By JIM WALKER

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

The Chesapeake Panthers were left for dead on the side of the road.

But Ironton’s Braden Schreck went down with an injury at the 6:02 mark of the fourth quarter.

The situation seemed to act as a defibrillator as the Panthers came to life and erased an 18-point deficit to tie the game, then won 83-76 in overtime to keep their Ohio Valley Conference title hopes alive.

  “This year it seems like every critical bounce goes the other way,” said Ironton coach Chris Barnes. “Those are tough ones to lose.”

Ironton (12-7, 9-4) led 57-44 going into the fourth quarter and when Schreck went in for a layup he was fouled and went to the floor injuring his ankle. He made one free throw and left the game with 6:02 to play and the lead was now 62-46.

Markel Cotton made a layup and the lead was 66-48 with 5:40 to go, but Kaden Perkins made a free throw and a layup and the comeback was on.

Maddox Kazee and Perkins began to score at will and when Ethan Kerns sank two foul shots with 32 seconds left, the Panthers were down just 74-72.

Karson Frecka made a layup to tie the game with 9 seconds left and he then blocked a layup attempt just before the buzzer and the game went to overtime.

Chesapeake (19-2, 12-1) got a free throw by Kerns, two by Perkins and one by Drew Plantz and it was 78-74.

Ashton Layne’s layup with 41 seconds on the clock got Ironton within 78-76, but Perkins made a foul shot and Kazee was 4 of 4 at the line as the Panthers came away with the miracle finish.

Ironton was up 10-5 after a free throw by Schreck. Perkins drove the baseline for a layup and got another layup as Chesapeake got within 10-9.

Schreck hit a 12-footer and a free throw with 45 seconds on the clock and Ironton lead 15-11 at the end of the quarter.

Ashton Layne’s layup and a steal and layup by Markel Cotton put Ironton up 21-13 at the 5:30 mark.

Perkins sank two technical free throws and then two more foul shots with 3:33 left in the half and the Panthers trailed 26-19.

Tyler Roach hit a 3-pointer for a 29-19 lead but two free throws each from Perkins and Philip Thacker cut the deficit to 31-25.

But Schreck hit a pair of 3-pointers including one with 2 seconds left in the half and Ironton was up 37-27.

Ironton continued to pull away in the third quarter as a 12-footer by Schreck and a free throw by Braylon Sturgill opened up a 57-42 lead.

Perkins made a layup just before the buzzer and it was 57-44.

“Braden getting hurt and that hurt us and Markel (Cotton) fouling out really hurt us. We started throwing the ball away, we handed it to them, it’s just frustrating,” said Barmes.

Kazee finished with 34 points and Perkins scored 23 as both players were 13 of 16 at the foul line. Frecka added 10 points.

Schreck scored a career-high 34 points to lead Ironton. Cotton scored 13 while Roach and Layne scored 11 each.

Chesapeake 11 16 17 30 9 = 83

Ironton  15 22 20 17 2 = 76

CHESAPEAKE (19-2, 12-1): Ethan Kerns 4 0 5-6 13, Jon Cooper Barker 0 0 0-0 0, Drew Plantz 0 0 1-2 1, Kaden Perkins 5 0 13-16 23, Maddox Kazee 9 1 13-16 34, Philip Thacker 0 0 2-2 2, Karson Frecka 5 0 0-1 10, Jacob Skeens 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 23 1 34-43 83. Fouls: 24. Fouled out: Thacker.

IRONTON (12-7, 9-4): Bryce Markins 0 1 0-2 3, Judah Barnes 0 0 3-4 3, Tyler Roach 1 3 0-0 11, Markel Cotton 5 0 3-5 13, Braden Schreck 6 4 10-15 34, Ashton Layne 5 0 1-3 11, Braylon Sturgill 0 0 1-2 1, Carson Freeman 0 0 0-0 0, Maddix Markel 0 0 0-0 0, Brycen Mullins 0 0 0-0 0, Keonte Jenkins 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17 8 18-31 76. Fouls: 28. Fouled out: Sturgill, Barnes, Roach, Cotton, Markel.