CHESAPEAKE – Welcome to Chesapeake Coach Ron Reed. It looks like it’s going to be a fun ride.

Reed’s first game as head coach of the Panthers had some wild moments as Chesapeake used a big fourth quarter to beat the Portsmouth Trojans 86-72 Friday.

“The guys really played hard and things just kept falling our way. Portsmouth is huge. You never know what’s going to happen the first game.

Kyle Rase celebrated his first game as a varsity starter with a game-high 29 points for the Panthers. Mike Stapleton scored 23 points including four 3-pointers and Jonathan Greene had 19 points.

“Kyle had a big game with 11 assists and Mike Stapleton shot really well. He stepped it up,” Reed said. “Jonathan had the big kid on him and he got four key baskets in the third quarter.”

Portsmouth (0-1) had four players in double figures led by Nate Cadogan with 19.

The Trojans led 18-14 at the end of the first quarter and built their biggest lead at 23-14 with a 5-0 run early in the second quarter.

But Chesapeake came back to get within 40-33 at the break.

Stapleton hit a 3-pointer to give Chesapeake its first lead since the first quarter at 51-50. Portsmouth scored but the Panthers got two foul shots by Rase to take the lead for good at 53-52.

“Things just started clicking in the second half,” Reed said

Chesapeake erupted for 33 points in the fourth quarter and Rase made Portsmouth pay for putting the junior guard at the foul line by converting 10 of 12 free throw attempts down the stretch.

As a team, the Panthers were 13 of 17 at the line.

Portsmouth coach Josh Shoemaker missed his debut. He was at the hospital for the birth of his first child.

Portsmouth18221220=72

Chesapeake14192033=86

PORTSMOUTH (0-1):

Nate Cadogan 9 0 1-5 19, Jordan Carter 5 0 2-2 12, Michael Valentine 4 0 4-4 12, Charlie Doll 2 1 4-4 11, Howard Harcha 3 0 2-4 8, Cody Farney 2 1 0-0 7, John Harcha 1 0 0-1 2, Colley 0 0 1-2 1. Totals: 28

(2)

14-22

72. Fouls: 29. Fouled out: J. Harcha, Doll. Rebounds: Cadogan 10, H. Harcha 8. Turnovers: 18.

CHESAPEAKE (1-0):

Aaron Ross 0 0 0-0 0, Mike Stapleton 4 4 3-4 23, Marty Clay 2 0 1-2 5, Kyle Rase 8 0 13-19 29, Laurnet Alexandre 0 0 0-0 0, Jordan Adkins 0 0 0-0 0, Joe Riley 0 0 2-2 2, Jonathan Greene 8 0 3-3 19, Jeremy Reaper 0 0 0-0 0, Travis Zimmerman 4 0 0-2 8. Totals: 30-56 (4)

22-33

86. Fouls: 25. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 21 (Greene 9). Assists: Rase 11. Turnovers: 12.).