Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

OLIVE HILL, Ky. — As the bus traveled down U.S. 64 toward Chesapeake, sitting in his seat was Lady Panthers’ coach Chris Ball listening to the lyrics of a Paul Revere and the Raiders’ song:

“I’ve had my ups and downs and all around.

“I’ve been up, down, all around now baby (up, down, all around).”

Okay, so maybe he was really listening to Adele, but you couldn’t blame him for listening to the song “Ups and Downs” after what he’d just been through.

The Lady Panthers had their ups and downs but got an upward scoring effort of 29 points by Kaylee Curry to help beat the West Carter Lady Comets 53-45 on Monday in their season opener.

“It was a game of runs. It had its ups and downs. It was a typical first game,” said Balls.

Curry also had 12 rebounds while Atiya Spaulding had 12 points, 6 rebounds and 4 blocked shots.

Curry added 3 steals while Brooke Webb added 4 rebounds and 3 assists.

“Curry played a good offensive game and Spaulding played well on both ends of the floor. Brooke Webb played well defensively. She was able to get her hands on a lot of balls and do some good things for us,” said Ball.

West Carter took a 14-4 lead to start the game, but Spaulding had 10 points and Curry 9 as Chesapeake went on a 23-3 run and took a 27-17 halftime lead.

The Lady Comets (0-1) cut the deficit to 33-30 at the end of the third quarter but Curry had 14 points in the fourth quarter as the Lady Panthers streak to a 51-36 lead with two minutes left.

But Hannah Bear and Ragan Adkins each hit 3-pointers to cut into the lead before the Lady Panthers regrouped and clinched the win.

Chesapeake hosts Gallipolis in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Thursday.

Chesapeake 6 21 6 20 = 53

West Carter 14 3 13 15 = 45

CHESAPEAKE (1-0): Dominique Murphy 2 0 0-0 4, Atiya Spaulding 6 0 0-5 12, Bailey Mills 0 0 0-0 0, Kelsey Huff 1 0 0-0 2, Kaylee Curry 9 1 8-8 29, Jozy Jones 1 0 0-0 2, Natalee Hall 1 0 2-2 4, Brooke Webb 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 20 1 10-15 53. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None.

WEST CARTER (0-1): Bonita Easterling 3 0 0-0 6, Lyla Evans 4 0 3-9 11, Presley Kiser 4 0 1-2 9, Hannah Bear 0 2 0-0 6, Becca Nolen 0 0 5-6 5, Ragan Adkins 1 2 0-0 8. Totals: 12 4 9-17 45. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.