Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

CHILLICOTHE — The Chesapeake Panthers got off to another slow start offensively, but they didn’t wait until the fourth quarter this time.
They started a quarter early.
The Panthers trailed by three points at halftime, then erupted in the third quarter for 22 points and went on to a 56-37 win over the Southeastern Panthers on Tuesday.
Chesapeake’s defense stepped forward by limiting Southeastern to just 13 points in the second half. Chesapeake had 13 points alone in the fourth quarter.
Playing without starting center Eli Archer, Chesapeake was led by Levi Blankenship with 18 points. Tylan Hutchison added nine points as nine different players scored.
Lane Ruby scored 10 points and Aaron Gillum nine for Southeastern (1-6) who has lost four games by six or fewer points along with a 13-point loss to Adena.
Aarick Hill and Lane Ruby scored four points each in the first quarter as Southeastern took a 12-9 lead. Blankenship scored five points and both he and Logan Walsh hit 3-pointers for Chesapeake.
Blankenship drained two more 3-pointers in the second quarter and scored seven points but Gillum hit a trey and two fouls shots and Ruby had four points as Southeastern held a 24-21 halftime lead.
Chesapeake (5-2) then held Southeastern to six points in the third quarter while Trent Dearth nailed a trey and scored seven points and Travis Grim had four more and Chesapeake now had a 43-30 lead.
Hutchison and Blankenship scored four points each and Zander Schmidt knocked down a trifecta as Chesapeake stretched its lead by outscoring Southeastern 13-7.
Chesapeake hosts Lucasville Valley on Saturday, Dec. 29.
Chesapeake 9 12 22 13 = 56
Southeastern 12 12 6 7 = 37
CHESAPEAKE (5-2): Logan Walsh 0 2 0-0 6, Travis Grim 2 0 1-2 5, Nathan Cox 1 0 0-0 2, Levi Blankenship 4 3 1-2 18, Zander Schmidt 0 1 0-0 3, Austin Jackson 0 0 3-6 3, Josh Cox 2 0 0-0 4, Trent Dearth 3 1 0-0 9, Tylan Hutchison 2 0 2-2 6, Jacob Lemley 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14 7 7-12 56. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: None.
SOUTHEASTERN (1-6): Aaron Evans 0 0 0-0 0, Luke Corcoran 0 1 1-2 4, Derek Wheeler 0 0 0-0 0, Aaron Gillum 0 1 6-6 9, Lane Ruby 3 0 4-4 10, Jacob Lenoy 0 0 0-0 0, Aiden Estep 1 0 0-0 2, Noah Dresbach 0 0 0-0 0, Parker George 1 0 0-0 2, Reece Wheeler 2 0 0-0 4, Jared Sulphur 1 0 0-0 2, Aarick Hill 2 0 0-2 4. Totals: 10 2 11-14 37. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: Ruby.