By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

CHESAPEAKE — Ironically, both coaches talked about maturity. Oddly, you couldn’t tell who won by the way they talked.

Chesapeake coach Ryan Davis seemed depressed despite the Panthers 52-49 Ohio Valley Conference win over the Fairland Dragons.

“We’ve got to mature,” said Chesapeake coach Ryan Davis. “We had one spurt in the game when we played to our potential.”

Fairland coach Nathan Speed was disappointed that his team lost but he remained upbeat about their performance.

“Overall, I’m most proud of our defensive effort. Not many teams can hold Chesapeake to 52 points,” said Speed. “I’m proud of them, but at the end of the day we lost so we have to get back to work.”

The Panthers (7-1, 3-0) used an 18-0 run that turned a 9-8 deficit with 1:53 left in the first quarter into a 26-9 lead after a 3-pointer by Eric Kennedy at the 4:19 mark of the second quarter.

It was at this point that Speed talked maturity to his team. He called a timeout but didn’t draw up any strategic diagrams.

“I looked at them and laughed. I said, ‘You’re playing scared. There’s nothing I can draw up. Until you become aggressive and fight back, there’s nothing I can do for you,’” said Speed.

“One thing we said was that it would be a crazy atmosphere and to play like men. Their guys will make runs so play like men. Don’t be the last man on the floor. Crash the boards. Don’t give up and keep your composure.”

The Dragons did keep their composure.

A triple by Cody Midkiff with seven seconds left in the half cut the deficit to 30-20. A layup by Blaine Fuller got the Dragons within 34-31 at the 4:05 mark of the third quarter.

But Patrick Hintz had two steals and two layups including a basket with 1:17 left in the third quarter that gave Chesapeake a 40-31 lead.

Fairland (7-2, 2-1) kept coming, though.

Back-to-back layups by Evan Salyers closed the deficit to 45-44 with 2:43 to play.

But a layup by Hintz less than a minute later made it 49-46 and his free throw with two seconds left put the lead at 52-49.

The Panthers knocked the inbounds pass into the air as time ran out.

“We don’t win the game without Patrick Hintz,” said Davis. “Fairland is much improved. They’re better on defense and they work hard. We’re fortunate to come out with a win. We’re very happy with that.”

Kennedy led the Panthers with 19 points including 15 in the first half. Hintz had 12 points, Javon Thompson 10 points and Austin McMaster 9 points and 9 rebounds.

Fuller led Fairland with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Salyers had 12 points and 9 boards while Midkiff came off the bench to score 11.

Fairland 9 11 11 18 = 49

Chesapeake 14 16 20 12 = 52

FAIRLAND (7-2, 2-1): Evan Maddox 2 0 0-0 4, Eric Riley 1 0 3-4 5, Blaine Fuller 5 0 3-7 13, Evan Salyers 5 0 2-2 12, Ryan Wooten 0 0 0-0 0, Alec Warner 0 0 0-0 0, Cody Midkiff 2 2 1-1 11, Nathan Campbell 1 0 2-4 4. Totals: 18-48 11-17 49. 3-point goals: 2-9. Rebounds: 18-21=39 (Fuller 12, Salyers 9). Team rebounds: 6. Assists: 6 (Campbell 2). Steals: 5 (Midkiff 2, Campbell 2). Turnovers: 18. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: Maddox (4th 7:07).

CHESAPEAKE (7-1, 3-0): Patrick Hintz 5 0 2-4 12, Eric Kennedy 2 3 6-8 19, Brandon Noble 1 0 0-0 2, Javon Thompson 5 0 0-0 10, Austin McMaster 3 0 3-4 9, Chad Meadows 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 19-50 11-16 52. 3-point goals: 3-16. Rebounds: 10-19=29 (McMaster 9, Kennedy 5, Hintz 5). Team rebounds: 4. Assists: 6 (McMaster 3, Noble 2). Steals: 10 (Kennedy 3, Noble 3). Turnovers: 13. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.