By JIM WALKER

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

CHESAPEAKE — “The first cut is the deepest. Baby, I know, the first cut is the deepest.

‘Cause when it comes to being lucky, we’re cursed.

When it comes to good starts, we’re the worst.

When it comes to the first quarter, Chesy’s first.

That’s how I know

The first cut is the deepest.”

With apologies to Cat Stevens and his song “The First Cut is the Deepest,” the Ironton Fighting Tigers keep finding out that the first quarter — and eventually the game — belongs to the Chesapeake Panthers.

In yet a similar start on Persin Court, the Panthers jumped out to a big lead in the first quarter and withstood Ironton’s comeback and managed a 67-61 Ohio Valley Conference win on Tuesday.

Chesapeake went on an 11-3 run to start the game and finished the first quarter with an 18-9 lead before Ironton came back to take the lead on two different occasions before the Panthers managed to pull away in the final minute of the game.

“We’ve beat them four of the last six times we’ve played, and the two we lost were here and both times our first quarters were awful,” said Ironton coach Chris Barnes.

“It’s harder here to dig out of a hole. To our guys credit, we took a lead and that was with basically half our team in major foul trouble and (foul trouble) kind hampered us down the stretch. We hit 10 straight free throws until those last three or four free throws.”

Chesapeake is now 17-1 on the season but more importantly 11-0 in the OVC and heading toward a first place showdown at 12-0 Fairland on Friday. The Panthers final three league games are at Fairland, at Ironton and home with Fairland.

A 3-point by Kaden Perkins and a lay-up by Karson Frecka put the Panthers up 23-9 to start the second quarter.

Ironton then began its comeback as Braden Schreck hit a 3-pointer to make it 32-28. Perkins sank two free throws just before the half and it was 36-30.

Schreck — who had 17 points in the first half — was forced to the bench in the third quarter after picking up his fourth foul.

“We gave them a bucket on an inbounds play that gave them the lead. We went down and missed a couple of 3s. That game came down to about two plays after we made the comeback. We had our chances. Give them credit. They had to win at home. They made some plays,” said coach Barnes.

Frecka scored inside and Maddox Kazee turned a steal into a layup and a 40-30 lead early in the third quarter.

But Ashton Layne scored 8 points and Judah Barnes hit a pair of 3-pointers — the second a heave from halfcourt as the buzzer ended the third quarter — and Ironton had battled back to take a 51-50 lead.

“Judah played a great game today. His all-around stats were fantastic. Layne and Markel played great. We played a great defensive game. We just couldn’t finish it out,” said coach Barnes.

Ironton took its last lead on a layup by Schreck off a perfect pass from Barnes  and it was 57-56.

A 3-point play by Kazee with 2:15 left gave the Panthers the lead and a layup by Drew Plantz gave Chesapeake the lead for good at 61-59.

Frecka, Philip Thacker and Plantz all went 2 of 2 from the foul line over the final minute of play to seal the win.

Perkins scored 20 points and Kazee 18 to lead the Panthers. Frecka added 10 points off the bench.

Schreck scored 21 points to go with 3 rebounds and 3 assists for Ironton. Layne had 14 points — all in the second half — while Markel had 11 points and 5 rebounds with Barnes getting 9 points on three 3-pointers, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 4 steals and a blocked shot.

Ironton   9 21 21 10 = 61

Chesapeake 18 18 14 17 = 67

IRONTON (10-6, 8-3): Ashton Layne 5 0 4-4 14, Bryce Markins 0 0 0-0 0, Judah Barnes 0 3 0-0 9, Markel Cotton 1 0 2-2 4, Braden Schreck 7 1 4-7 21, Maddix Markel 2 0 7-8 11, Carson Freeman 0 0 0-0 0, Tyler Roach 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 20-55 17-21 61. 3-pt goals: 4-21. Rebounds: 12-O 12-D = 24 (Markel 5, Roach 5, Barnes 4, Schreck 3, Layne 3, Markins 2, Cotton 2). Assists: 9 (Barnes 5, Schreck 3). Steals: 7 (Barnes 4). Blocks: 3 (Barnes 1, Markel 1, Layne 1). Turnovers: 11. Fouls: 23. Fouled out: None.

CHESAPEAKE (17-1, 11-0): Ethan Kerns 1 0 0-0 2, Jon Cooper Barker 0 0 0-0 0, Drew Plantz 1 0 2-2 4, Kaden Perkins 7 0 6-6 20, Maddox Kazee 5 1 5-7 18, Philip Thacker 1 0 5-6 7, Karson Frecka 4 0 2-2 10, Jacob Skeens 3 0 0-0 6. Totals: 23-40 20-23 67. 3-pt goals: 1-5. Rebounds: 3-O 22-D = 25. Assists: 8. Steals: 4. Blocks: 5. Turnovers: 15. Fouls: 14.