Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

COAL GROVE — The winning formula was working again.

The Chesapeake Panthers used a strong defense and some solid shooting to remain unbeaten as they beat the Coal Grove Hornets 54-39 on Tuesday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

Gage Rhoades supplied the offense with a game-high 22 points. Brad Meadows scored 8 points, Jake Stevens 7 and Kolton Webb and Aaron Thompson 6 each in the balanced attack.

Brandon Adkins scored 15 points including three 3-point goals and Austen Pleasants also had 15 points to lead the Hornets.

Chesapeake — ranked ninth in this week’s Associated Press Division III poll — is now 11-0 on the season and leads the OVC at 5-0. Coal Grove fell to 4-7 and 1-4.

Rhoades scored 8 points in the first quarter to help offset 5 by Pleasants as Chesapeake took a 15-11 lead.

The Panthers’ defense limited Coal Grove to just 8 points in each of the second and third quarters as they built a 34-27 lead.

Rhoades scored 8 more points including 6 of 6 from the foul line in the fourth quarter as Chesapeake outscored Coal Grove 20-12.

Adkins had 6 points in the quarter for the Hornets.

Chesapeake 15 12 7 20 = 54

Coal Grove 11 8 8 12 = 39

CHESAPEAKE (11-0, 5-0): Austin Hutchison 1 0 0-0 2, Jake Stevens 1 0 5-5 7, Casey McComas 0 0 0-0 0, Kolton Webb 0 2 0-0 6, Nate Smith 1 0 1-1 3, Gage Rhoades 5 2 6-6 22, Brad Meadows 3 0 2-6 8, Aaron Thompson 3 0 0-0 6. Totals: 14 4 14-19 54. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.

COAL GROVE (4-7, 1-4): Travis Carey 1 0 0-0 2, Jordan Lucas 0 0 0-0 0, Jonathan Joseph 0 1 0-0 3, Sean Paulus 0 1 1-2 4, Isaiah Gunther 0 0 0-0 0, Brandon Adkins 2 3 2-3 15, Joe Akers 0 0 0-2 0, Austen Pleasants 5 0 5-5 15. Totals: 8 5 8-16 39. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None.