Chester’s Kevin Rucker drives against Shippensburg’s Anthony Smith during a PIAA 5A quarterfinal Tuesday at Manheim Township. (Austin Hertzog – MediaNews Group)
By Jason Guarente
For 22 dazzling seconds, Kyree Womack kept dribbling and defenders kept coming at him in waves. One mistake, one bad bounce and Chester’s season could have slipped away.
That didn’t phase Womack. The sophomore used up precious time with what looked like a Harlem Globetrotters bit. He changed hands. He crossed over. He went through and around double teams. Whatever was needed to keep the clock running and the one-point lead secure.
“I didn’t feel any pressure,” Womack said. “I’m a point guard. I want to win.”
Womack credits a drill his mom assigned him for developing his handle. Shakia Harper sent her son, then 10 or 11, into the backyard with a shopping bag wrapped around the ball. Now that was hard. This, by comparison, was easy.