Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PEDRO — The Chesapeake Panthers are like that annoying fly that you wave your hand at and it just keeps coming back.
The Panthers’ pressing defense and run-and-gun offense are the annoying fly that keeps coming at opponents from start to finish and they did it again on Friday as they raced past the Rock Hill Redmen 80-44 in an Ohio Valley Conference game.
Chesapeake (12-1), 7-1) hit six 3-pointers and had five players in double figures. Levi Blankenship led the way with 17 points including three 3-pointers, Nathan Cox had 15 points, Josh Cox and Ethan Taylor 12 each and Austin Jackson added 10.
Owen Hankins had 11 points for the Redmen (3-11, 0-8) who were guilty of 27 turnovers. Nick Blankenship had 6 rebounds while Lane Smith, Owen Hankins and Logan Hankins had 5 rebounds each.
Chesapeake took a 21-6 first quarter lead as six different players scored with Blankenship getting 5 points and Nathan Cox, Jackson and Trent Dearth 4 points each.
The Panthers’ offense exploded for 28 points in the second quarter to open up a 49-18 cushion at the half.
Josh Cox had 8 points, Jackson was 5-of-6 from the line, Blankenship and Nathan Cox scored 5 points each.
Braden Stamper and Smith scored 4 points each as Rock Hill got 12 points in the quarter.
Hankins scored 7 points and he and Garrett Miller hit 3-pointers in the third quarter as the Redmen outscored the Panthers 12-10.
But Dilen Caldwell scored all 7 of his points and Taylor had 5 points as the Panthers extended their lead in the fourth quarter.
Blankenship scored 4 points and Miller hit another trey for the Redmen in the quarter.
Chesapeake 21 28 10 21 = 80
Rock Hill 6 12 12 14 = 44
CHESAPEAKE (12-1, 7-1): Travis Grim 1 0 3-4 5, Nathan Cox 6 0 3-4 15, Levi Blankenship 2 3 4-4 17, Dilen Caldwell 2 1 0-2 7, Austin Jackson 2 0 6-11 10, Trent Dearth 2 0 2-2 6, Josh Cox 5 0 2-2 12, Ethan Taylor 5 0 2-2 12, Jacob Lemley 1 2 0-0 8. Totals: 21 6 20-29 80. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.
ROCK HILL (3-11, 0-8): Nick Van Keuren 0 0 0-0 0, Noah Doddridge 0 0 0-0 0, Logan Hankins 2 0 1-1 5, Garrett Miller 0 2 0-0 6, Brayden Adams 0 0 0-0 0, Devin Long 0 0 0-0 0, Victory Day 0 0 0-0 0, Nick Blankenship 2 0 0-0 4, Braden Stamper 2 0 2-2 6, Owen Hankins 4 1 0-2 11, Brayden Malone 1 0 1-2 3, Hunter Blagg 1 0 0-0 2, Jacob Schwab 0 0 1-2 1, Lane Smith 3 0 0-0 6. Totals: 18-49 5-9 44. 3-pt goals: 2-16. Rebounds: 12-O, 20-D = 32 (Blankenship 6, Smith 5, O. Hankins 5, L. Hankins 5). Assists: 4. Steals: 7 (Miller 3). Turnovers: 27. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None.