Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

RIO GRANDE — Babe Ruth is known as a great hitter, but he spent his first five seasons as a pitcher and threw 17 shutouts.

That seems unusual, as is a shutout in basketball. But the Chesapeake Lady Panthers did just that with a first quarter shutout en route to a 53-42 win over the Gallipolis Blue Angels Saturday in the Rio Grande Classic.

Jordan Porter and Kaylee Curry scored 4 points each and the Lady Panthers led 12-0 at the end of the first quarter. They allowed just 8 points in the second quarter.

“The first quarter we played really well,” said Chesapeake coach Chris Ball. “Gallipolis is very athletic at the guard positions, so we had to address that. We wanted to hold them in check and for the most part we did until the end of the game.”

Porter scored 8 more points in the second quarter as Chesapeake extended its lead to 24-8 at the half.

Atiya Spaulding scored 6 points in the third quarter to offset 9 points by Gallipolis’ Micah Curfman and the Lady Panthers pushed the lead to 40-22.

Curfman scored 7 points and Kassie Shriver hit a pair of 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to get Gallipolis within 10 points, but the Blue Angels could get no closer.

Porter had 20 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Lady Panthers (2-0). Spaulding scored 12 points, Sydnee Hall had 9 points and Curry pulled down 8 rebounds.

Curfman had 20 points and Shriver 8 points and 4 steals for Gallipolis.

Chesapeake 12 12 16 13 = 53

Gallipolis 0 8 14 20 = 42

CHESAPEAKE (2-0): Jordan Porter 8 0 4-5 20, Baylee Mils 1 0 0-0 2, Kelsey Huff 2 0 0-0 4, Kaylee Curry 3 0 0-2 6, Taylor Martin 0 0 0-0 0, Sydnee Hall 4 0 1-2 9, Atiya Spaulding 4 0 4-4 12, Payton Walsh 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 22 0 9-13 53. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None.

GALLIPOLIS (1-2): Micah Curfman 7 1 3-4 20, Kendra Barnes 1 1 2-3 7, Kassie Shriver 1 2 0-0 8, Jordan Walker 0 0 1-3 1, Jalea Caldwell 1 0 1-3 3, Carly Shriver 1 0 1-2 3. Totals: 11 4 8-15 42. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.