Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PORTSMOUTH — The Chesapeake Lady Panthers may not score a lot, but they make sure opponents don’t either.
The Lady Pointers used a strong defensive effort to beat the Portsmouth Lady Trojans 30-23 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Thursday.
Sammie McComas and Kandace Pauley scored 9 points each to lead the Lady Panthers (2-0, 2-0).
McComas also pulled down 12 rebounds and Maddie Ward grabbed 8. Pauley came away with 4 steals.
Portsmouth (2-2, 0-2) was led by Hannah Hughes with a game-high 15 points including three 3-point goals.
Nia Trinidad hit a pair of 3-pointers in the quarter for the Lady Trojans and the game was tied 7-7.
Chesapeake went up 17-12 at the half as Pauley and Ward each hit 3-pointers, Emily Duncan had a basket and McComas added a pair of foul shots.
Hughes had 4 of Portsmouth 5 points.
Hughes hit a 3-pointer and scored all 5 Portsmouth points in the third quarter to slice the deficit to 21-17. McComas had all of Chesapeake’s points in the quarter.
The Lady Panthers converted 5-of-8 free throws as they outscored Portsmouth 9-6 in the fourth quarter to secure the win.
Hughes knocked down two more triples in the fourth quarter for the Lady Trojans’ offensive total.
Chesapeake hosts Wheelersburg on Saturday and Ironton on Monday. Portsmouth hosts New Boston Saturday and Fairland on Monday.
Chesapeake 7 10 4 9 = 30
Portsmouth 7 5 5 6 = 23
CHESAPEAKE (2-0, 2-0): Kandace Pauley 2 1 2-3 9, Taylor Hicks 1 0 0-0 2, Sammie McComas 3 0 3-7 9, Robin Isaacs 1 0 0-0 2Maddie Ward 0 1 3-4 6, Emily Duncan 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 7 2 8-14 30. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None.
PORTSMOUTH (2-2, 0-2): Skilyn Robinson 0 0 1-2 1, Nia Trinidad 0 2 0-0 6, Hannah Hughes 3 3 0-3 15, Ashanti Richardson 0 0 0-0 0, Jaiden Rickett 0 0 1-3 1. Totals: 3 5 2-8 23. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.