Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

CHESAPEAKE — While traveling the highway of life, the Chesapeake Panthers like to detour onto the Gage Rhoades.

Chesapeake stayed on that path for a long time on Tuesday as Panthers’ senior guard Gage Rhoades poured in a career-high 35 points in the season opener in a 66-43 rout of the Boyd County Lions.

Brad Meadows added 11 points as eight difference players scored for the Panthers who lost guard Jake Stevens early with a sprained ankle.

“We didn’t play too bad. It hurt when we didn’t have Jake in there. Gage was shooting it well early and he got a lot of transition baskets later,” said Panthers’ coach Ryan Davis.

Hunter Kenser scored 16 points and Bobby Anderson had 15 points to lead the Lions (0-1).

Chesapeake jumped in front 18-8 in the first quarter as Rhoades lit up the nets for 14 points while Meadows added 4 more. Kenser has 6 of the Lions’ total in the quarter.

The Panthers were up 34-19 at the half and then Rhoades scored 11 points and Meadows chipped in 6 more as the lead grew to a comfortable 55-32.

The Panthers host Huntington St. Joseph next Tuesday.

Boyd County 8 11 13 11 = 43

Chesapeake 18 16 21 11 = 66

BOYD COUNTY (0-1): Jacob West 0 0 1-2 1, Bobby Anderson 4 1 4-4 15, Tanner Evans 0 0 2-2 2, Hunter Kenser 5 0 6-11 16, Taylor Smith 0 1 2-2 5, Marcus Mullen 2 0-0 4. Totals: 11 2 15-21 43. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: Evans.

CHESAPEAKE (1-0): Austin Hutchison 2 0 0-0 4, Jake Stevens 0 0 2-2 2, Casey McComas 1 1 0-0 5, Colton Webb 1 0 0-0 2, Gage Rhoades 12 3 2-2 35, Brad Meadows 5 0 1-2 11, Wes Stephens 1 0 2-2 4, Austin Browning 0 0 3-4 3. Totals: 22 4 10-12 66. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None.