Darrin Govens added his name to the list of great Chester guards. That wasn't as important to him as putting the Clippers on the list of state champions.

Govens scored 17 points and Devon McLendon had 19 points to lead Chester to the PIAA Class AAAA state championship with a 74-61 win over Lower Merion in an all-District 1 final on Saturday night.

Govens led the Clippers (26-6) to their fifth state championship and first since 2000. The last time Chester won the title it was led by Jameer Nelson - the greatest of the Clipper guards who went on to star at Saint Joseph's and is now in the NBA.

Govens hoped that those who played before him were paying attention, although he tried to remain humble about where he stood among the best.

"I respect them and hopefully they respect me," said Govens, a 6-foot-1 junior. "I've got another year to get better and do better."

It took a while for Govens to get going, but once he did, the Clippers cruised. Govens decided at halftime that he needed to take over the game and, as the greats do, he delivered.

Govens scored on a putback, a baseline drive and then a little jumper in the lane that not only gave the Clippers a 44-35 lead, but gave him his 1,000th career point.

"I knew I was around there somewhere, but I actually didn't know how far," he said.

Govens added a three-point play and a 3-pointer in the third and Chester's lead swelled to 56-34.

"Coach was telling me, 'It runs through you. It runs through you,'" Govens said. "I just started to heat up a little."

The fourth quarter turned into a dunking exhibition - and a coronation - for Chester. McLendon, especially, had a couple of thunderous dunks. One dunk brought an "Ooh!" each time it was replayed on the videoboard.

"It's like a playground game," McLendon said. "It's fun. Only this time it's on TV."

The dunks and the sharp shooting - Chester shot 53 percent - were just too much for Lower Merion.

"They have so many weapons, we just couldn't handle their guard pressure," Aces coach Gregg Downer said. "I'm not sure we've seen that type of ball pressure all season, along with a team with that many athletes."

Ryan Brooks had 21 points and 10 rebounds for Lower Merion (24-9). Garrett Williamson had 18 points and Dan Capkin added 17.

"I didn't know they were that good," McLendon said. "I thought they were a mediocre team."

The Aces haven't won a state title since they had Kobe Bryant.

Chester took control early, using a 9-0 run to close out the first quarter. The Aces used a 19-10 run in the second quarter, capped by a buzzer-beater by Williamson that pulled them within two.

"We were excited at halftime and thought we had a chance, but we just couldn't get enough consistent stops on defense and had too many turnovers," Downer said.

McLendon was proud about what the championship meant to Chester, a downtrodden town about 20 miles south of Philadelphia.

"It brings Chester back," McLendon said. "All you ever really hear about Chester is the crime. It's time to bring Chester back by the basketball team coming back."

Chester played in its 13th championship game, while Lower Merion appeared in its ninth final game.

"This system proves that District 1 might be the most dominant in the state," Downer said.