Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

CHESAPEAKE — There have been a lot of tough losses for the Chesapeake Panthers this season and Friday added to the list.
Trailing by one after three quarters, the Panthers couldn’t pull off the upset as they fell 56-51 to the Gallipolis Blue Devils in an Ohio Valley Conference game.
Cory Call did the biggest damage to the Panthers as the Gallipolis senior scored 28 points with 11 coming in the fourth quarter including 7-of-9 from the foul line.
Gallipolis took a 16-9 first quarter lead as Call hit a 3-pointer and scored nine points. Bailey Walker also had a 3-pointer.
Eli Archer got seven of the Panthers’ first quarter points.
Chesapeake got within 25-22 at the half as five different players scored in the second quarter. Levi Blankenship and Nathan Cox hit treys and Travis Grim added three points for the Panthers.
Call had six more points in the quarter.
Archer scored eight points and Trent Dearth and Blankenship hit 3-pointers as Chesapeake got within 41-40 at the end of the third quarter.
Justin McClelland hit a pair of triples and Blaine Carter had six of his eight points to keep the Blue Devils ahead.
Five different players scored again in the fourth quarter as the Panthers tried to rally for the win, but Call got all but four of the Blue Devils’ 15 points in the quarter.
Chesapeake was led by Archer with 19 points. Blankenship added 11.
If the Panthers (13-9, 5-9) are wanting a “do over” with some of their games, they’ll get that chance next season since they do not have a senior on the roster.
Chesapeake plays Belpre at 8 p.m. on Tuesday in the sectional tournament at Jackson.
Gallipolis 16 9 16 15 = 56
Chesapeake 9 13 18 11 = 51
GALLIPOLIS (14-8, 9-5): Cole Davis 0 0 0-0 0, Justin McClelland 1 2 0-4 8, Blaine Carter 4 0 0-0 8, Logan Blouir 2 0 1-4 5, Cory Call 9 1 7-9 28, Ben Cox 1 0 0-1 2, Damon Cremeens 1 0 0-0 2, Bailey Walker 0 1 0-0 3. Totals: 18 4 8-18 56. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: Walker.
CHESAPEAKE (13-9, 5-9): Logan Walsh 1 0 0-0 2, Travis Grim 1 0 4-5 6, Nathan Cox 0 1 0-0 3, Levi Blankenship 2 2 1-1 11, Austin Jackson 1 0 0-0 2, Josh Cox 0 0 0-0 0, Trent Dearth 0 1 1-2 4, Tylan Hutchison 2 0 0-1 4, Eli Archer 8 0 3-5 19. Totals: 15 4 9-14 51. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.