Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

BIDWELL — The late, great George Jones once sang, “She’s hotter than a two dollar pistol.”

River Valley was sizzling hot as the Raiders shot 54 percent and Tyler Twyman scored 32 points including eight 3-pointers in a 58-55 win over the Chesapeake Panthers Friday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

The Raiders — 20 of 37 from the floor for the game — shot 61 percent through three quarters as they held on for the win and beat the Panthers for the first time since the final regular season game of the 1997-98 season.

The game was tied three times and there were 11 lead changes. Chesapeake’s biggest leads were 9-6 and 11-8. The Panthers’ final lead was 29-28 with 6:43 left in the third quarter.

River Valley’s biggest lead was 47-34 with 1:10 left in the third quarter and it was 47-36 at the end of the quarter.

The Panthers got within 54-53 with 1:48 left to play on a trey by Gage Rhoades, but the Raiders were 4-of-6 from the foul line over the final 1:34.

John Qualls hit the first of two foul shots for a 58-55 lead with 3.9 seconds left. The Panthers got the rebound and called a timeout, but the inbounds play resulted in a half-court heave that fell short.

Chesapeake (10-6, 3-4) was led by Caleb Heffner with 16 points. Andrew Saunders scored 12 and Brad Meadows had 10.

Chesapeake 11 12 13 19 = 55

River Valley 11 17 19 11 = 58

CHESAPEAKE (10-6, 3-4): Blake Lester 0 1 0-0 3, Austin Carpenter 1 0 0-0 2, Nate Smith 2 1 0-0 7, Gage Rhoades 2 0 1-2 5, Brad Meadows 4 0 2-2 10, Caleb Heffner 5 1 3-6 16, Andrew Saunders 6 0 0-0 12, Aaron Thompson 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 23-66 6-10 55. 3-point goals: 3-20. Rebounds: 19-OR, 14-DR = 33. Turnovers: 10.

RIVER VALLEY (4-12, 2-4): Dayton Hardway 1 0 0-0 2, Tyler Twyman 2 8 4-4 32, Andrew Moffett 2 0 0-0 4, John Qualls 2 0 4-4 8, Brycen Hatfield 0 0 0-1 0, Jordan Howell 0 0 0-0 0, Cody Lee 0 0 0-0 0, Sean Roberts 4 0 0-3 8, Justin Rusk 1 0 4-4 6. Totals: 20-37 10-16 58. 3-point goals: 8-14. Rebounds: 7-OR, 21-DR = 28. Turnovers: 20.