Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

COAL GROVE — The Chesapeake Panthers faced a tough obstacle on the road to a showdown on Friday. Javon Thompson made sure they cleared that obstacle.

Thompson scored 30 points as the Panthers beat the Coal Grove Hornets 63-45 Tuesday in an Ohio Valley Conference game, thus setting up a showdown at home against league-leading Fairland.

Chesapeake is 12-5 overall and 6-1 in the OVC, one game back of Fairland. Coal Grove — who took Fairland into three overtimes before losing earlier this season — fell to 12-4 and 3-3 in the league.

“We were alright defensively. We had a few breakdowns. Offensively we were okay. It was a pretty good effort,” said Panthers’ coach Ryan Davis.

“Our guys were pretty focused. We weren’t looking ahead. We knew Coal Grove plays really well at home.”

Caleb Heffner had 12 points and Andrew Saunders 10 for the Panthers.

Coal Grove had three players in double figure led by Conor Markins with 12. Brandon Adkins scored 11 points and Alex Bare had 10.

Chesapeake took a 15-9 lead in the first quarter as Thompson scored 5 points. The Panthers extended the spread to 32-22 at the half as Thompson erupted for 10 points.

Adkins scored all of his points in the first half.

The Panthers built a 47-33 lead after three quarters as Thompson and Heffner combined for 12 points.

Thompson scored 8 points to offset 7 points by Markins and the Panthers continued to pull away in the fourth quarter.

Chesapeake’s defense limited the Hornets to just four field goals in the second half.

Coal Grove hosts River Valley on Friday in an OVC game.

Chesapeake 15 17 15 16 = 63

Coal Grove 9 13 11 12 = 45

CHESAPEAKE (12-5, 6-1): Shane Stephens 0 0 2-2 2, Nick Duffield 0 2 0-0 6, Austin Carpenter 0 0 0-0 0, Nate Smith 0 0 0-0 0, Caleb Lindsey 0 0 0-0 0, Caleb Heffner 5 0 2-3 12, Javon Thompson 4 5 7-8 30, Andrew Saunders 5 0 0-0 10, Chad Meadows 1 0 1-1 3. Totals: 15 7 12-14 63. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None.

COAL GROVE (12-4, 3-3): Alex Bare 3 1 1-2 10, Trevor Barrett 0 0 0-0 0, Sean Paulus 0 2 0-0 6, Isaiah Gunther 1 0 3-4 5, Brandon Adkins 5 0 1-1 11, Conor Markins 0 1 9-12 12, Austin “Red” Pleasants 0 0 1-2 1, Joe Akers 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 9 4 15-21 45. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.