By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — This one got real easy real fast.

After leading by 10 points early, the Chesapeake Panthers exploded for 31 points the second quarter and went on to crush the Mount Mission Challengers 88-55 on Thursday in the semifinals of the annual Huntington St. Joe Invitational.

“We played pretty well in the first half,” said Panthers’ coach Ryan Davis. “(Tedros Hailu-mitiku) scored their first two baskets and we did a good job of taking him away the rest of the half and we were contesting their passes and taking away shots.”

Austin McMaster led the Panthers with 20 points including 18 in the first half.

Also in double figures were Patrick Hintz with 18, Javon Thompson 16 and Brandon Noble 10 points for the Panthers (11-1).

Chesapeake will play Fairland at 9 p.m. on Saturday in the gold bracket championship.

Mount Mission (7-5) was led by Hailu-mitiku with a game-high 27 points. Robel Teffera added 10.

The Panthers hit 21 of 34 field goal attempts in the first half for 62 percent — they were 18 of 22 from 2-point range — en route to a 53-19 cushion at the break.

Chesapeake led 22-12 at the end of the first quarter as McMaster scored 8 points and Thompson 7.

McMaster came back to score 10 points and Hintz 8 as the Panthers outscored Mount Mission 31-7 in the second quarter.

Mount Mission 12 7 10 26 = 55

Chesapeake 22 31 26 9 = 88

MOUNT MISSION (7-5): Alex Marrs 0 1 0-0 3, Robel Teffera 2 0 6-8 10, Henok Alemayehu 2 1 1-2 8, John Samuel 2 0 0-0 4, Tewani Ali 1 0 1-2 3, Tedros Hailu-mitiku 12 0 3-8 27. Totals: 20 2 11-20 55. Turnovers: 29. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.

CHESAPEAKE (26): Taylor Banaei 1 0 0-0 2, Austin Carpenter 1 0 0-0 2, Blake Lester 1 0 0-0 2, Patrick Hintz 8 0 2-2 18, Caleb Lindsey 1 0 0-1 2, Eric Kennedy 1 2 1-2 9, Brandon Noble 1 2 2-2 10, Shane Stephens 0 0 0-0 0, Javon Thompson 4 2 2-2 16, Austin McMaster 9 0 2-3 20, Chad Meadows 3 0 1-2 7, Nate Smith 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 36-62 10-14 88. Turnovers: 15. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.