By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

SOUTH POINT — It was a good start and a good finish. It was the “inbetween” that bothered Chesapeake coach Ryan Davis.

The Panthers played their best at the beginning and end of their game Friday, and it was enough as they beat the South Point Pointers 75-53 in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

“We started out pretty well, but then we went into a lull and started to coast,” said Panthers’ coach Ryan Davis. “We didn’t play that well in the second quarter and I don’t know what we were thinking in the second half.”

Patrick Hintz scored eight points in the first quarter and Chesapeake raced to a 13-0 lead before ending the quarter ahead 20-10.

“They came out on fire, but our kids didn’t quit. We had a championship-like effort. We just got off to a bad start and that hurt us,” said Pointers’ coach Chris Barnes.

“Chesapeake is the best team in our league. They’re really good, but I’m pleased with our effort.”

Eric Kennedy came off the bench to score 10 points in the second quarter as the Panthers extended their lead to 40-21.

In their first meeting, South Point fell behind 16-2 the first quarter and 35-10 at the half. The Pointers shot just 12 of 47 from the field including one of 16 from the 3-point line in the first meeting.

“At halftime I told them we were in a similar position and they came out and went up by 40 in the second half. I told them to win the third quarter even if it was just one point. We came out and played better than I hoped for,” said coach Barnes.

The Pointers came out strong and outscored Chesapeake 21-16 in the third quarter as Blake Barnes scored 16 of his points and it was 56-42.

The Pointers (8-9, 4-4) got within 10 points with six minutes to play, but the Panthers got eight points from Austin McMaster and closed the game with a 15-3 run.

One hitch in the Panthers’ offense was a dismal 13 of 28 effort at the foul line.

“The thing that bothered me was missing free throws. We’re shooting about 80 percent as a team and we had our best guys at the line. I don’t know what it was. Maybe we just weren’t mentally focused,” said Davis.

McMaster had 17 points and Nathan Copley 16 to lead the Panthers (14-1) who remained unbeaten in six OVC games. Colin Kennedy, Eric Kennedy and Hintz scored 12 points each.

Blake Barnes led the Pointers with 24 points. Brandon Barnes had 11 points — all in the first half.

Coach Barnes had praise for all his players.

“Kyle Winkler played his best game all year defensively. Tevin Mitchell did a nice job even though he was guarding a guy a foot taller than him. I’m pleased with our effort,” said coach Barnes.

Chesapeake hosts Fairland Friday. The Dragons have just one loss in the league.

Chesapeake 20 20 16 19 = 75

South Point 10 11 21 10 = 53

CHESAPEAKE (14-1, 6-0): Nathan Copley 4 1 5-8 16, Patrick Hintz 2 2 2-4 12, Eric Kennedy 3 2 0-0 12, Brandon Noble 0 0 0-0 0, Javon Thompson 1 1 1-2 6, Austin McMaster 7 0 3-8 17, Colin Kennedy 5 0 2-6 12. Totals: 22 6 13-28 75. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.

SOUTH POINT (8-9, 4-4): Tevin Mitchell 0 1 0-0 3, Austin Jeffreys 2 1 0-0 7, Blake Barnes 8 1 5-7 24, Kyle Winkler 3 0 0-0 6, Brandon Barnes 1 3 0-0 11, Zane Huron 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 21-50 5-7 53. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: Winkler. 3-point goals: 6-20. Rebounds: 18 (Bl. Barnes 8, Winkler 4). Assists: 5 (Bl. Barnes 2, Br. Barnes 2). Steals: 4 (Bl. Barnes 2). Turnovers: 6.