Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PORTSMOUTH — It was like the Chesapeake Lady Panthers played a doubleheader and split the two games.

But since it was a basketball game, the Lady Panthers were able to combine the two and come away with a 43-32 Ohio Valley Conference win over the Portsmouth Lady Trojans in Thursday.

Chesapeake (8-7, 4-5) trailed by seven points at the half, but came back to outscore Portsmouth 32-14 in the second half.

“It was a tale of two halves. We came out the first half and looked like we were going through the motions. Offensively we stood around and Portsmouth played really well, especially defensively,” said Lady Panthers’ coach Chris Ball.

“We talked at halftime and got a few things straightened out and came out and really picked up our game. Kelsey Curry, Baylee Mills and Natalie Hall did a nice job defensively on (Peighton) Williams.”

Williams scored 8 points in the first quarter as Portsmouth took a 13-8 lead and extended the spread to 18-11 at the half.

The Lady Panthers — who had 11 of their 13 turnovers in the first half — went on a 10-0 run to begin the second half and Kelsey Curry had 8 points as Chesapeake rallied to take a 28-21 lead.

Kaylee Curry had 6 points and Sydnee Hall converted 3 of 4 from the foul ine in the fourth quarter as Chesapeake secured the win.

“Kelsey Curry was the spark plug. She made hustle plays and hit some key shots. It was a good second half for us,” said Ball.

Kaylee Curry had 15 points, 9 rebounds and 4 steals for the Lady Panthers. Natalie Hall had 6 rebounds and Natalie Hall got 3 thefts. Kelsey Curry had 9 points.

Chesapeake plays at 6 p.m. Monday at Tolsia, W.Va.

Chesapeake 8 3 17 15 = 43

Portsmouth 13 5 3 11 = 32

CHESAPEAKE (8-7, 4-5): Kelsey Curry 1 1 4-6 9, Atiya Spaulding 1 0 0-0 2, Baylee Mills 0 0 0-0 0, Kelsey Huff 2 0 0-0 4, Kaylee Curry 6 0 3-4 15, Jozy Jones 0 0 0-0 0, Sydnee Hall 1 0 5-6 7, Natalie Hall 1 1 1-2 6. Totals: 12 2 13-18 43. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.

PORTSMOUTH (0-14, 0-9): Faith Lee 1 1 0-0 5, Sharia Kerns 1 1 0-2 5, Jada Jenkins 0 1 2-5 5, Peighton Williams 1 1 6-8 11, Mya Williams 1 0 0-0 2, Semajah Parker 2 0 0-1 4. Totals: 6 4 8-16 32. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: Lee.