Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

JACKSON — Forget the offense. The biggest keys in tournament basketball are defense, rebounding and turnovers.

TheChesapeake Panthers dominated all three aspects as they routed the Wellston Golden Rockets 65-33 on Saturday to win the Division III sectional tournament.

The Panthers had only six turnovers and forced 19 including 17 steals.

They also held a 31-25 rebound advantage that was worse until thereserves finished up.

“Defensively I thought we were good and we didn’t turn the basketballover,” said Panthers’ coach Ryan Davis.

“We were definitely worried about (Braydon) Womeldorf getting insideand (Ryan) Hawk who shoots well when he gets open looks. We took thataway and made them get something different.”

“Our looks weren’t all the greatest, but they were the kind of looks we wanted. They did a good job working for those looks.”

Brad Meadows had 13 points and 12 rebounds. He credited the defense as the key.

“I think defense was the main thing. We had good intensity all-around and stayed on them the whole time and that deflated them,” said Meadows.

“I thought we moved the ball and attacked well. We were really patient and unselfish. We had a good week of practice reparing. We practiced really hard and it showed tonight.”

Gage Rhoades led the Panthers with 20 points including 17 in the second half. He also had four steals. Jake Stevens had four steals.

Chesapeake (17-6) wasted little time establishing its dominance. After a 12-footer by Caden Ervin tied the game at 2-2 for Wellston, the Panthers went on an 11-0 run as all five starters scored. A steal and layup by Stevens just as time expired gave the Panthers a 15-4 lead.

Two straight steals by Rhoades led to a 3-poiner and layup by Stevens and it was 20-7. Hawk hit a long 3-pointer for Wellston but the Panthers then scored nine unanswered points for a 29-7 lead at the 1:43 mark.

A putback by Daivon Newell made it 29-9 at the half.

The Panthers were 12-of-27 form the field in the first half while Wellston was just 4-of-18 including 1-of-10 from behind the arc.

Chesapeake blew the game wide-open in the third quarter by outscoring Wellston 24-13. Rhoades scored 15 points in the onslaught including a steal and layup that gave the Panthers a 491-7 lead.

The Panthers led 53-22 at the end of the quarter and Davis emptied his bench in the fourth quarter.

Chesapeake will play at 7:15 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 28, at the Ohio

University Convocation Center against the winner of Portsmouth and Eastern Brown.

Wellston 4 5 13 11 = 33

Chesapeake 15 14 24 12 = 65

WELLSTON (NA): Braydon Womfeldorf 0 0 2-4 2, Ryan Hawk 2 1 0-0 7, Chazz Davis 0 0 0-0 0, Caden Ervin 2 0 0-0 4, Caleb Stanley 2 0 2-2 6, Hunter Whalen 0 0 1-2 1, Justin Rafferty 0 1 0-0 3, Logan Collins 0 0 0-0 0, Matt Simpson 0 0 0-0 0, Michael Graham 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 12-38 5-8 33. 3-point goals: 4-18. Rebounds: 7-O, 18-D = 25 (Ervin 8, Davis 5). Team rebounds: 5. Assists: 3 (Newell 2). Steals: 2. Turnovers: 19. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: Davis (4th 3:43).

CHESAPEAKE (17-6): Jake Stevens 2 0 3-4 7, Kolton Webb 2 1 1-2 8, Gage Rhoades 8 1 1-1 20, Brad Meadows 6 0 1-2 13, Wesley Stephens 2 0

0-0 4, Austin Hutchison 0 0 0-0 0, Casey McComas 2 0 0-0 4, Austin Browning 1 0 3-4 5, Tanner Harr 0 0 2-2 2, Cole Mills 0 0 0-0 0, Kelton Jones 0 0 0-0 0, Ty Wilcoxon 0 0 0-0 0, David Dotson 0 0 0-0 0.

Totals: 26-54 11-15 65. 3-point goals: 2-14. Rebounds: 12-O, 19-D = 31 (Meadows 12, Stephens 5). Team rebounds: 1. Assists: 6 (Webb 2, Meadows 2). Steals: 17 (Rhoades 4, Stevens 4). Turnovers: 6. Fouls: 9. Fouled out: None.