A long, arduous road carried the Chester Clippers into Saturday's PIAA Class AAAA title game.

In the end, they're state champs.

The Clippers beat Norristown, 81-77, yet somehow that was not the big news of the night.

Chester coach Fred Pickett announced he is stepping down after 13 seasons, 3 state titles and eight district titles. In addition to this story, Terry Toohey contributed a sights-and-sounds notebook. And Jack McCaffery wrote of how passionate Karon Burton is...even when his team is struggling. Even still, Burton never seems to stop smiling.

Long night tonight, even longer day ahead. Stay tuned for more.