Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

SOUTH POINT — The Chesapeake Panthers might have to start calling Javon Thompson their jumper cables.

For the fifth straight game, Thompson sparked a strong second half as the Panthers rallied past the South Point Pointers 52-35 Tuesday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

Chesapeake (10-4, 5-1) trailed by 7 points at the half and had scored just 13. Thompson ignited a 39-point second half as the Panthers kept pace in the league race.

“Javon got us going in the second half. He doesn’t even have to score to get us going. He gets up playing at a different level. We were too passive in the first half,” said Panthers’ coach Ryan Davis.

Thompson led the Panthers with 19 points including 13 in the second half. Caleb Heffner had 15 points and 12 rebounds. Heffner hit 6-of-6 floor shots in the second half.

Brandon Barnes scored 14 points to lead South Point (7-9, 2-5) including a basket in the third quarter that gave him 1,000 career points. Payne Meadows added 10 points.

“We played really well defensively. The game was a lot closer than the final score. We were in it until the middle of the fourth quarter. They just turned the defense up on us,” said Pointers’ coach Chris Barnes.

Thompson scored 6 points in the first quarter and the game was tied 8-8.

John Johnson scored all 6 of his points in the second quarter and the Pointers outscored Chesapeake 12-5 to take a 20-13 lead.

The Panthers erupted for 20 points in the third quarter to lead 33-32 as Thompson scored 9 points and Heffner had 8. Barnes scored 8 for the Pointers.

Chesapeake’s defense held South Point to just 3 points in the fourth quarter. Caleb Lindsey and Heffner scored 6 points each and Thompson 4 more as the Panthers began to pull away.

Payne Meadows’ 3-pointer were the only points in the quarter for South Point.

The Panthers made four field goals in the first half and 13 in the second half.

Chesapeake plays Spring Valley at 9 p.m. Thursday in the Huntington St. Joe Invitational. The first game matches Fairland and Mount Mission at 7 p.m.

The tournament consolation game and championship are on Saturday.

Chesapeake 8 5 20 19 = 52

South Point 8 12 12 3 = 35

CHESAPEAKE (10-4, 5-1): Shane Stephens 0 0 0-0 0, Nick Duffield 0 0 2-2 2, Caleb Lindsey 3 0 3-4 9, Caleb Heffner 6 0 3-6 15, Javon Thompson 2 3 6-9 19, Andrew Saunders 0 1 0-0 3, Chad Meadows 2 0 0-0 4. Totals: 13 4 14-21 52. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.

SOUTH POINT (7-9, 2-5): John Johnson 0 2 0-0 6, Evan Williams 0 0 0-0 0, Austin Majher 0 0 0-0 0, Kurt Adams 0 1 0-0 3, Payne Meadows 2 1 3-4 10, Brandon Barnes 3 2 2-6 14, Brandon Boggs 0 0 2-2 2. Totals: 5 6 7-12 35. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: None.