Thursday night is the night.

Longtime titan of the Del Val League Chester and the two-time reigning champ Penn Wood go to battle Thursday in the first installment of the rivalry. Both enter the game at opposite ends of the spectrum.

Penn Wood (2-4) has taken its act on the road, playing teams from Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and New York over the holidays. The two-time PIAA Class AAAA finalists are relying heavily upon reigning Daily Times Player of the Year Aaron Brown, pictured, who is averaging 22.0 points per game. Brown, a West Virginia commit, isn't getting much help elsewhere. Malcolm Richardson averages 6.8 points and Darian Barnes is tallying 5.5.

Chester (6-1), meanwhile, is off to a hot start after finishing last season in a disappointing fashion - in the first round of states. Erikk Wright (pictured) and Lamon Church are dominating the post, averaging 16.0 and 14.4 points per game, respectively. All-Delco Maurice Nelson and forward Rondae Jefferson also are pulling their weight for the Clippers.

Outsiders may think this is Penn Wood's game to lose. But I'm telling you now that Thursday night's meeting will be closer than expected.

Should be a fun one.