By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

RIO GRANDE — If the Chesapeake Panthers are just starting to get better, then it’s not going to be much fun for their future opponents.

The Panthers rolled past their best opponent to date with a 86-48 win over the East Carter (Ky.) Raiders on Saturday in the Newt Oliver Classic at the University of Rio Grande.

“We played a lot better. We’re starting to show some improvement. We’re not there yet, but we’re moving in the right direction,” said Panthers’ coach Ryan Davis.

“East Carter is a good team. We just played well and we shot the ball well.”

The Panthers (3-0) connected on 32 of 52 floor shots for a sizzling 61.5 percent. They also made 8 of 15 shots from behind the arc.

Leading the offensive onslaught was Austin McMaster with a game-high 33 points. Javon Thompson had 17 points and Chad Meadows added 10 points and 7 rebounds. Brandon Noble also had 7 rebounds.

Dylan Genung had 15 points and Connor Robinson 11 for East Carter (5-2).

Chesapeake broke the game open in the first quarter. Thompson scored 11 of his points and McMaster had 8 points to give the Panthers a 25-11 lead.

McMaster came back with 8 points in the second quarter as the Panthers extended the lead to 45-27 at the break.

It was McMaster again holding the hot hand in the third quarter as he dropped in 13 points and the lead swelled to 73-39.

The Chesapeake reserves finished the game.

East Carter 11 16 12 9 = 48

Chesapeake 25 20 28 13 = 86

EAST CARTER (5-2): Jordan Burchett 1 0 0-0 2, Cole Brammer 0 0 1-2 1, Connor Robinson 4 1 0-0 11, Dylan Genung 6 1 0-0 15, Trenton Welsh 2 0 0-1 4, Brandon Neace 1 0 0-0 2, Alex Johnson 1 0 0-1 2, Michael Brooks 2 0 0-0 4, Donovan Roe 1 0 0-0 2, Kyle Stewart 2 0 1-2 5. Totals: 22-52 2-6 48. 3-point goals: 2-10. Rebounds: 18. Turnovers: 15. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.

CHESAPEAKE (3-0): Taylor Banaei 0 1 0-0 3, Austin Carpenter 0 0 2-2 2, Patrick Hintz 2 0 0-0 4, Caleb Lindsey 0 0 0-2 0, Eric Kennedy 1 1 2-2 7, Brandon Noble 4 0 0-2 8, Shane Stevens 1 0 0-0 2, Javon Thompson 2 4 1-1 17, Austin McMaster 10 2 7-7 33, Chad Meadows 4 0 2-3 10. Totals: 32-52 14-19 86. 3-point goals: 8-15. Rebounds: 30 (Noble 7, Meadows 7). Turnovers: 14. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.