By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

CHESAPEAKE — Pick your poison.

The River Valley Raiders were the latest team to find out that it’s hard to defend the Chesapeake Panthers’ balanced and explosive offense.

It was only fitting on senior night that the Panthers’ four senior starters not only scored in double figures but accounted for 82 of their total in a 91-49 rout of the Raiders in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

“They pass the ball well and they take what the defense gives them. It all depends on how a team plays us that determines who gets the open shots,” said Panthers’ coach Ryan Davis.

Austin McMaster led with 25 points to go with 10 rebounds. Brandon Noble had 22 points and 6 steals, Eric Kennedy totaled 20 points, 5 rebounds, 6 steals and 3 blocks, while Patrick Hintz had 15 points, 4 assists and 4 steals.

For the season, all five of the Panthers’ starters — the fifth is Javon Thompson — average double figures.

The victory gives the Panthers a 17-1 record overall and secures an outright OVC title with a 9-0 record. A win at Rock Hill on Tuesday would give the Chesapeake seniors an unbeaten record in the league during their three varsity years.

Derek Flint had 14 points for River Valley (2-13, 0-9). Ethan Dovenbarger scored 11 and Austin Lewis 10.

Chesapeake was 34 of 64 from the field but shot 28 of 40 from 2-point range for 70 percent. They were 6 of 24 from the 3-point line.

The Raiders trailed just 24-21 at the end of the first quarter as Flint scored 10 points.

But Chesapeake took over in the second quarter and outscored the Raiders 25-10 to open up a 49-31 halftime cushion and coasted the rest of the way.

River Valley 21 10 13 5 = 49

Chesapeake 24 25 21 21 = 91

RIVER VALLEY (2-13, 0-9): Derek Flint 1 2 6-7 14, Kyle Bays 1 0 0-0 2, Austin Whobrey 0 0 0-0 0, Chris Clemente 1 0 0-0 2, Trey Noble 1 0 0-0 2, Aaron Harrison 1 2 0-0 8, Joseph Lloyd 0 0 0-0 0, Austin Lewis 4 0 2-3 10, Ethan Dovenbarger 4 0 3-6 11, Aaron Rupe 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17-38 11-16 49. 3-point goals: 4-8. Rebounds: 28. Turnovers: 29. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None.

CHESAPEAKE (17-1, 9-0): Taylor Banaei 0 0 0-0 0, Patrick Hintz 3 3 0-0 15, Mikey Walters 1 0 1-2 3, Caleb Lindsey 0 0 0-0 0, Eric Kennedy 4 2 6-6 20, Brandon Noble 7 1 5-7 22, Javon Thompson 2 0 0-0 4, Austin McMaster 11 0 3-3 25, Chad Meadows 0 0 2-4 2, Austin Carpenter 0 0 0-0 0, Blake Lester 0 0 0-0 0, Nate Smith 0 0 0-0 0, Shane Stevens 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 34-64 17-22 91. 3-point goals: 6-24. Rebounds: 30 (McMaster 10, Kennedy 5). Assists: 13 (Thompson 4, Hintz 4). Steals: 22 (Noble 6, Kennedy 6, Hintz 4). Turnovers: 5. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.