Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

FLATWOODS, Ky. — The Chesapeake Panthers fell behind early and could never close the gap in a 70-56 loss to the Russell Red Devils on Saturday in the Marv Meredith Classic.
The Panthers (3-6) fell behind just 20-17 after the first quarter and trailed 35-27 at the half.
Russell (4-10) came out the second half and outscored the Panthers 21-14 to build a fairly comfortable lead of 56-41
Cole Mills scored a game-high 25 points including six 3-pointers to lead the Panthers. Eli Archer had 19 points in the loss.
Bobby Hale scored 22 points to lead the Red Devils. Charlie Jachimczuk, Nathan Conley and Brendan Rose all had nine points each.
Chesapeake hosts Ironton on Tuesday.
Chesapeake    17    10    14    15    =    56
Russell     20    15    21    14    =    70
CHESAPEAKE (3-6): Tylan Hutchison 1 0 1-5 3, Nathan Cox 0 0 0-0 0, Cole Mills 2 6 3-4 25, Logan Walsh 0 0 0-2 0, Austin Jackson 0 1 3-4 6, Christian Layne 1 0 0-0 2, Eli Archer 8 0 3-3 19, Kamren Harless 0 0 1-2 1, Jamey Mills 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 12 7 11-20 56.
RUSSELL (4-10): Charlie Jachimczuk 4 0 1-1 9, Jazz Whitt 3 0 0-0 6, Bobby Hale 7 1 5-9 22, Jax Downs 1 2 0-0 8, Nate Wheeler 0 1 0-0 3, Nathan Conley 3 1 0-0 9, Brendan Rose 2 1 2-2 9, Jarod Fannin 0 0 0-0 0, Charlie Bechter 0 0 2-2 2. Totals: 21 6 10-14 70.