By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

CHESAPEAKE — There’s no place like home for the Chesapeake Panthers.

The Panthers’ four seniors completed three varsity seasons without suffering a home loss as Chesapeake blasted the Wellston Golden Rockets 76-39 on Saturday.

“We didn’t shoot the ball very well, but our kids kept battling. They always play well at home and they weren’t going to let their last game on this court be a loss,” said Panthers’ coach Ryan Davis.

Eric Kennedy had 28 points and 8 rebounds while Austin McMaster added 16 points and 7 rebounds to lead the Panthers (18-1).

Brandon Noble finished with 10 points and 8 rebounds while Chad Meadows grabbed 7 rebounds. Chesapeake held a 48-38 rebound advantage including 26 offensive boards.

Kennedy scored 8 points in the first quarter as the Panthers went up 10-4. McMaster, Javon Thompson and Kennedy scored 5 each in the second quarter as Chesapeake opened up a 31-8 halftime cushion.

Kennedy scored 11 points in the third quarter and Noble added 6 as the lead grew to 52-21.

Taylor Banaei scored all 7 of his points in the fourth quarter for the Panthers.

Nigel COurts had 12 points — 6 in the first half — and Justus Ousley 10 to lead Wellston.

Wellston 4 4 13 18 = 39

Chesapeake 10 21 21 24 = 76

WELLSTON (NA): Josh Jayjohn 1 0 0-0 2, Dakota Brown 4 0 1-2 9, Nigel Courts 2 2 2-2 12, Ernest Brown 0 0 0-1 0, Justus Ousley 2 2 0-0 10, Blake Warrington 3 0 0-1 6. Totals: 16-51 3-6 39. Rebounds: 16-22=38. Turnovers: 27. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None.

CHESAPEAKE (18-1): Taylor Banaei 1 1 2-4 7, Patrick Hintz 2 0 0-0 4, Mikey Walters 0 0 0-0 0, Caleb Lindsey 0 0 0-0 0, Eric Kennedy 3 3 13-14 28, Brandon Noble 5 0 0-2 10, Shane Stevens 0 0 0-0 0, Javon Thompson 2 0 3-3 7, Austin McMaster 4 1 5-7 16, Chad Meadows 2 0 0-0 4. Totals: 24-70. Rebounds: 26-22=48 (Kennedy 8, Noble 8, McMaster 7, Meadows 7). Turnovers: 6. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.