Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

JACKSON — A big scoring spurt and a single foul shot were the difference for the Chesapeake Lady Panthers.

Chesapeake used a 12-2 scoring spurt to take the lead and a free throw by Jordan Porter with four seconds left to edge the Wellston Lady Golden Rockets 43-42 Monday in the Division III sectional tournament semifinals.

“That was one of our better scoring spurts,” said Chesapeake coach Chris Ball. “Our team has played in spurts all year. We wanted to make them play at a faster pace and we were able to do that.”

The free throw by Porter came with the score tied at 42. Wellston missed a shot and Kelsey Curry got the rebound and threw the ball to Porter who was fouled before she got to the free throw line on the Lady Golden Rockets’ side of the court.

Porter hit the first shot and missed the second, but Wellston was only able to get off a desperation 3-point attempt.

“Porter hitting the foul shot was nice when you consider how many we’ve missed all season in close games. It nice to finally see us win one like that,” said Ball.

Chesapeake (12-11) will play Fairland at 1 p.m. Saturday in the sectional finals.

Sydnee Hall scored 13 points and Porter 10 to lead the Lady Panthers. Aitya Spaulding had 9 points and 2 steals, Jackie Nelson had 4 assists, Kelsey Curry grabbed 9 rebounds and Kaylee Curry 7 boards.

“Hall and Nelson did a great job handling their full-court pressure,” said Ball.

Down 8-6 after the first quarter, Chesapeake went on a 12-2 run with Spaulding scoring 8 points including a layp at the 4:15 mark that made it 18-10.

“Spaulding showed her athletic ability. She gets up and down the court well. It was a good sign of where we can expect from her the next three years,” said Ball.

Wellston (11-10) got within 20-16, but Porter made two foul shots and Kelsey Curry drained a 3-pointer with 23 seconds left in the half and it was 25-16 at the break.

Two foul shots by Porter gave the Lady Panthers their biggest lead at 29-19 with 5:29 on the third quarter clock, but Wellston finished the quarter on a 7-2 run and it was 31-26.

A 3-pointer by Brittany Newman got Wellston with 40-37 and another triple by Jordan Davis with 1:32 left tied the game at 42 setting the stage for the dramatic finish.

Taelor Folden scored 12 points and Sami Ousley had 11 points and 15 rebounds for Wellston.

Wellston 8 8 10 16 = 42

Chesapeake 6 19 6 12 = 43

WELLSTON (11-10): Taelor Folden 4 1 1-2 12, Jordan Davis 0 2 2-4 8, Chelsea McManaway 2 0 2-2 6, Shanea Long 1 0 0-0 2, Sami Ousley 3 1 2-2 11, Brittany Newman 0 1 0-0 3, Jaci Jeffries 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15-56 7-10 42. 3-point goals: 5-21. Rebounds: 17-18-35 (Ousley 15, McManaway 8). Team rebounds: 4. Assists: 8 (McManaway 3). Steals: 5 (Davis 2). Turnovers: 10. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None

CHESAPEAKE (12-11): Atiya Spaulding 4 0 1-4 9, Kaylee Curry 1 0 0-0 2, Jackie Nelson 1 0 0-1 2, Anna Mayo 1 0 0-0 2, Sydnee Hall 6 0 1-3 13, Jordan Porter 1 0 8-10 10, Kelsey Curry 1 1 0-0 5, Taylor Martin 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16-47 10-18 43. 3-point goals: 1-3. Rebounds: 16-25=41 (Ke. Curry 9, Ka. Curry 7). Assists: 8 (Nelson 4). Steals: 7 (Ka. Curry 3, Spaulding 2). Turnovers: 18. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.