COAL GROVE – Step one is complete.

Wednesday, February 14, 2001

COAL GROVE – Step one is complete. Step two awaits.

When the season began, the Chesapeake Panthers set their sights on an unprecedented sixth straight Ohio Valley Conference championship.

The Panthers had it in their sights Tuesday night as they routed the Coal Grove Hornets 78-46 to clinch at least a share of the OVC title.

"This takes a little pressure off, and you hope playing at home will takes little pressure off (Friday). We’d like to win the league outright and go into the tournament on a positive note," Panthers veteran head coach Norm Persin said.

Chesapeake, 18-1 overall and 7-0 in the OVC, can win the title outright Friday with a win at home against the South Point Pointers. The Pointers are 6-1 and need a win over the Panthers to share the title.

Bobby Barbour led four players in double figures with 17 points including three 3-pointers. Anthony Delimpo had 15 points, Josh Waugh 12, and Zeb Best 11.

Ryan Young had 12 points to pace Coal Grove (7-11, 1-6).

Barbour scored seven points the first quarter as Chesapeake took a 16-15 lead. Joe Sark scored all eight of his points in the quarter for the Hornets.

Chesapeake held Coal Grove to one field goal the second quarter and outscored the Hornets 19-2 for a 35-17 halftime lead.

Delimpo scored eight points the third quarter as Chesapeake scored 28 points and built a 63-31 lead.

"We had a really good third quarter. We stepped up there and shot the ball pretty well. The key for us is to be consistent," Persin said.

Persin emptied his bench the fourth quarter as each team scored 15 points.

Chesapeake 16 19 28 15 – 78

Coal Grove 15 2 14 15 – 46

CHESAPEAKE (18-1, 7-0): Adam Webb 1 0 2-2 4, Bobby Barbour 4 3 0-0 17, Aaron Gossett 0 0 4-4 4, Nick Karle 2 0 0-0 4, Josh Waugh 4 0 4-5 12, Matt Miller 0 2 0-0 6, Brad Fulton 1 0 0-0 2, Zeb Best 4 0 3-4 11, Tommy Hill 0 1 0-0 3, Anthony Delimpo 6 0 3-5 15. Totals: 22 6 16-20 78. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.

COAL GROVE (7-11, 1-6): Jason Winters 2 1 1-1 8, Gibbons 1 0 2-2 4, Brandon Waller 1 1 1-1 6, Ryan Young 6 0 0-0 12, Eric Tackett 1 0 0-0 2, Rocky Pemberton 1 0 0-0 2, Joe Sark 2 0 4-4 8, Jason Adams 0 1 1-2 4. Totals: 14 3 9-10 46. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: Sark.