Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

CHESAPEAKE — Maybe the Chesapeake Panthers didn’t click on all cylinders, but they still ran through the West Muskingum Tornadoes.

Andrew Saunders had 20 points and Caleb Heffner got 15 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Panthers to a win in the fifth annual Beast of the Southeast Classic on Saturday.

“Overall we didn’t play that well, but we had some guys who did a nice job,” said Panthers’ coach Ryan Davis.

“Andrew Saunders played pretty well. Blake Lester played pretty good defense and that helped. Caleb Heffner has played pretty consistent all year.”

Saunders scored six points in the first quarter as the Panthers took a 14-10 lead.

The Panthers extended the lead to 25-18 at the half. Saunders then scored six more points in the third quarter and the defense held the Tornadoes to three points and it was 36-21.

Saunders had seven more points early in the fourth quarter before Davis emptied his bench.

Colton Pickrell had 15 points for the Tornadoes (0-11).

The Panthers play at rival Fairland on Friday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

W. Muskingum 10 8 3 15 = 37

Chesapeake 14 11 11 15 = 51

WEST MUSKINGUM (0-11): McKenzie 0 0 0-2 0, Johnson 1 0 0-0 2, Lucas 2 0 1-2 5, Imes 1 0 0-0 2, Seth Mirgon 1 0 2-2 4, Colton Pickrell 5 1 2-4 15, Caleb Dupler 2 0 0-0 4, Engdahl 1 0 3-5 5. Totals: 13 1 8-15 37. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 22. Turnovers: 15.

CHESAPEAKE (10-3): Blake Lester 0 1 0-0 3, Austin Carpenter 1 0 0-0 2, Kolton Webb 0 0 0-0 0, Nate Smith 1 0 3-4 5, Gage Rhoades 3 0 0-0 6, Brad Meadows 1 0 2-2 4, Caleb Heffner 3 0 5-6 11, Andrew Saunders 3 4 2-4 20. Totals: 12 5 12-16 51. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 33 (Heffner 11). Turnovers: 16. Assists: Rhoades 3.