Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

JACKSON — For some reason, the Chesapeake Panthers must be on Mountain time.
The Panthers continued to have trouble getting started on time as they lost 52-36 to the Wellston Golden Rockets in the Division III sectional tournament semifinals on Wednesday.
The Golden Rockets used the inside game of Matt Simpson to build a 22-point halftime lead.
Chesapeake (5-18) was led by Eli Archer with 22 points with Cole Mills hitting two 3-pointers and scoring eight points to go with three steals.
Christian Layne had six rebounds while Logan Walsh and Austin Jackson had four assists each.
Simpson had 26 points on 12-of-20 shooting and pulled down 10 rebounds to pace Wellston (11-11). Michael Graham scored 13 points.
The Rockets were 5-of-13 from 3-point range.
Graham hit a 3-pointer and Archer made a foul shot and it was 3-1 to start the game. The Rockets then ran off 12 unanswered points for a 15-1 lead.
The Panthers didn’t score again until Archer made a basket with 40 seconds left in the quarter and it was 17-3.
The Rockets extended their lead to 37-15 at the half and held their biggest lead at 39-15 with 6:45 on the third quarter clock and then 47-23 with 56 seconds left in the quarter.
Chesapeake could get no closer than 47-32 on a 3-pointer by Archer and 51-36 on a trifecta by Mills.
Wellston will play Beaver Eastern at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday in the sectional finals.
Chesapeake    3    12    13    8    =    36
Wellston    17    20    10    5    =    52
CHESAPEAKE (5-18): Tylan Hutchison 2 0 0-0 4, Nathan Cox 0 0 0-0 0, Cole Mills 1 2 0-0 8, Logan Walsh 0 0 0-0 0, Austin Jackson 0 0 0-0 0, Josh Cox 0 0 0-0 0, Trent Dearth 0 0 0-0 0, Christian Layne 1 0 0-0 2, Eli Archer 7 1 5-7 22, Kamren Harless 0 0 0-0 0, Jamey Mills 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14-50 5-7 36. 3-pt goals: 3-17. Rebounds: 24 (Layne 6). Assists: 10 (L. Walsh 4, Jackson 4). Steals: 10 (Mills 3). Turnovers: 17. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.
WELLSTON (11-11): Jase Arthur 1 0 0-0 2, Michael Graham 2 3 0-0 13, Decota McKenzie 0 1 0-0 3, Nick Heil 0 1 0-0 3, Jordan Lucas 0 0 1-2 1, Brice Robinson 0 0 0-0 0, Josh Bodey 1 0 0-0 2, Eddie Smith 1 0 0-0 2, Matt Simpson 12 0 2-4 26. Totals: 17-31 3-6 52. 3-pt goals: 5-13. Rebounds: 27 (Simpson 10). Assists: 15 (Lucas 5, McKenzie 4, Bodey 3). Steals: 10 (Graham 4). Turnovers: 17. Blocks: 3 (Bodey 2). Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.