Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

CHESAPEAKE — Since he was the only starter returning, Javon Thompson gave his teammates a lesson in how to play at the varsity level.

Thompson scored 22 points including four 3-point goals to lead the Chesapeake Panthers to a 72-46 season-opening rout of the Huntington (W.Va.) St. Joseph Fighting Irish on Tuesday.

“None of these guys have had a first varsity game, so it was an experience,” said Panthers’ coach Ryan Davis. “We told them to step up and do things. We needed them to do what was expected of them.”

Nick Duffield scored 15 points in his first varsity start while Caleb Lindsey scored 11 and Caleb Heffner added 10 points.

Brian Conatay scored 16 for the Irish.

The Panthers took a 4-3 lead and extended it to 16-3 before the Irish got within 16-8 at the end of the first quarter.

Lindsey scored 7 points and Thompson 6 more as Chesapeake outscored St. Joseph 18-11 in the second quarter and it was 34-19 at the break.

Thompson erupted for 15 points in the third quarter including three triples and Duffield scored 8 points as the Panthers built a 60-32 cushion.

“We came out the third quarter and Javon got some good shots and that go us going,” said Davis.

The Panthers will play Athens on Saturday at the University of Rio Grande in the Newt Oliver Classic.

Hunt. St. Joe 8 11 13 14 = 46

Chesapeake 16 18 26 12 = 72

HUNTINGTON ST. JOSEPH (0-1): Stephan Jenkins 1 0 0-1 2, Hunter Pratt 0 0 2-3 2, Brian Conatay 5 2 0-0 16, Mike Mayes 3 1 0-0 9, Anthony Rabel 3 0 0-1 6, Lakin Brooks 3 0 2-3 8, Wolf Gohee 0 1 0-0 3. Totals: 15 4 4-8 46. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.

CHESAPEAKE (1-0): Shane Stevens 0 0 1-2 1, Nick Duffield 3 2 3-5 15, Austin Carpenter 2 0 0-0 4, Nate Smith 0 0 0-0 0, Caleb Lindsey 4 1 0-2 11, Brad Meadows 0 0 0-0 0, Caleb Heffner 3 0 4-4 10, Javon Thompson 5 4 0-0 22, Andrew Saunders 0 0 0-0 0, Aaron Thompson 3 0 3-4 9. Totals: 20 7 11-17 72. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None.