Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

RIO GRANDE — It was the good, the bad and the ugly for the Chesapeake Panthers.

Chesapeake’s defense was good, the offense at times was bad, and losing 60-49 to the Athens Bulldogs in the Newt Oliver Classic was the ugly.

“We weren’t bad defensively, we’re just young an inexperienced and it showed at some key times in the game,” said Panthers’ coach Ryan Davis.

The Panthers jumped out to a 9-2 lead but Athens rallied to take a 15-9 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Chesapeake battled back and went in front 22-20 at the half by holding the Bulldogs to 5 points in the second quarter.

Athens (1-0) regained the lead at 35-34 after three quarters, but Athens used a 6-0 run keyed by Joe Burrow’s 3-pointer to open up a 7-point lead in the fourth quarter and the Panthers couldn’t recover.

Chesapeake (1-1) was led by Caleb Heffner with 14 points. Javon Thompson scored 13 and Nick Duffield had 12.

Burrow had 21 points and Ibi Watson 20 to pace Athens.

The Panthers hosts unbeaten Coal Grove Tuesday to begin Ohio Valley Conference play.

Athens 15 5 15 21 = 60

Chesapeake 9 13 12 13 = 49

ATHENS (1-0): Joe Burrow 4 3 4-5 21, Ryan Leuhrman 0 0 2-4 2, Zacchia Saltzman 1 1 0-1 5, Ibi Watson 5 1 7-7 20, Kaliq Carr 0 0 0-0 0, Trae Williams 1 0 0-0 2, Sawyer Summers 1 0 0-0 2, Johnny Buck 1 0 0-0 2, Andrew Luehrman 0 0 0-2 0, Jared Elmore 2 0 2-2 6. Totals: 15 5 15-21 60. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: Elmore.

CHESAPEAKE (1-1): Nick Duffield 3 1 2-2 11, Austin Carpenter 0 0 0-0 0, Caleb Lindsey 3 0 3-4 9, Caleb Heffner 5 0 4-5 14, Javon Thompson 2 3 0-0 13, Andrew Saunders 0 0 0-3 0, Aaron Thompson 0 0 0-0 0, Shane Stephens 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 13 4 9-15 49. Fouls: 20. Fouled out: Heffner.