Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

CANNONSBURG, Ky. — Chesapeake Panthers’ leading scorer Gage Rhoades didn’t play.

From the way coach Ryan Davis talked, neither did anyone else.

The Panthers looked sluggish — especially in the second half — in a 63-50 loss to the Boyd County Lions on Tuesday.

“This was the first game (Rhoades) missed. We didn’t adjust to that real well,” said Davis. “The first and third quarters our defensive intensity was poor.”

The Panthers routed Boyd County 66-43 in the season opener as Rhoades scored a career-high 35 points. He missed Tuesday’s rematch with a hamstring injury.

Brad Meadows led the Panthers (14-5) with 17 points and six rebounds. Jake Stevens scored 12 points and Casey McComas — filling in for Rhoades in the starting lineup — had 11 points including three 3-point goals.

The Lions’ 6-foot-5 Hunter Kenser scored 19 points and Taylor Smith 15. Alex Gauze had six rebounds.

Boyd County (13-10) used a 10-0 run in the first quarter to lead 19-9, but the Panthers battled back to tie the game at the half, 23-all.

The game was tied midway through the third quarter when the Lions finished the quarter strong to lead 42-37.

Boyd County outscored the Panthers 21-13 in the fourth quarter.

A key for the Lions came at the foul line where they connected on 18-of-22 attempts.

Conversely, the Panthers were 3-of-4 from the foul line.

Chesapeake travels to Ironton on Friday.

Chesapeake 9 16 12 13 = 50

Boyd County 19 6 17 21 = 63

CHESAPEAKE (14-5): Jake Stevens 3 2 0-0 12, Casey McComas 1 3 0-0 11, Kolton Webb 2 0 0-0 4, Brad Meadows 7 0 3-4 17, Wesley Stephens 2 0 0-0 4, Austin Hutchison 1 0 0-0 2, Ty Wilcoxon 0 0 0-0 0, Austin Browning 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 21-50 3-4 50. 3-point goals: 5-24. Rebounds: 23 (Meadows 6, McComas 4, Stevens 4). Turnovers: 11. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None.

BOYD COUNTY (13-10): Maracus Mullen 3 0 0-0 6, Tanner Evans 2 1 2-2 9, Hunter Kenser 6 0 7-9 19, Bobby Anderson 2 1 2-2 9, Taylor Smith 1 3 4-5 15, Reese Robinson 1 0 2-2 4, Alex Gauze 0 0 1-2 1. Totals: 20-42 18-22 63. 3-point goals: 5-19. Rebounds: 31 (Kenser 7, Gauze 6). Turnovers: 13. Fouls: 7. Fouled out: None.

Rocky Stanley of the Daily Independent contributed to this story.