By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

GALLIPOLIS — Someone get a camera and explain “focus” to the Chesapeake Panthers.

The Panthers were in and out of focus on Friday, but they were picture perfect in the eyes of the Gallipolis Blue Devils as Chesapeake rolled to a 79-41 win.

“We didn’t play very focused,” said Panthers’ coach Ryan Davis. “We played streaky. We played well defensively in spurts and forced a lot of turnovers. We’ve got to keep working and get better.”

The Panthers (2-0) had four players in double figures led by Eric Kennedy with 24 points and 8 rebounds. Austin McMaster had 16 points and 9 rebounds, Javon Thompson scored 13 and Brandon Noble finished with 10 points and 9 rebounds.

Defensively, the Panthers forced Gallipolis into 30 turnovers.

Bryce Amos had 18 points for the Blue Devils (1-2).

Noble scored 7 of his points in the first quarter and the defense forced 11 turnovers as the Panthers took a 17-9 lead.

Gallipolis went on a 12-3 run to begin the second quarter and take a 21-20 lead, but McMaster scored 11 points and Kennedy 8 more as Chesapeake took a 38-28 at the half

The defense went back to work in the third quarter and Kennedy had 10 of his points as the Panthers went on an 8-0 run to begin the half and finished the quarter with a 57-34 cushion.

Chesapeake outscored Gallipolis 22-7 in the fourth quarter.

Chesapeake 17 21 19 22 = 79

Gallipolis 9 19 6 7 = 41

CHESAPEAKE (2-0): Taylor Banaei 1 0 0-1 2, Austin Carpenter 1 0 0-0 2, Mikey Walters 0 0 0-0 0, Patrick Hintz 0 0 4-4 4, Caleb Lindsey 1 0 0-0 2, Eric Kennedy 4 2 10-12 24, Brandon Noble 2 1 3-6 10, Shane Stephens 1 0 0-0 2, Javon Thompson 2 1 6-10 13, Austin McMaster 6 0 4-5 16, Chad Meadows 1 0 2-4 4. Totals: 23-60 29-42 79. 3-point goals: 4. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 40 (McMaster 9, Noble 9, Kennedy 8). Turnovers: 13.

GALLIPOLIS (1-2): Reid Eastman 0 0 0-0 0, Joel Johnston 1 0 0-2 2, Justin Bailey 2 0 0-1 4, Caleb Craft 1 0 2-2 4, Nick Saunders 1 1 3-4 8, Bryce Amos 4 2 4-5 18, Wade Jarrell 0 0 0-2 0, Sean Long 1 0 0-0 2, Cody Hall 0 0 0-1 0, Jimmy Clagg 1 0 1-2 3, Jeremy Wilson 1 0 0-0 2, Seth Atkins 0 0 0-0 0, Aaron Jackson 0 0 0-0 0, Logan Allison 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14-52 10-19 41. 3-point goals: 3. Fouls: 28. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 31. Turnovers: 30.