CHESAPEAKE — Karson Frecka netted 10 second half points and the defense turned up the pressure after halftime to help the Chesapeake Panthers post a 59-46 win over the Alexander Spartans at Persin Court in the opening round of the Ohio Division 5 tournament.

The Panthers finally got a chance to take the court for the first time since falling to rival Fairland in double overtime in an emotional and intense game on Feb. 12.

And while the stakes are higher now than last week, the intensity just wasn’t quite there for the Panthers early on in the game.

“I don’t think we guarded with the intensity that we needed to be playing in tournament basketball to be successful,” said Chesapeake coach Steven Ater. “I thought we were too passive and that let them settle in.”

Maddox Kazee was able to score 7 points in the first quarter and help the Panthers overcome a sluggish start and close the frame with a 9-0 run and take a 16-4 lead into the second. Kaden Perkins added 5 in the period.

In the second, it appeared as if the Panthers were getting warmed up when Jon Cooper Barker made back-to-back scores to give the Panthers a 20-7 lead at the 5:33 mark.

But the Spartans would put together a run of their own to claw back into the game.

Mason Morris would get the hot hand for Alexander (7-16), scoring 11 points in the quarter — including two pull up 3-pointers to aid the Spartans in closing the deficit to 24-20.

Morris finished with a game-high 17 points to lead the Spartans offensively. The senior guard also tallied 2 assists and 3 rebounds.

Alexander’s run was halted just before halftime when Phillip Thacker banked in a triple from the corner as time expired to give the Panthers a 7-point lead at the break.

The Spartans would come out and cut Chesapeake’s lead down to two after Issac Waller scored on an assist from Klaxton Hawk. But that would be the closest the Spartans would get the rest of the way.

Perkins and Ethan Kerns would sink 3-pointers during the third to help the Panthers (20-3) on the offensive end.

Then on the defensive end, the defense began to turn the intensity up with pressure in the backcourt and one of the main catalysts for that was Perkins.

“I thought (Kaden’s) defense in the second half was tremendous. His ball pressure was tremendous,” said Ater. “And I challenged him at halftime. We have to make sure he’s pressuring and start spearheading our defense.”

After a slow start in the first half, Frecka made his biggest contributions for the Panthers after halftime — especially in the fourth quarter.

“Karson had a really good second half finishing around the rim and made his free throws.” said Ater. “He’s been tremendous all year finishing when he gets opportunities.

Frecka scored 8 points in the quarter, including 5-of-5 from the foul line in the quarter to help keep the Panthers lead at double digits.

Frecka went on to finish the night with 12 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocked shots.

“My foul shooting is something I’ve been struggling with a little bit, shooting around 75%, which I want to get up,” said Frecka. “But I was glad I was able to make them all tonight.”

Frecka’s big play of the night came at the 4:07 mark of the fourth when grabbed a long rebound and took a power dribble to the hoop, went up and drew the foul, and made the layup. Fecka then sank the free throw for the old-fashioned 3-point play to give the Panthers a 55-42 lead at that point.

“I came out flat the first half, I think we all did. Then in the second half, I think we turned it up a little more. I realized I needed to go to the boards more,” said Frecka.

Kazee and Perkins finished the night with 14 points to lead the Panthers offensively. Thacker and Kerns each chipped in 7 in the win.

In the end, coach Ater was glad to get the win and move on to the next round.

“At the end of the day, it’s survive and advance. You don’t get style points at this point of the year. It’s good to win your last home game. I thought it was good for the seniors.”

Chesapeake now advances to the district semifinals where they will face Eastern Brown on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at Waverly’s Downton Arena. Tip off is scheduled for 8:30 P.M.

Alexander 4 16 15 9 = 46

Chesapeake 16 11 18 14 = 59

ALEXANDER (7-16): Alex Bateman 0 0 0-0 0, Noah Ray 0 0 0-0 0, Mason Morris 2 4 1-2 17, Trent Schaad 0 0 0-0 0, Gabe Felts 0 1 0-0 3, Klaxton Hawk 5 1 0-0 13, Carter Jewell 0 0 0-0 0, Jace Cooper 1 1 0-0 5, Michael McKibben 0 0 0-0 0, Issac Waller 3 0 2-2 8, Jack Ford 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 11 7 3-4 46. Rebounds: 22 (Waller 6, Hawk 5, Cooper 3, Morris 3). Assists: 5 (Bateman 2, Morris 2, Waller 2). Steals: 5 (Felts 2). Turnovers: 14. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: Bateman (4th, 5:02).

CHESAPEAKE (20-3): Ethan Kerns 2 1 0-0 7, Jon Cooper Barker 2 0 1-2 5, Drew Plantz 0 0 0-0 0, Dennis Scarberry 0 0 0-0 0, Kaden Perkins 3 2 2-2 14, Maddox Kazee 5 0 4-7 14, Philip Thacker 2 1 0-0 7, Peyton Muncy 0 0 0-0 0, Karson Frecka 4 0 4-4 12. Totals: 18 4 11-15 59. Rebounds: 19 (Thacker 6, Kazee 5, Frecka 5). Assists: 10 (Perkins 3, Kazee 3, Kerns 2, Barker 2). Steals: 7 (Perkins 4, Plantz 2). Turnovers: 12. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.