Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PROCTORVILLE — The Athens Bulldogs and Chesapeake Panthers each won one half of their game on Saturday at the Big E Classic.
Problem for the Panthers, the Bulldogs won their half by more points.
Barely.
Athens built a 16-point halftime lead and then held off a furious Chesapeake comeback in the second half to escape with a 63-57 win.
Austin Jackson scored five points including a trifecta and Eli Archer had six points — he was 2-for-2 at the foul line — in the third quarter as Chesapeake cut the deficit to 48-34.
Isaiah Butcher had a deuce and a triple for five points in the third quarter. For Athens.
The Panthers really kicked into high gear in the fourth quarter as Levi hit a 3-pointer and went 4-for-5 at the line as he scored all seven of his points in the fourth quarter. Archer scored six with Jackson and Tylan Hutchison getting four each.
Athens was just 5-of-9 from the line in the fourth quarter but Maxfield went 3-for-3 as he scored five points to help the Bulldogs hang on.
The Bulldogs had taken a 15-9 first quarter lead. Mayfield scored six points and Brayden Markins hit a 3-pointer as five different players scored.
Archer four points and Logan Walsh a 3-pointer to keep the Panthers within striking range.
Maxfield scored seven points in the second quarter while Brayden Whitting hit a trey as he scored five points and the lead was 37-21 at the half.
Trent Dearth and Archer four points each in the quarter for Chesapeake.
Archer led the Panthers (2-1) with 20 points while Jackson finished with 13.
Maxfield had 20 points for Athens (2-2) with Elijah Williams and Markins adding 10 points each.
Chesapeake hosts South Point on Tuesday.
Athens 15 22 11 15 = 63
Chesapeake 9 12 13 23 = 57
ATHENS (2-2): Eli Chubb 1 0 0-0 2, Elijah Williams 4 0 2-5 10, Brayden Markins 2 2 0-0 10, Andrew Stephens 0 0 0-0 0, Logan Maxfield 8 0 4-4 20, Brayden Whiting 2 1 0-0 7, Justin Hynes 0 0 0-0 0, Isaiah Butcher 3 1 0-1 9, Josh Mace 2 0 1-1 5. Totals: 22 4 7-11 63. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: Chubb.
CHESAPEAKE (2-1): Logan Walsh 0 1 0-0 3, Travis Coleman 1 0 2-2 4, Nathan Cox 0 0 0-1 0, Levi Blankenship 0 1 4-5 7, Austin Jackson 5 1 0-0 13, Josh Cox 0 0 0-0 0, Trent Dearth 2 0 0-0 4, Tylan Hutchison 3 0 0-6 6, Jacob Lemley 0 0 0-0 0, Eli Archer 9 0 2-4 20. Totals: 20 3 8-17 57. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None.