By Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

CHESAPEAKE — The Chesapeake Lady Panthers have found a nice combination. Play defense and let Kate Ball carry the offense.

Ball scored 21 points and sank 2 free throws with 3.8 seconds left to seal the win as Chesapeake rallied in the second half to edge the Coal Grove Lady Hornets 35-31 in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

“We played great defense as a team and Erin Hicks had a great game defensively,” said Lady Panthers coach Chris Ball. “Kate kept us in the game offensively and hit some clutch shots.”

Coal Grove (3-8, 2-5) took a 10-7 first quarter lead as Alivia Noel hit a 3-pointer and scored 8 points.

Ball scored 4 points and Brooklyn McComas hit a 3-pointer for the Lady Panthers.

Each team scored 9 points in the second quarter and Coal Grove held a 19-16 lead at the half.

Kinsy Keeney — who hit a 3-pointers — and Jenna Anson scored 4 points apiece for the Lady Hornets.

Ball and McComas repeated their first quarter scoring while Hicks added a pair of foul shots.

Ball got all 7 of Chesapeake’s points as she hit a 3-pointer and made a couple of baskets as the Lady Panthers tied the game at 23-all.

Kendall Taylor and Noel had the Coal Grove baskets.

Ball scored 6 points including her clutch free throws and Hannah Webb knocked down 3-pointer as Chesapeake outscored Coal Grove 12-8 in the fourth quarter.

Keeney hit another trifecta and Noel scored 5 points for the Lady Hornets.

Noel scored 16 points to lead the Lady Hornets.

Coal Grove 10 9 4 8 = 31

Chesapeake 7 9 7 12 = 35

COAL GROVE (3-8, 2-5): Kendall Taylor 1 0 0-0 2, Kinsy Keeney 0 2 1-2 7, Kasey Vanderhoof 0 0 0-0 0, Alivia Noel 5 1 3-5 16, Isabelle Kitts 0 0 0-0 0, Jenna Anson 3 0 0 0-0 6, Klara Klaiber 0 0 0-0 0, Abbie Deeds 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 9 3 4-7 31. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: Keeney.

CHESAPEAKE (6-5, 2-5): Erin Hicks 0 0 2-2 2, Abbey Isaacs 1 0 0-0 2, Clairynn Romans 0 0 0-0 0, Kate Ball 8 1 2-2 21, Brooklyn McComas 0 2 0-0 6, Hannah Webb 0 1 1-2 4. Totals: 9 4 5-6 35. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.