Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

CHESAPEAKE — Slow and steady she goes.

No, we’re not talking about a ship on the ocean. This is about a slow pace on offense and steady defensive pressure.

Those were the two elements the Coal Grove Hornets employed as they upset the Chesapeake Panthers 38-35 on Friday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

“God blessed us with a great performane. Our team played well on both ends of the court,” said Hornets’ coach Jay Lucas.

“Chesapeake is a great team. Coach (Ryan) Davis does a fantastic job and his teams always play well. We feel blessed to be able to get a win.”

The loss drops the Panthers (19-2) into a first-place tie with Portsmouth in the OVC.

The Trojans played at Rock Hill on Saturday while Chesapeake finishes league play Tuesday at Fairland. Both are 9-2 in the OVC and need a win to share the title.

Chesapeake came into the game ranked sixth in the latest Associated Press Division III poll.

Coal Grove (11-9, 6-5) was led by Travis Carey with 14 points and Brandon Adkins with 12 — all but two in the first half.

Brad Meadows had 14 points and Gage Rhoades 9 for the Panthers.

The Hornets’ defense was the key as they held Chesapeake to only 10 points in the second half.

Rhoades had 5 points with a 3-point goal and Meadows and Austin Carpenter added 4 points each as Chesapeake took a 13-11 first quarter lead.

Adkins scored 7 points including a 3-pointer and Austen Pleasants added two baskets for Coal Grove.

Meadows scored 6 points and Nate Smith drained a 3-ball in the second quarter as the Panthers went into the locker room leading 25-22.

Carey scored 6 points and Adkins hit another trifecta in the second quarter for Coal Grove.

Joe Akers scored 4 points in the third quarter as Coal Grove cut the deficit to 31-30. Meadows had 4 points and Aaron Thompson a bucket for Chesapeake’s total.

Carey had 6 points in the fourth quarter including 2-of-2 at the foul line as Coal Grove rallied to take the lead.

The Panthers could only muster a trey by Rhoades and a foul shot by Thompson.

Coal Grove hosts Ironton on Tuesday and visits Wesley Christian next Friday.

Coal Grove 11 11 8 8 = 38

Chesapeake 13 12 6 4 = 35

COAL GROVE (11-9, 6-5): Travis Carey 6 0 2-2 14, Sean Paulus 0 0 0-0 0, Brandon Adkins 3 2 0-0 12, Joe Akers 3 0 0-1 6, Austen Pleasants 3 0 0-0 6, Jordan Lucas 0 0 0-0 0, Chase McKnight 0 0 0-0 0, Jonathon Joseph 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15 2 2-3 38.

CHESAPEAKE (19-2, 9-2): Kolton Webb 1 0 0-0 2, Nate Smith 0 1 0-0 3, Gage Rhoades 1 2 1-2 9, Brad Meadows 7 0 0-0 14, Aaron Thompson 1 0 1-2 3, Jake Stevens 0 0 0-0 0, Austin Carpenter 2 0 0-0 4, Casey McComas 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 12 3 2-4 35. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.