Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

CHESAPEAKE — The South Point Pointers seem to have a thing about the second half.
The Pointers put together another strong second half as they snapped a halftime tie and beat the Chesapeake Panthers 64-54 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Friday.
The Pointers were playing without leading scorer Elijah Adams who had surgery on Wednesday after suffering an appendicitis. Pointers’ coach Travis Wise said the problem lies more with the way his team continues to play.
“We started slow again. That’s one of our Achilles heel. In the third quarter we turned the pressure up and got some steals to get us rolling. We picked up the intensity and forced them into a couple of tough shots,” said Wise.
Tayshaun Fox got his offense going in the second half with 18 of his game-high 28 points. He also had 3 steals and 3 assists.
Jared Whitt and Cole Brandt added 10 points each for the Pointers (4-0, 2-0) with Whitt getting 6 rebounds and Brandt 4.
Chesapeake (0-4, 0-2) had its best effort of the season despite the loss. Jake Stevens scored 12 points, Casey McComas 11 and Austin Jackson added 10.
Cheapeake lead 13-11 at the end of the first quarter before Fox had 8 points in the second quarter as the Pointers tied the game at 25.
South Point had four steals in the third quarter as Fox, Brandt and Whitt combined for all 19 points and the Pointers took a 44-37 lead.
Stevens scored 10 points in the fourth quarter but Fox had 9 more points including 4-of-4 from the foul line.
“Our fourth quarter has been our big quarter. Brandt and (Dustin) McCarty came in and did a good job in the third quarter getting us going. Fox has been playing well since Elijah went down,” said Wise. “McCarty plays really, really good defense.”
South Point hosts Waverly on Saturday and visits River Valley on Tuesday, Dec. 27. Chesapeake hosts Rose Hill on Dec. 27.
South Point    11    14    19    20    =    64
Chesapeake    13    12    12    17    =    54
SOUTH POINT (5-0, 2-0): Douglas Shaffer 1 1 0-0 5, Tanner Hall 3 0 0-0 6, Jared Whitt 2 2 0-2 10, Tayshaun Fox 8 1 9-10 28, Cole Brandt 4 0 2-3 10, Caleb Eplion 0 0 1-2 1, Dustin McCarty 0 0 0-0 0, Logan Wade 2 0 0-2 4. Totals: 24-43 12-19 64. 3-point goals: 4-11. Rebounds: 18 (Whitt 6, Brandt 4). Assists: Fox 3. Steals: Fox 3. Turnovers: 15. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.
CHESAPEAKE (0-4, 0-2): Jake Stevens 2 1 5-5 12, Casey McComas 3 1 2-4 11, Douglas Mills 2 0 0-2 4, Austin Jackson 1 2 2-7 10, David Dotson 3 0 0-0 6, Tanner Harr 1 1 0-0 5, Zach Wright 3 0 0-2 6. Totals: 15 5 9-20 54. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.