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closePublished: Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009 / Updated: Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009 12:09 AM
Cyclones hold off Cougars for season's first win
YORK -- It might have taken four games, but the Chester Cyclones might finally have all the pieces together.
Having played the previous three games with a depleted lineup, Chester finally held a full hand. On the court, all of the pieces came together for the Cyclones, who recorded their first victory of the season, 85-80, over York on Friday.
“We have been short-handed in every game that we played so far,” Chester coach Jason Smith said. “We got Julius (Pendergrass, a two-year starting guard) back tonight, and he made a huge difference.
“And Bobby Kelly is playing in the North-South (all-star football) game tomorrow, and we will be getting him back next week. So having a full lineup again definitely makes a big difference.”
Pendergrass, playing his first game of the season, made an immediate impact on both ends of the floor. He scored 10 points but provided plenty of defensive hustle and intensity before fouling out late in the contest.
Guard Darren Williams ignited the Cyclones attack with a game-high 36 points, including nine within the final 5 minutes, 40 seconds of the game to spark his team's comeback. The Cyclones trailed most of the contest and went down by 73-66 after Cougars guard Jerry Holmes banked home a layup and forward Zach Sharp added a free throw.
Cyclones guard Javon Patton swished a 3-point jumper to cut the lead to four, and Williams added two free throws to pull Chester to within two with 3:12 remaining.
After getting a defensive stop, Patton fired a crisp pass inside to James Johnson for a layup to tie the contest at 73 with 2:50 remaining.
York forward Michael Dover converted two free throws to briefly put York back in front. Williams then was fouled and connected on both attempts, giving Chester a 77-76 lead. Tony Thompson scored in the paint for a 78-77 Cougars edge.
Johnson put Chester ahead to stay with a deep 3 from the corner. The Cyclones defense forced a turnover and capitalized, with Williams soaring in for a layup and an 82-78 lead with 32.9 seconds remaining.
From that point, Chester converted from the foul line and preserved the five-point victory.
“We are still young and making plenty of mistakes,” Smith said, “but tonight may be a sign that we are finally turning the corner. Like I said, having Julius back makes a difference.”
York coach Kendall McCarter, whose Cougars defeated Chester one week earlier, said the Cyc-lones are good basketball team. However, he also added that his team did not do a good job down the stretch.
“We did not close out well. We did not play good defense in the final minutes, but we will learn from this. Chester has a good team and they will do well in their region.”
Following Williams, Chester had four other players in double figures, with Johnson netting 13 and Patton, James Gallman and Pendergrass adding 10 each. Holmes sparked the Cougars with 20, and Thompson followed with 17.
CHESTER 85, YORK 80
| Chester | 19 | 22 | 16 | 28 | — | 85 |
| York | 20 | 23 | 18 | 19 | — | 80 |
York — Jerry Holmes 20, Azievelle Smith 8, Devin Johnson 3, Michael Dover 10, Zach Sharp 10, Tony Thompson 17, Quastin Walker 2, Brandon Haggins 12.
3-point goals — Chester 6 (Williams 3, Patton 2, Johnson), York 7 (Thompson 3, Smith 2, Holmes, Johnson). Team fouls — Chester 18, York 11. Fouled out — Pendergrass (C).
Records: Chester 1-3, York 3-3.
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