Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PEDRO — It was the gang that couldn’t shoot straight.

Suffering one of their worst shooting performance of the season, the Chesapeake Lady Panthers shot just 12-of-41 from the field in a 46-32 loss to the Minford Lady Falcons in the Division III sectional tournament finals on Saturday.

The Lady Panthers took a first quarter lead but then made just one field goal combined in the second and fourth quarters.

“The first quarter we came out and things went about as well a planned. At halftime I said, ‘Girls, we scored one point and were 2-for-7 from the free throw line in the first half. That was the situation and I thought we addressed it,” said Chesapeake coach Chris Ball.

“We came out and battled back and cut it to three at one point and then another scoring drought ensued. So I guess we can point to the second and fourth quarters we just weren’t existent.”

Chesapeake played well in the first quarter. A short jumper by Kaylee Curry and a layup by Natalee Hall gave the Lady Panthers a 12-4 lead.

Erin Daniels made a layup just before the end of the quarter to get Minford within 12-6 and key a 19-1 run that spilled over into the second quarter.

The Lady Panthers only managed a foul shot by Hall at the 7:19 mark that gave them a 13-8 lead.

Minford then went on a 15-0 run that feature 3-point goals by Emma Shepherd, Ali Hammond and Zoe Doll and it was 23-13 at the half.

“Minford came out and plays some man and we did pretty well. They went to a zone and they’re pretty aggressive in their zone,” said Ball.

“We just didn’t move the ball well versus their zone and to beat that zone you’ve got to move that ball and find those lanes and hit those shots. At the end of the day you’ve got to give Minford credit.”

After making just 1-of-7 shots in the second quarter, the Lady Panthers put together a rally in the third quarter.

Hall made two straight baskets to start the quarter and Dominique Murphy’s 3-pointer cut the deficit to 27-22. Murphy hit a second trifecta and Curry added a trey of her own and it was 31-28 with 42 seconds left. A layup by Ashley Blankenship put Minford up 33-28 at the end of the quarter.

A 3-pointer by Marissa Risner and a layup by Daniels gave Minford a 38-30 lead before Hall’s basket cut the deficit to 38-32.

The Lady Falcons then made their foul shots and a Chesapeake turnover led to a layup by Abby Grasso and it was 43-32 with 2:25 to go.

Hall had 15 points and nine rebounds for the Lady Panthers (14-9). Murphy had nine points on three 3-pointers. Curry had six rebounds.

Minford (16-6) was led by Daniels with 15 points and nine rebounds. Blankenship had nine points and seven rebounds.

The game was the final for seniors Curry, Mills, Kelsey Huff, Curry and Atiya Spaulding.

“Our seniors have had a good run. To many teams winning a sectional championship isn’t a big thing, but to our program it has been. We’ve won five all-time in our program and these girls have won two and they’ve had some pretty big wins, too. I just want to pat them on the back and let them know they did make an impact on our program,” said Ball.

Chesapeake 12 1 15 4 = 32

Minford 6 17 10 13 = 46

CHESAPEAKE (14-9): Bailey Mills 0 0 0-0 0, Kaylee Curry 2 1 0-0 7, Jozy Jones 0 0 1-3 1, Natalee Hall 5 0 5-8 15, Brooke Webb 0 0 0-0 0, Dominique Murphy 0 3 0-0 9, Kelsey Huff 0 0 0-0 0, Karli Davis 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 12-41 6-11 32. 3-point goals: 4-18. Rebounds 10-O, 21-D = 31 (Halls 9, Curry 6). Teams rebounds: 4. Assists: 2. Steals: 6 (Murphy 2, Webb 2). Turnovers: 16. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.

MINFORD (16-6): Erin Daniels 5 0 5-6 15, Marissa Risner 0 1 0-2 3, Emma Shepherd 1 1 2-2 7, Mary Pica 0 0 0-0 0, Abby Grasso 1 0 2-2 4, Ashley Blankenship 3 0 3-4 9, Ali Hammond 0 1 0-0 3, Zoe Doll 1 1 0-0 5, Caitlyn Puckett 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15-57 12-16 46. 3-point goals: 4-24. Rebounds: 17-O, 23-D = 40 (Daniels 9, Blankenship 7). Team rebounds: 4. Assists: 4 (Daniels 2). Steals: 7 (Daniels 4). Turnovers: 9. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.