ATHENS — There was plenty of offense, but the defense was caught in the lost and found.

Chesapeake came up with some big defensive plays, but the Panthers were unable to stop the penetration of Westfall guard Bryant Gibson and consequently lost an offensive showcase 76-71 to the Mustangs on Sunday in the Division III district semifinals at the Ohio University Convocation Center.

The Panthers got two big defensive plays by Matt Angle down the stretch including a steal with 38 seconds left that led to a layup by Kyle Webb as the Panthers cut a 13-point fourth quarter deficit to 71-69.

But Chesapeake was unable to convert on its next possession and then forced to foul. Westfall was 5-of-6 from the line over the next 30 seconds to take a 76-69 lead and hold on for the win.

The game got off to a disastrous start for the Panthers as they missed their first four shots, had three turnovers and Westfall went on a 9-0 run.

Kyle Webb — who had 32 points in his final game — finally got the Panthers on the scoreboard with a 3-pointer at the 5:29 mark. The basket ignited the offense and a layup by Trent Saunders off a pass from Matt Angle cut the lead to 11-10.

A free throw by Webb at with 1:05 on the clock tied the game at 13-13 and Webb’s layup with 43 seconds left gave the Panthers their first lead at 15-13.

The Panthers went up 17-13 to begin the second quarter, but things turned sour again as the Mustangs went on a 15-4 run to erase a 20-17 deficit to take a 32-21 lead with 2:12 left in the half.

Webb’s trifecta nine seconds later ended the run, but Westfall scored six straight points to lead 38-24. Webb made a foul shot but the Panthers dug themselves a 38-25 hole at the half.

Westfall (18-5) opened up a 50-38 lead with 3:26 on the third quarter clock after a three-point play by Tyler Cobb.

But four foul shots by Travis Zimmerman, a layup by Webb and two free throws by Nathan Copley got the Panthers within 54-46 heading into the fourth quarter.

The Mustangs built a 70-57 lead on a short baseline jumper by Tyler Kritsch with 3:30 to go, but the Panthers stormed back as Copley had his own three-point play, Peter Hintz got a steal and layup, Copley had two more foul shots and Hintz hit a triple and it was 71-67.

Copley had 22 points.

Westfall 13 25 16 22 = 76

Chesapeake 15 10 21 25 = 71

WESTFALL (18-5): Bryant Gibson 7 0 11-17 25, Tyler Kritsch 4 0 2-5 10, Tyler Burleson 1 0 1-2 3, Travis Burleson 1 2 6-6 14, Tyler Cobb 5 0 6-9 16, Tyler Smith 2 0 0-0 4, Zak Smith 2 0 0-0 4. Totals: 24-56 26-29 76. Fouls: 23. Fouled out: None. 3-point goals: 2-8. Rebounds: 20 offense, 28 defense = 48 (Kritsch 14, Cobb 10, T. Smith 9). Team/deadball rebounds: 5. Assists: 5 (Tr. Burleson 2, Gibson 2). Steals: 13 (Gibson 4, Ty. Burleson 3). Turnovers: 21.

CHESAPEAKE (17-5): Peter Hintz 1 1 0-0 5, Nathan Copley 5 2 6-7 22, Matt Angle 0 0 0-1 0, Kyle Webb 7 3 9-14 32, Trent Saunders 4 0 0-0 8, Colton Lindsey 0 0 0-0 0, Travis Zimmerman 0 0 4-4 4, Austin McMaster 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 23-57 19-26 71. Fouls: 26. Fouled out: Saunders (4th 7:50), Copley (1:36 4th) Angle (4th 0:33). 3-point goals: 6-20. Rebounds: 11 offense, 19 defense = 30 (Saunders 6, Copley 6, Webb 5). Team/deadball rebounds: 3. Assists: 5 (Angle 2). Steals: 12 (Copley 4, Hintz 4, Saunders 3). Turnovers: 19.