HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — The lack of rebounds helped the Chesapeake Panthers rebound from a first half deficit.

By keeping Cabell Midland off the glass, the Panthers came back with a strong second half to be the Knights 64-57 Thursday in the big school division of the St. Joe Invitational.

“We gave up nine offensive rebounds in the first half and they scored 39 points,” said Panthers’ coach Ryan Davis. “In the second half we gave up one offensive rebound and the scored 18 points.

“We told them at halftime to do a better job screening the boards and they responded.”

Chesapeake (7-3) now plays Spring Valley at 9 p.m. Saturday in the title game.

The Panthers used a balanced offense with all five starters reaching double figures.

Austin McMaster had 14 points and 7 rebounds, Nathan Copley had 13 points and 5 rebounds, Colin Kennedy scored 13 points, and Peter Hintz and Trent Saunders scored 11 points each.

Saunders had 10 rebounds and 4 steals while Hintz handed out 6 assists.

Matt Walker led the Knights (7-3) with 21 points. Steven Brumfield scored 14.

Kennedy and McMaster scored 6 points each in the first quarter and the game was tied 21-21.

Kennedy had 6 more points in the second quarter and Hintz added 5 but the Knights took a 39-37 lead.

“We didn’t guard well in the first half. We did a better job in the second half,” said Davis.

The defense limited Midland to 21 field goal attempts in the second half and the Knights were just 1-of-13 from behind the arc after the break.

Saunders scored 10 of his points to spark the strong second half.

Chesapeake 21 16 12 15 = 64

Cabell Midland 21 18 7 11 = 57

CHESAPEAKE (7-3): Peter Hintz 3 1 2-2 11, Nathan Copley 3 2 1-2 13, Colton Lindsey 1 0 0-0 2, Austin McMaster 3 2 2-2 14, Trent Saunders 4 0 3-5 11, Colin Kennedy 6 0 1-1 13. Totals: 25-48 20 5 9-12 64. Fouls: 7. Fouled out: None. 3-point range: 5-13. Rebounds: 29 (Saunders 10, McMaster 7, Copley 5, Kennedy 4). Assists: 12 (Hintz 6). Steals: 8 (Saunders 4). Turnovers: 12.

CABELL MIDLAND (7-3): Steven Brumfield 7 0 0-1 14, Matt Walker 3 5 0-0 21, Dustin Epperly 0 0 4-6 4, Tyler Anderson 1 0 0-0 2, Naylon Dailey 4 0 0-0 8, Matt Riggio 0 1 0-0 3, Trent Porter 2 0 1-2 5. Totals: 23-51 5-9 57. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None. 3-point goals: 6-24. Rebounds: 27. Turnovers: 13.