Chester’s Zahir Clayton, right, defends Penn Wood’s Jehki Estrada during a game last week. Both teams start the District 1 Class 6A tournament on Friday. (PETE BANNAN – MEDIANEWS GROUP)
By Matthew DeGeorge
For the seventh time in eight seasons, Chester is the Del Val champion. But something about this year’s group looks different.
Namely, it’s the two freshmen logging vital minutes.
When crunch time arrived last week against Penn Wood, coach Keith Taylor had no qualms about turning to freshmen Ramee Davis and Zahir Clayton. More often than not this year, they’ve delivered.
They’ll need more of that in the District 1 Class 6A tournament, where Chester is the No. 15 seed, opening the tourney Friday night by hosting No. 18 Downingtown West.
Clayton, a shifty guard with good defensive instincts and the ability to catch-and-shoot, has worked his way into the starting lineup.
Davis, who doesn’t look like a freshman with his long strides and on-ball strength, is part of the closing unit. He supplied eight fourth-quarter points in a 54-46 win over Penn Wood, helping ensure the Clippers a first-round home game.
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