Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

CHESAPEAKE — It wasn’t hard for South Point coach Chris Barnes to find a reason for his team’s 56-41 win over the Chesapeake Panthers.

“The difference was defense,” said Barnes as the Pointers strengthened their hold on first place in the Ohio Valley Conference.

“Audric Harlow got his first start and he held (Andrew Saunders) to zero. I never expected that. He played fantastic defense.”

On the offensive side, Brandon Barnes was 6-of-11 from 3-point range and scored 23 points as South Point improved to 7-5 and 5-1 in the OVC.

Eli Ketron had 11 points and 13 rebounds and John Johnson added nine points, seven assists and three steals.

Gage Rhoades had 18 points and Brad Meadows 11 for the Panthers who fell to 10-5 and 3-3.

Ketron had all 11 of his points in the first half as the Pointers took a 29-24 halftime lead. Rhoades had 13 of his points in the first half.

Barnes scored nine points in the third quarter and Johnson the other four as South Point held Chesapeake to six points and opened up a 42-30 lead.

“We did a better job attacking their zone. The last time we didn’t attack their zone,” said coach Barnes.

The Pointers led by as many as 19 points in the fourth quarter.

South Point 17 12 13 14 = 56

Chesapeake 12 12 6 11 = 41

SOUTH POINT (7-5, 5-1): John Johnson 3 1 0-0 9, Audric Harlow 3 0 1-2 7, Brandon Barnes 2 6 1-2 23, Marquise Foley 0 0 0-0 0, Eli Ketron 4 0 3-4 11, Brady Rickard 1 0 0-0 2, Brandon Boggs 1 0 2-2 4. Totals: 14 7 7-10 56. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.

CHESAPEAKE (10-5, 3-3): Blake Lester 0 1 0-0 3, Austin Carpenter 0 0 0-2 Kolton Webb 0 0 0-0 0, Nate Smith 1 0 1-6 3, Gage Rhoades 3 4 0-0 18, Brad Meadows 5 0 1-1 11, Caleb Heffner 1 0 2-2 4, Andrew Saunders. 0 0 0-0 0, Aaron Thompson 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 11 5 4-11 41. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: Heffner.