Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

GALLIPOLIS — It was a fast start and a fast finish for the Chesapeake Panthers.

Chesapeake scored 20 points in the first quarter and 22 in the fourth quarter en route to a 68-42 rout of the Gallipolis Blue Devils on Tuesday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

Gage Rhoades scored a game-high 24 points including three 3-pointers to lead the Panthers (13-3, 6-2). Jake Stevens had 15 points and Brad Meadows added 14 points.

Cole Carter had 11 points for Gallipolis (4-8, 3-6).

Stevens scored seven points, Meadows six and Rhoades five as Chesapeake built a 20-5 cushion in the first quarter.

Rhoades hit a pair of 3-pointers and scored eight points in the second quarter as the Panthers took a 33-17 halftime lead. Carter got five points for the Blue Devils.

Carter scored six more points in the third quarter and Miles Cornwell hit a 3-pointer as Gallipolis sliced the lead to 46-32.

Stevens put up six more points in the fourth quarter while Casey McComas and Rhoades had a pair of baskets and the Panthers were able to extend the lead.

On Friday, Chesapeake will host South Point in a league game. Gallipolis plays Jackson on Friday in an SEOAL game and hosts Rock Hill on Saturday in an OVC game.

Chesapeake 20 13 13 22 = 68

Gallipolis 5 12 15 10 = 42

CHESAPEAKE (13-3, 6-2): Jake Stevens 5 1 2-2 15, Kolton Webb 0 0 0-0 0, Gage Rhoades 6 3 3-3 24, Brad Meadows 6 0 2-6 14, Wesley Stephens 2 0 0-1 2, Austin Hutchison 1 0 1-1 3, Casey McComas 2 0 0-0 4, Cole Mills 0 0 0-0 0, Kelton Jones 0 0 0-0 0, Ty Wilcoxon 1 0 0-0 2, Austin Browning 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 24 4 8-13 68. Fouls: 9. Fouled out: None.

GALLIPOLIS (4-8, 3-6): Mike Cornwell 1 1 0-0 5, Wes Jarrell 3 0 0-1 6, Evan Wiseman 0 0 0-0 0, Kole Carter 4 0 3-3 11, Devin Henry 1 1 0-0 5, Justin McClelland 1 0 0-0 2, Russell Matthew 0 0 0-0 0, Justin Peck 4 0 1-3 9, Clay Smith 1 0 0-0 2, Drew VanSickle 1 0 0-1 2, Cory Call 0 0 0-0 0, Kaden Thomas 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 2 4-8 42. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.