By Bob Grotz
Larry Yarbray has been surrounded by remarkable talent as a coach, a player and on the playgrounds of the City of Chester.
Which brings us to the Campbells.
Khaleeq Campbell put on a defensive clinic Friday night enabling ninth-seeded Chester High to cruise to a 53-27 win over No. 24 seed Council Rock North in District One Class AAAA basketball.
The Clippers (17-6) limited their opponent to just five points — yes, points — in the second half largely due to Campbell’s in-your-shirt D on Riley Thompson, who scored 13 points in the first half.
Yarbray wasn’t surprised to learn Khaleeq is a cousin of Lamar Campbell, who grew up here and played five seasons with the Detroit Lions where he was, you’ve got it, a solid defender.
“Lamar’s a buddy of mine,” Yarbray said. “He played a little bit of rec ball, nothing that serious. Does he remind me of (Khaleeq)? Defensively, yeah. Quick to the ball, keeps guys in front of him.
“I’m not going to say there’s a parallel. But I’ll say this, it’s in their blood. They’re very good. Not just pretty good, very good.”
The Clippers scored the first 11 points on their way to their 15th victory in their last 16 starts.
The Indians (13-10) pulled within 25-20 late in the second quarter on a couple of three-pointers by Thompson, who has the exaggerated Steph Curry follow-through, and a bucket by Will Desautelle.