Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

CHESAPEAKE — There’s just something about the second half that the Chesapeake Panthers really like.
Once again, the Panthers turned in a strong second half as they rallied to beat the Portsmouth Trojans 62-52 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Friday.
The Panthers (7-2, 2-1) trailed by three points at halftime after being down by 12 in the first quarter.
Chesapeake showed offensive balance again as well with Eli Archer scoring 18 points, Tylan Hutchison 11, Logan Walsh eight and Trent Dearth and Nathan Cox seven each.
Portsmouth was paced by Matthew Fraulini with a game-high 22 points. Myles Shipp added 13.
Shipp scored 10 of his points in the first quarter with Fraulini hitting a 3-pointer and scoring five points. Danny Lattimore had all five of his points in the quarter and the Trojans led 20-8.
Archer had eight points, Walsh nailed a trey and scored six points while Nathan Cox added a triple and the Panthers rallied to trail 31-28 at the break.
The Panthers’ defense held Portsmouth to just eight points in the third quarter and the offense erupted for 23 as six different players scored led by Archer and Hutchison with six each.
Dearth had a 3-pointer and scored five points as the Panthers led 51-39.
Chris Duff and Fraulini had 3-pointers with Fraulini added two foul shot for Portsmouth’s scoring in the quarter.
Fraulini tried to rally the Trojans as he drained three trifectas, but five different players scored for the Panthers to offset his nine points.
On Tuesday, Chesapeake is at Ironton and Portsmouth goes to Fairland.
Portsmouth 20 11 8 13 = 52
Chesapeake 8 20 23 11 = 62
PORTSMOUTH (NA): Amare Johnson 0 0 1-2 1, Matthew Fraulini 1 6 2-4 22, Danny Lattimore 2 0 1-2 5, Drew Roe 1 0 0-0 2, Myquel McKinley 2 0 0-0 4, Richie Bowman 0 0 0-0 0, Andrew Meadows 1 0 0-0 2, Chris Duff 0 1 0-0 3, Myles Shipp 5 0 3-6 13. Totals: 12 7 7-14 52. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: McKinley.
CHESAPEAKE (7-2, 2-1): Logan Walsh 2 1 1-1 8, Travis Grim 1 0 0-0 2, Nathan Cox 2 1 0-0 7, Levi Blankenship 1 0 3-4 5, Austin Jackson 2 0 0-2 4, Trent Dearth 2 1 0-0 7, Tylan Hutchison 4 0 3-4 11, Eli Archer 7 0 4-6 18. Totals: 21 3 11-17 62. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.