By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

CHESAPEAKE — How good are the Chesapeake Panthers this season? Just ask the Gallipolis Blue Devils.

Gallipolis found out first hand how good the Panthers are as Chesapeake breezed to a 77-22 win in their season opener Friday.

“Our defense did a great job and we had good balance on offense. That’s as well as we’ve played defensively that I can remember. We played well as a team,” said Panthers’ coach Ryan Davis.

Gallipolis (1-2) actually held a 7-6 lead in the first quarter before Chesapeake went on a 24-4 run and dominated the rest of the game.

The Panthers led 17-9 at the end of the first quarter and built a 32-14 cushion at the half.

Colin Kennedy and Austin McMaster scored seven points each in the third quarter as the Panthers stretched the lead to 54-21.

Gallipolis managed just one point in the fourth quarter against the Panthers’ reserves.

McMaster had 18 points and Kennedy 17 to lead four Panthers in double figures. Patrick Hintz and Javon Thompson had 10 points each.

Gallipolis 9 5 7 1 = 22

Chesapeake 17 15 22 23 = 77

GALLIPOLIS (1-2): Reid Eastman 0 0 1-2 1, Austin Wilson 0 1 0-0 3, Ben Robinson 0 0 0-0 0, Ethan Moore 0 1 1-2 4, Joe Jenkins 1 0 0-1 2, Nick Saunders 2 0 1-2 5, Tyler Eastman 0 0 0-0 0, Tyler Campbell 1 0 0-0 2, Jared Golden 2 0 1-2 5, Joel Johnston 0 0 0-0 0, Cody Billings 0 0-0 0, Drew Young 0 0 0-0 0, Jimmy Clagg 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 8-31 4-9 22. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 16. Turnovers: 27.

CHESAPEAKE (1-0): Nick Duffield 1 0 0-0 2, Nathan Copley 2 0 3-3 7, Patrick Hintz 2 2 0-0 10, Mike Walters 1 0 0-0 2, Caleb Lindsey 0 0 0-0 0, Eric Kennedy 0 0 2-2 2, Brandon Noble 2 0 2-2 6, Nate Jones 1 0 1-3 3, Javon Thompson 5 0 0-0 10, Austin McMaster 7 0 4-4 18, Seth Skeens 0 0 0-0 0, Colin Kennedy 7 0 3-4 17. Totals: 30-66 15-18 77. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 34. Turnovers: 7.