The Chester Clippers’ incredible run to a state basketball title continues.

The Clippers (31-1) dispatched Pennsbury, 75-64, last night on the hallowed hardwood of the Palestra.

They now advance to the state title game, where they will have a rematch with Norristown. The Eagles advanced to the final by beating up on Moon Township, from District 7 in the western part of the state.

Chester is the only blemish on Norristown’s card this year. The Clippers knocked them off in the AAAA District 1 Final back in February, 61-47.

That makes the state final an all-District 1 showcase. Both teams are from the Philly suburbs.

You could call it the Battle of the Blue Route, Chester at one end and Norristown at the other.

So where will they play this clash of the titans? Maybe at the Palestra, where so many classic local hoops showdowns have occurred? Maybe at the midway point between the two schools on the Villanova campus?

Uh, not exactly. The state AAAA title game will be played Saturday night at the Bryce Jordan Center. That’s on the Penn State campus. The main campus. In State College.

That’s about 200 miles away. A three-hour drive.

When I went past the Wawa on Baltimore Pike this morning, gas was going for $3.15 a gallon. How much money is going to be spent getting fans from Chester and Norristown to State College for the game?

Don’t blame the PIAA. These schedules are set up years in advance. They have been playing the state hoops finals at Penn State for the last couple of years.

But it seems kind of ridiculous to make two schools that are about a 20-minute ride apart on the Blue Route hike 200 miles to play a basketball game.

Of course, if the Clippers win, it will be worth the drive.