Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

GALLIPOLIS — The last time the Chesapeake Panthers had played was nearly two weeks ago.
When the Panthers returned to the hardcourt on Wednesday, it took nearly two quarters to get back in a shooting rhythm.
Ahead just 19-17 in the second quarter, the Panthers went up by 5 points at the half and then exploded in the third quarter as they beat the Gallipolis Blue Devils 63-46 in an Ohio Valley Conference game.
The Panthers (16-3, 11-2) led just 13-12 after the first quarter as Levi Blankenship hit a 3-pointer and scored 5 points while four other players got a basket.
Ben Cox had 4 points and Reece Thomas and Logan Blouir each hit 3-pointers for the Gallipolis (9-2, 4-9).
Trent Dearth had 5 points and Ethan Taylor and Blankenship had 4 points each as Chesapeake got rolling and outscored Gallipolis 18-14 to lead 31-26.
Isaac Clary had 4 points and Caron Call hit a 3-pointer for the Blue Devils.
Chesapeake blew the game open in the third quarter by outscoring Gallipolis 16-6. Dilen Caldwell drained a pair of 3-pointers and scored 10 points to ignite the offense.
In the fourth quarter, Blankenship hit a 3-pointer and scored 5 points and Dearth had 4 more points as the Panthers extended their lead.
Blouir scored 5 points and he and Call each hit 3-pointers for the Blue Devils.
Blankenship hit three 3-pointers and scored 18 points, Caldwell made a pair of triples as he scored 16 points and Dearth added 11 points to lead the Panthers.
Blouir and Clary scored 12 points each to pace Gallipolis.
UP NEXT: Chesapeake host South Point on Friday.
Chesapeake 13 18 16 16 = 63
Gallipolis 12 14 6 14 = 46
CHESAPEAKE (16-3, 11-2): Travis Grim 1 0 1-1 3, Levi Blankenship 3 3 3-4 18, Dilen Caldwell 5 2 16, Austin Jackson 1 1 0-0 5, Trent Dearth 5 0 1-2 11, Josh Cox 1 0 0-0 2, Ethan Taylor 4 0 0-1 8. Totals: 20 6 5-8 63. Fouls: 8. Fouled out: None.
GALLIPOLIS (9-12, 4-9): Cooper Davis 0 0 0-0 0, Devin Lee 0 0 0-0 0, Colton Caldwell 2 0 0-0 4, Reece Thomas 0 1 0-0 3, Logan Blouir 3 2 0-0 12, Carson Call 0 2 0-0 6, Ben Cox 2 0 1-2 5, Isaac Clary 6 0 0-0 12, Justin Wilcoxon 0 0 0-0 0, Damon Cremeans 1 0 2-2 4. Totals: 14 5 3-4 46. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.