Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

SEAMAN — The Chesapeake Panthers just couldn’t hold on.
The Panthers built a nine-point halftime lead but went cold in the second half as they lost to the West Union Dragons 59-55 on Saturday in the annual Coach Young Classic.
Eli Archer scored 20 points to lead the Panthers (3-8). Cole Mills added eight.
Bowman Tomlin scored 15, Clayton Jones 11 and Ryan Rothwell 10 points for the Dragons (9-3).
Chesapeake jumped out to an 8-0 lead before the Dragons got within 10-6.
But Archer hit three straight baskets and scored eight points in an 10-2 run and Chesapeake was up 22-11.
Tomlin then scored for West Union and it was 22-13 at the end of the first quarter.
West Union got within 28-23 on a basket by Zane Kingsolver only to have Archer hit two straight baskets and it was 32-23 at the half.
Tylan Hutchison and Archer scored early in the third quarter for a 36-25 lead, but the Panthers’ offense went cold and the Dragons made 5-of-8 free throws to close out the quarter and cut the deficit to 39-38.
Elijah Fuller scored to give West Union its first lead to start the fourth quarter. Mills then drained a 3-pointer and the Panthers were back on top 42-40.
The lead changed hands nine times with West Union finally taking the lead for good at 57-53 on a 3-pointer by Jones and baskets by Rothwell and Tomlin.
Austin Jackson scored for the Panthers and it was 57-55, but Rothwell and Jones each went 1-of-2 at the foul line as West Union hung on.
One key stat in the game saw Chesapeake make 1-of-5 from the foul line and the Dragons were 13-of-25.
Chesapeake hosts South Point on Tuesday.
Chesapeake    22    10    7    16    =    55
West Union    13    10    15    21    =    59
CHESAPEAKE (3-8): Tylan Hutchhison 3 0 1-5 7, Nathan Cox 0 0 0-0 0, Cole Mills 1 2 0-0 8, Logan Walsh 3 0 0-0 6, Austin Jackson 3 0 0-0 6, Josh Cox 0 0 0-0 0, Trent Dearth 0 0 0-0 0, Christian Layne 1 0 0-0 2, Josh Ramey 0 0 0-0 0, Eli Archer 10 0 0-0 20, Kamren Harless 3 0 0-0 6, Jamey Mills 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 24 2 1-5 55.
WEST UNION (9-3): Ryan Rothwell 3 1 1-3 10, Elijah Fullen 2 1 2-2 9, Brycen Staten 0 0 0-0 0, Mason Fannin 0 0 0-0 0, Clayton Jones 3 1 2-7 11, Bowman Tomlin 3 2 3-5 15, Corner Campbelle 0 0 0-0 0, Zane Kingsolver 3 0 3-4 9, Chase Cunningham 0 0 0-0 0, Jordan Lampheir 0 0 2-2 2, Jared Fenton 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14 6 13-25 59.