By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

BIDWELL — Some teams live by the “3” and also die by the “3.”

The Chesapeake Lady Panthers made sure the River Valley offense never came to life as they beat the Lady Raiders 57-40 on Thursday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

Chesapeake limited the Lady Raiders to just one 3-point goal. Coach Chris Ball praised the defensive effort.

“We played pretty well. We played lock-down defense,” said Ball.

“Jackie Nelson and Sarah Rice and Sydnee Hall all did a good job on (Cady) Gilmore and (Alli) Neville. They usually average six or seven 3-pointers and we held them to one.”

Amanda Ruffner had 22 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocked shots to lead the Lady Panthers (11-5, 4-4). Jordan Porter had 13 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks whle Jackie Nelson added 4 assists and Sarah Rice 4 steals.

Beth Misner and Neville scored 8 points each for River Valley (4-12, 1-7).

The first quarter featured four ties and five lead changes before the Lady Panthers scored 6 straight points and took a 14-10 lead.

Chesapeake used a 10-3 run to grab its biggest lead of the half at 27-19 with 31 seconds left and it was 27-22 at the break when Neville hit the Lady Raiders’ only 3-pointers.

The Lady Panthers held River Valley scoreless over the first 4:14 of the third quarter and pulled away to a 39-26 lead.

Chesapeake ran off 12 unanswered points to begin the fourth quarter and held its biggest lead of the game at 55-30 with 4:46 to play.

Chesapeake plays Wayne, W.Va., at 6 p.m. Friday in the Huntington St. Joe Shootout and faces Capital, W.Va., at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Chesapeake 14 13 12 18 = 57

River Valley 10 12 4 14 = 40

CHESAPEAKE (11-5, 4-4): Chelsea Ridenour 0 0 0-0 0, Casey Underwood 0 0 0-0 0, Kelsey Curry 0 0 0-0 0, Amanda Ruffner 9 0 4-8 22, Jackie Nelson 2 0 2-2 6, Sarah Rice 3 0 0-0 6, Anna Mayo 0 0 0-0 0, Sydnee Hall 3 0 0-0 6, Maggie Smith 1 0 0-0 2, Ashlee Miller 1 0 0-0 2, Mackenzie Moore 0 0 0-0 0, Jordan Porter 6 0 1-4 13. Totals: 25 7-14 57. Turnovers: 11.

RIVER VALLEY (4-12, 1-7): Chelsea Copley 3 0 0-0 6, Shalin Comer 0 0 0-0 0, Ramsey Warren 0 0 0-0 0, Beth Misner 4 0 0-0 8, Alli Neville 2 1 1-3 8, Alexis Hurt 1 0 1-2 3, Cady Gilmore 1 0 4-6 6, Mercedes Combs 3 0 1-2 7, Kaitlyn Tiller 1 0 0-0 2, Kaci Bryant 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15 1 7-13 40. Turnovers: 13.