By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

SOUTH POINT — The Chesapeake Panthers have had little trouble scoring this season. But lost in the explosive offense is a defense that has quietly gone about its business.

The Panthers played well on both ends of the floor again Friday as they beat the South Point Pointers 86-53 in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

“We scored well early, but we guarded well,” said Panthers’ coach Ryan Davis. “We’ve played pretty good defense most of the year and we played pretty well tonight. Our main goal is to play better each game out.”

Austin McMaster played well again with 21 points and 11 rebounds. McMaster was 10 of 15 from the field and his basket within the first minute of the fourth quarter gave him 1,000 career points.

“Austin can score, but he’s a very unselfish player. He passes up a lot of shots,” said Davis.

Brandon Noble also had a big game with 19 points on 7-of-8 shooting. He hit three 3-pointers.

Patrick Hintz added 14 points and Eric Kennedy had 11 as four Panthers reach double figures.

Brandon Barnes had a game-high 26 points — 13 in each half — to lead South Point (2-4, 0-2). Austin Jeffreys had 11.

“Noble came out and hit a bunch of shots. That’s what makes them so tough. They have someone different step up each night,” said Pointers’ coach Chris Barnes.

Noble scored 11 points in the first quarter as Chesapeake jumped out to a 22-8 lead.

The lead went to 45-22 at the half as Noble scored 6 points and Caleb Lindsey, Kennedy and McMaster 5 each. Brandon Barnes scored 9 points for South Point.

McMaster pumped in 10 points in the third quarter with Hintz and Kennedy getting 6 each as the lead grew to 71-38.

Chesapeake 22 23 26 15 = 86

South Point 8 14 16 15 = 53

CHESAPEAKE (5-0, 2-0): Taylor Banaei 1 0 0-0 2, Austin Carpenter 1 0 1-2 3, Patrick Hintz 6 0 2-2 14, Mikey Walters 0 0 0-2 0, Caleb Lindsey 1 1 0-0 5, Eric Kennedy 3 1 2-2 11, Brandon Noble 4 3 2-3 19, Javon Thompson 2 1 0-0 7, Austin McMaster 10 0 1-2 21, Chad Meadows 0 0 4-4 4, Blake Lester 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 28 6 12-17 86. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None.

SOUTH POINT (2-4, 0-2): Austin Jeffreys 3 1 2-2 11, John Johnson 1 0 0-0 2, Tre Campbell 2 0 0-2 4, Austin Majher 1 0 0-3 2, Peyton Young 1 0 1-2 3, Josh Payne 1 0 0-0 2, Brandon Barnes 5 4 4-8 26, Kurt Adams 0 1 0-0 3. Totals: 14 6 7-17 53. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None.