ATHENS — The Chesapeake Panthers couldn’t decide whether to open their gifts or eat their chocolate bunnies.

With the starters shooting a sizzling 72 percent from the field over the first three quarters and the defense forcing 27 turnovers, the Panthers blasted the Adena Warriors 78-45 Saturday to win the Division III district tournament.

Chesapeake was coming off a dismal performance in which they beat West Union in the district semifinals. Panthers head coach Norm Persin said the difference between the two performances was like two different holidays.

“It was like the difference between Christmas and Easter,” Persin said. “When you make shots, you look better. But our intensity was so much better. I can only think of one time in the first half that they got more than one shot. And our defense made it possible for us to get out and run.”

The top hot shots for the Panthers were Justin Porter and P.J. Rase. Porter was a perfect 10 of 10 from the field as he scored 23 points. Rase ws 8 of 9 including a pair of 3-pointers as he finished with 21 points.

“The last time we didn’t play a very good game,” Porter said “Brent (Ransbottom) got in foul trouble and me and P.J. just stepped it up. It felt good when the ball left my hand. I got good looks.”

“They put it together,” Persin said of the senior duo. “We were taking good shots and not just putting it up. But it comes off your defensive intensity.”

The game was only close during the first quarter. Clint Roush hit a basket with 1:30 left in the quarter that got Adena (19-4) within 14-11.

But Chespeake owned the game from that point on. A layup by Porter off a pass from Rase made it 20-13 at the end of the quarter. Adena ws down 24-15 on a follow up shot and it was 24-15 with 5:37 to go in the half. It was the last time the Warriors would score until the second half.

“Our defense just played so well. We contested every shot,” Persin said.

Chesapeake went on a 24-0 run to end the half and take a commanding 48-15 halftime lead. Porter scored 12 points in the run

while Rase hit a 3-pointer and Tyler Shoemaker hit two foul shots with three seconds on the clock.

Shoemaker had a layup to start the third quarter.

Nick Miliken ended the 2 unanswerred points with a steal and layup wit 7:23 on the clock, but the Panthers continued to pull away and led 72-30 after three quarters.

Persin played his backups the fourth quarter.

Shoemaker finished with 12 points, six steals and four assists.

Adena was led by Milliken with 15 points.

Chesapeake (21-2) will play Wheelersburg at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday at Ohio University in the regional semifinals.

Adena1321515=45

Chesapeake2029246=78

ADENA (19-4): Dlan Givens 3-7 (1-2) 2-2 9, Adam Zurmehly 2-3 (1-1) 0-1 5, Andrew Sowers 0-2 (0-1) 0-0 0, Michael Hitchens 1-8 (0-2) 1-2 3, Clint Roush 1-3 (0-1) 0-1 2, Steven Posey 1-2 (0-0) 0-0 2, Nick Milliken 7-16 (1-6) 0-2 15, David Halcomb 1-5 (0-1) 1-

3, T.J. Pierce 0-1 (0-1) 0-0 0, Colin Uhrig 0-0 (0-0) 0-0 0, Gabe Muntz 1-3 (0-0) 0-0 2, Clay Ragland 1-2 (0-0) 0-0 2, Clay Roll 1-2 (0-1) 0-0 2. Totals: 19-55 (3-16)

4-12

45. Fouls: 20. Fouled out: Posey (4th 6:42), Pierce (3rd 1:53). Rebounds: 7-16=23 (Milliken 6). Team/deadball rebounds: 3. Assists: 3 (Posey 2). Steals: 8 (Millliken 3). Turnovers: 27.

CHESAPEAKE (21-2): Mike Stapleton 1-3 (0-0) 0-0 2, Justin Porter 10-10 (1-1) 2-3 23, P.J. Rase 7-8 (2-2) 5-5 21, Jeffrey Thornburg 3-9 (0-1) 0-0 6, Brent Ransbottom 3-3 (0-0) 2-2 8, Caleb McComas 0-0 (0-0) 0-0 0, Zach Morrison 0-1 (0-0) 1-2 1, Tyler Shoemaker 4-7 (0-0) 4-7 12, Aaron Ross 0-1 (0-0) 0-0 0, Kyle Rase 0-2 (0-1) 0-0 0, Aaron Donahoe 0-1 (0-0) 0-0 0,

Kyle Fuller (2-4 (0-1) 1-2 5, Jonathan Greene 0-0 (0-0) 0-0 0. Totals: 30-49

(3-6)

14-21

78. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 4-25=29 (Shoemaker 7, Thornburg 5). Team/deadball rebounds: 2. Assists: 14 (Shoemaker 4, P.J. Rase 5). Steals: 14 (P.J. Rase 4, Shoemaker 6). Turnovers: 20.