Chester’s Terrance Cobb takes his best shot as Chichester’s Vince Wildrick (13) tries to put a hand in his face in a taut second half between the teams Thursday night. (Pete Bannan – MediaNews Group)
By Matthew DeGeorge
It had been many years since Chichester High School’s gymnasium saw a turn-them-away-at-the-door crowd for a boys basketball game. None of those fans, though, were still inside by the end of a befuddling and beguiling roller-coaster ride – even by Del Val League standards.
From the raucous atmosphere at tip to Chester getting a security escort to the buses for an exit, the fans missed the business end of a 77-74 Clippers’ win, one that wound through a seemingly safe Chester lead in the final two minutes, a Chichester comeback complete with buzzer-beating 3-pointer, and a vintage, steely effort from Chester in overtime.
In the process, Chester (9-7, 2-1 Del Val) ended Chichester’s 11-game winning streak, knocked the Eagles (12-3, 3-1) off their inside line to the league crown and denied Chi’s bid to beat their league rivals for the first time since the late 1980s.