Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

SOUTH POINT — With leading scorer Gage Rhoades out possibly for the rest of the season due to a medical condition, the Chesapeake Panthers needed a new game plan.

Nate Smith and Jake Stevens put their names at the top of the game plan list as they sparked the Panthers to a 57-31 win over the South Point Pointers on Friday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

Smith created six turnovers alone and scored 10 points while Stevens had 13 points including three 3-pointers as Chesapeake (14-0, 7-0) stayed unbeaten and atop of the OVC standings.

Aaron Thompson added 10 points and Brad Meadows grabbed 14 rebounds, matching South Point’s team total.

Panthers’ coach Ryan Davis praised the play of Smith and Stevens but noted the team defense as a key factor.

“We gave up 22 points in the first half. They hit some 3s and we took that away and that helped,” said Davis. “Nate Smith picked it up and we gave up one field goal in the second half.”

Brad Meadows scored 4 points in the first quarter to offset 4 points by South Point’s Ryan Gibson as Chesapeake took an 11-8 lead.

Stevens had 8 points in the second quarter while Alex Whitt hit a pair of 3-pointers for the Pointers and the Panthers were up 26-22 at the half.

But the defense held South Point to only 4 points in the third quarter and Thompson scored 7 of his points as Chesapeake opened up a comfortable 46-26 lead.

On Tuesday, Chesapeake hosts Rock Hill and South Point entertains Portsmouth in league games.

Chesapeake 11 15 20 11 = 57

South Point 8 14 4 5 = 31

CHESAPEAKE (15-0, 7-0): Austin Hutchison 0 0 0-0 0, Jake Stevens 1 3 2-2 13, Casey McComas 0 2 2-2 8, Austin Carpenter 1 0 0-0 2, Kolton Webb 0 2 0-0 6, Nate Smith 4 0 2-3 10, David Dotson 0 0 0-0 0, Brad Meadows 4 0 0-0 8, Wes Stephens 0 0 0-0 0, Cecil Fletcher 0 0 0-0 0, Aaron Thompson 3 0 4-7 10. Totals: 13 7 10-14 57. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.

SOUTH POINT (2-11, 1-7): Chris Woodard 1 0 0-0 2, Steven Wagoner 0 1 1-2 4, Rickard 1 0 4-6 6, Alex Whitt 0 2 0-0 6, Elijah Adams 1 0 0-0 2, Cody Runyon 0 0 2-2 2, Ryan Gibson 2 1 2-2 9, Totals: 5 4 9-12 31. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: None.