Chester coach Larry Yarbray (pictured, with Rondae Jefferson) said he's known Steve 'Bird' Powell for what seems like forever, their relationship renewed in the four seasons Yarbray has served as the man in charge of the Clippers.

"We've always been in contact, with summer leagues and whatnot," Yarbray said of Powell, a Chester native and the coach of District Three's J.P. McCaskey. "He's a good dude from the East side of the city, where my father's from."

Powell, a link to Chester's past, and Yarbray, a link to Chester's present, will collide Saturday in the opening round of the PIAA Class AAAA tournament. The game at 3 p.m. tips off at Norristown High School.

Chester defeated McCaskey, 71-61, in the second game of the Clippers' season -- their 17th in the last 19 tries against the Red Tornado.

“This is their championship, this is their measuring stick," Yarbray said of McCaskey's second crack at the Clippers, who are ranked fourth nationally. "That was our second game of the season. From that point, things change. People settle into the games and settle into their roles. This should be an interesting game."

For more on Powell, pick up Friday's Daily Times. And I'll have a preview of the game in Saturday's paper, too.

(Times staff photo / ROBERT J. GURECKI)