Finally, a reason to celebrate a Reading High game at Chester

By Tony Zonca — MikeDragoSports.com senior contributor

For longtime Reading High basketball fans, one team has caused the most heartaches — Chester.

The Clippers always seemed to be the roadblock on the path to gold.  In fact Reading is 2-6 against the Clipper in state competition.

When Reading prevailed 67-63 Wednesday at Chester it ended a 13-year drought at the home of perhaps the most storied high school basketball program in the state. It took overtime to win 76-72 in 2009 previous to Wednesday.

You have to go back to 1985, a 45-42 decision, to find the Red Knights’ previous victory at Chester.  In 1983 Reading won 49-47 on Rodney Hodge’s layup at the buzzer. 

Overall Chester leads the series 21-20.  Only Jim Gano, who went 8-2 vs. the Clippers, enjoyed success against the longtime rival.

In 1972, when Stu Jackson was a junior, Chester won 52-46 in the state quarterfinals.  Rick Binder was the point guard.  His 1983 team would lose to the Clippers 63-53 in the Eastern finals.

In 1973 — that was the game where Jackson was tossed early in the fourth quarter for fighting — Reading survived 59-53 before running into General Braddock in the finals.  Talk about a broken heart.

As magnificent a program as Chester is — it has won eight state titles — it too has known its heartbreak.  For example it lost its first seven in the state title matchups.  In 1972 it lost to Farrell, a western powerhouse, 56-55 in the finals.  After losing to Reading in 1973 it lost to Ringgold and Joe Montana 74-65 in the consolation game.

It always seemed to run into great players —  Jackson, Kobe Bryant of Lower Merion, Billy Owens of Carlisle, Rasheed Wallace of Simon Gratz.  Not to mention Glen Mills, whose recruiting territory was . . . well, the USA.

Chester, of course, also boasted individual greatness — Horace Walker, Mike Marshall, Herman Harris, Zane Shaw, Jameer Nelson, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and perhaps the greatest Clipper of them all, Emerson Baynard.  Along with a score of others.

No wonder Reading High fans couldn’t sleep during basketball season; they were counting Clippers in their sleep.

The worst part for long-suffering Reading High fans was, because of COVID-19 concerns, they weren’t able to be there Wednesday to celebrate the rare road win.