Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

COAL GROVE — If there were any worries that Chesapeake were looking ahead to Friday’s showdown with the Fairland Dragons, the Panthers quieted that thought rather quickly.
The Panthers showed no signs of being flat emotionally as they rolled past the Coal Grove Hornets 76-26 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Tuesday.
Chesapeake is now 15-2 overall and tied with Fairland at 10-1 in the OVC.
Dilen Caldwell scored 17 points to lead the Panthers who had all nine players in the scoring column. Trent Dearth scored 11 and Austin Jackson had 10.
Cory Borders hit a 3-pointer to start the game and give Coal Grove the quick lead, but the Panthers scored 20 unanswered points and never looked back in take a 25-7 first quarter lead.
Caldwell hit a pair of 3-pointers and scored 10 points and Dearth had a trey and scored 7 points to lead the fast start.
The lead was 43-11 at the half as six different players scored for the Panthers. Levi Blankenship had 5 points including a 3-pointer, Dearth had a triple and Josh Cox scored 4 more points.
The Hornets could only muster baskets by Evan Gannon and Peyton Smith.
Caldwell hit a 3-pointer and went 2-for-2 at the foul line while Nathan Cox had 4 points as the Panthers extended the lead to 59-22.
Coal Grove goes to Ironton on Friday.
Chesapeake 25 18 16 17 = 76
Coal Grove 7 4 11 5 = 26
CHESAPEAKE (14-2, 9-1): Travis Grim 3 0 0-0 6, Nathan Cox 4 0 0-0 8, Levi Blankenship 3 1 0-0 9, Dilen Caldwell 3 3 2-2 17, Austin Jackson 5 0 0-0 10, Trent Dearth 2 2 1-2 11, Josh Cox 3 0 0-0 6, Ethan Taylor 3 0 0-0 6, Jacob Lemley 0 1 0-0 3. Totals: 26 7 3-4 76. Fouls: 7. Fouled out: None.
COAL GROVE (4-11, 3-7): Perry Kinger 2 0 0-0 4, Cory Borders 1 1 0-0 5, Evan Gannon 2 1 0-0 7, Peyton Smith 2 0 0-0 4, Trevor Hankins 0 0 0-0 0, Tait Matney 0 0 0-0 0, Luke Ferguson 1 0 0-0 2, Malachi Wheeler 0 0 0-0 0, Dryzen Mullins 0 0 0-0 0, Jarren Hicks 1 0 2-2 4, Trey Hunt 0 0 0-0 0, Chase Hall 0 0 0-0 0, Ethan Short 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 9 2 2-2 26. Fouls: 8. Fouled out: None.