By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

COAL GROVE — Defense has been the key for the Chesapeake Lady Panthers all season. Thursday’s finale was no different.

The Lady Panthers used another solid defensive effort to beat the Coal Grove Lady Hornets 43-30 in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

“It was a defensive ball game. Both teams played hard, we were able put a couple of spurts together and get that elusive win number 14. That was a goal at the beginning of the season,” said Lady Panthers’ coach Chris Ball.

Amanda Ruffner had 21 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 blocked shots to lead the Lady Panthers (14-6, 6-4) who had won 13 games in each of the past two seasons. Jordan Porter added 10 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists.

Katey Erwin scored 12 points to lead the Lady Hornets (10-9, 4-6).

“Ruffner was making some tough shots. She is a good player,” said Lady Hornets’ coach Rick Roach. “Erwin did a good job getting to the basket and making some shots.

“My girls are waiting too long to pick up the intensity. They finally got tired of being pushed around in the fourth quarter and we played the way we are capable of playing against a good team like Chesapeake.”

Chesapeake’s defense held Coal Grove’s leading scorer Ashley Adkins to 7 points. Ball said that was the key to the defensive effort.

“Adkins is a tremendous guard and we wanted to limit her. Sarah Rice, Maggie Smith and Sydnee Hall did a nice job on her,” said Ball.

Chesapeake began the game with an 8-0 run as Ruffner scored 6 points and it was 15-8 at the end of the quarter.

The Lady Panthers had only 7 points in the second quarter — Porters scored 4— but the defense limited Coal grove to just 2 and the lead was 22-10 at the half.

Ruffner had 9 points in the third quarter as Chesapeake built a 35-16 lead.

In the sectional tournament Monday at Jackson, Coal Grove plays Crooksville at 5 p.m. and Chesapeake faces River Valley at 6:45.

Chesapeake 15 7 13 8 = 43

Coal Grove 8 2 6 14 = 30

CHESPEAKE (14-6, 6-4): Casey Underwood 0 0 0-0 0, Amanda Ruffner 9 0 3-7 21, Jackie Nelson 3 0 0-0 6, Sarah Rice 0 0 0-0 0, Sydnee Hall 0 0 0-0 0, Maggie Smith 3 0 0-0 6, Jordan Porter 3 0 4-6 10. Totals: 18 0 7-13 43. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.

COAL GROVE (10-9, 4-6): Jacy Jones 2 1 2-2 7, Katey Erwin 6 0 0-1 12, Ashley Adkins 3 0 1-4 7, Ashley Goad 0 0 0-0 0, Amanda Collins 0 0 0-2 0, Morgan Sites 0 0 0-0 0, Darrien Hankins 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 12 1 3-9 30. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: Collins.