPherson said. "He can make me want to pull my hair out sometimes, but I'm glad to have him."