Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

CHESAPEAKE — The Chesapeake Panthers might have been looking ahead. Coach Ryan Davis hopes that was the case because he didn’t like looking at the way his team played on Tuesday.

Despite a sluggish offensive effort, the Panthers beat the Rock Hill Redmen 48-33 to set up a showdown for first place in the Ohio Valley Conference.

The Panthers host Fairland on Saturday and need a win to earn a share of the title. Fairland beat Coal Grove on Tuesday to clinch at least a share of the title.

“I hope that we were just looking ahead. We had a lot of distractions. We didn’t play very well,” said Davis.

Javon Thompson scored 14 points to lead the Panthers. Nick Duffield score 13 points and Caleb Heffner added 10 points.

Both Thompson and Duffield hit a pair of 3-pointers. Heffner also grabbed 13 rebounds and Duffield pulled down 6.

Austin Collins scored 13 points to lead Rock Hill (6-14, 1-9).

Duffield and Thompson scored 5 points each in the first quarter to jump out in front 18-8.

Thompson scored 7 points in the second quarter to offset 7 points by Collins as the Panthers opened up a 33-22 halftime lead.

Neither team was able to score in the second half. Chesapeake built a 43-29 lead after three quarters and the two teams combined for only 9 points in the fourth quarter.

Davis offered a special “thank you” to seniors Caleb Lindsey, Duffield and Thompson.

“It was senior night and I appreciate these seniors being part of this program for the past four year,” said Davis, noting they were the remaining group of players from the school’s only Final Four appearance.

Rock Hill 8 14 7 4 = 33

Chesapeake 18 15 10 5 = 48

ROCK HILL (6-14, 1-9): Evan Morris 0 1 0-0 3, Joey Stidham 1 1 1-2 6, Austin Collins 4 1 2-3 13, Jacob Falls 3 0 0-0 6, Shane Harper 1 0 0-0 2, Layden Delawder 0 1 0-0 3. Totals: 9 4 3-5 33. Fouls: 8. Fouled out: None.

CHESAPEAKE (15-5, 8-1): Shane Stevens 0 0 0-0 0, Nick Duffield 1 2 5-8 13, Austin Carpenter 0 0 0-0 0, Nate Smith 0 0 0-0 0, Caleb Lindsey 0 0 0-0 0, Caleb Heffner 3 0 4-6 10, Javon Thompson 4 2 0-1 14, Andrew Saunders 0 1 0-0 3, Chad Meadows 4 0 0-0 8. Totals: 14 5 9-15 48. Fouls: 6. Fouled out: None.