Boys: In blink of an eye, Qadir Lowrie finds right focus for Chester

Qadir Lowrie after Chesters defeat of Marple Newtown in the PIAA-5A-D1 playoff game. Photo by Delcohoops.com

By Jack McCaffery

Qadir Lowrie knew the time, the situation, the stakes, the history and the responsibility midway through the third quarter of Chester High’s PIAA District 1 Class 5A playoff game against visiting Marple Newtown Wednesday.

That’s when the senior point guard did what so many other veteran Clippers backcourt stars have done in an ever-growing history: He took the game over.

“You have to have confidence going into the latter part of the game,” Lowrie said after Chester had rung up a 59-50 win over the Tigers. “And I had that confidence.”

Qadir Lowrie being interviewed by Brian Carroll after Chester’s playoff victory. Listen to his interview at the 1:42:40 mark. Photo by Delcohoops.com

Soon after Chester fell behind, 24-23, on a Matt Cantwell drive with 4:10 left in the third quarter, Lowrie would make sure the Clippers would avoid their first postseason home defeat to a Delaware County opponent since a loss to Springfield in 1980.

Within one blast of excellence, Lowrie completed an old-fashioned three-pointer, made a steal, deposited two free throws and delivered an assist to Isaiah Freeman to give the Clippers a 35-30 lead. That control seized, Lowrie would swish all eight of his free-throw attempts in the fourth quarter, while mixing in an assist to Breilynd White with 1:35 left for a 51-43 lead, essentially tipping 16-3 Chester into the Saturday semifinals.