Warriors inside game ends Panthers tournament run

ATHENS — It was stop but no go for the Chesapeake Panthers.

The Panthers kept getting stops in the fourth quarter but couldn’t connect on their shots to go in the basket on the other end thats piled their comeback hopes.

That cold offensive stretch in the fourth quarter was key as the Panthers lost 49-40 to the Eastern Brown Warriors in the Division 5 district championship game at Ohio University’s Convocation Center on Saturday.

“We had a good first quarter start. I thought our bench guys came in and gave us great energy and kept the game within reach,” said Panthers’ coach Steven Ater.

“We just couldn’t generate enough offense. But a credit to (Eastern Brown) and their defense. They were physical and had good size and length. We knew points would be at a premium.”

The Warriors (22-3) took a 4-0 lead to start the game only to have the Panthers take a 5-4 lead on a 3-pointer by Kaden Perkins.

Matt Dick gave the Warriors a 6-5 lead, but Andy Chapman hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer and Chesapeake lead 9-6 at the end of the first quarter.

Dennis Scarberry and Perkins each made free throws for a 14-11 lead. Dick had a putback only to have Philip Thacker make a spinning layup and the Panthers led 16-15 with 1:54 on the clock.

Jaidon Florence hit a 3-pointer that bounced high off the rim and came back down and went through the net to give the Warriors an 18-16 lead at the half.

Eastern Brown came out and went on an 11-1 run to start the second half keyed by Carter Cluxton’s 3-pointer and two layups by Dick opened up a 27-17 lead with 4:49 left in the quarter.

Scarberry’s 12-footer stopped the run at the 4:20 mark but Dick’s putback had the lead at 29-17. A basket by Sam Ramer gave Eastern a 35-21 but Thacker’s follow up to a missed shot left the Panthers down 35-23 at the end of the quarter.

Chesapeake had six straight stops but only capitalized on the final stop when Perkins hit a 3-pointer with 4:51 on the clock and it was 35-29.

The Panthers got another turnover but couldn’t find the net and the Warriors got two foul shots each by Chase Pinkerton and Dick with 3:10 left to lead 41-29.

Perkins drilled another trifecta but Dick was left alone for a layup and it was 41-31 with 3:10 left.

Maddox Kazee sank two free throws with 1:18 to go and hit another 10 seconds later that got the Panthers within 43-37. But a layup by DIck with 1:01 to play put the lead at 45-37 and all but sealed the outcome.

The Panthers were kept in the game with the scoring of Perkins who had 23 points that included six 3-point goals.

“Perkins has been a phenomenal player for us. Basically, a four-year starter, a thousand point scorer. He played great today,” said Ater.

However, the Panthers were hampered by an injury to leading scorer Maddox Kazee who was just 3-of-4 at the foul line.

“Maddox was giving us everything he could. He was limited with that shoulder injury. I don’t think there was any secret about that. He felt bad. I told him shouldn’t feel bad,” said Ater.

“A lot of kids wouldn’t be playing with what he’s dealing with. For him to battle through it and give us anything was more than I could ever dream of. That shows you how much he cares about this team.”

Dick led Eastern with 18 points with Vance netting 11.

Ater praised the play of his four departing seniors Jon-Cooper Barker, Philip Thacker, Karson Frecka and Kaden Perkins.

“I thought our kids battled tremendously hard. I’m proud of their effort. They left it all on the floor. I’m hurting especially for our four seniors who have been bedrocks for our program,” said Ater.

“From a personal standpoint and not a basketball standpoint, to see their growth has been awesome.”

The Panthers finished the season 21-4 and district runners-up.

Eastern Brown will face Ironton at 8 p.m. on Wednesday at the Convocation Center in the regional semifinals.

E. Brown 6 12 17 14 = 49

Chesapeake 9 7 7 17 = 40

EASTERN BROWN (22-3): Kayne Dotson 1 0 2-6 4, Jaidon Florence 0 1 0-0 3, Chase Pinkerton 1 0 2-2 4, Sam Ramer 1 0 0-0 2, Carter Cluxton 2 1 0-2 7, Braxton Vance 3 0 5-7 11, Matt Dick 8 0 2-2 18. Totals: 16 2 11-19 49. Rebounds: (O-10, D-32) 42 (Dick 12, Cluxton 7). Assists: 7 (Dotson 4). Steals: 4 (Dotson 2). Blocks: 3 (Dick 3). Turnovers: 13. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.

CHESAPEAKE (20-4): Jon-Cooper Barker 0 0 0-0 0, Andrew Isaacs 0 0 0-0 0, Kaden Perkins 2 6 1-2 23, Dennis Scarberry 1 0 1-2 3, Maddox Kazee 0 0 3-4 3, Philip Thacker 2 0 1-2 5, Karson Frecka 0 0 1-2 1, Andy Chapman 1 1 0-1 5. Totals: 6 7 7-13 40. Rebounds: (O-7, D-16) 23 (Thacker 7, Scarberry 3, Kazee 3, Frecka 3). Assists: 6 (Perkins 2). Steals: 7 (Scarberry 4). Blocks: 2 (Thacker, Frecka). Turnovers: 6. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: Barker (4th, 3:10), Scarberry (4th, 0:11).

E. Brown 6 12 17 14 = 18

Chesapeake 9 7 7 17 = 16

EASTERN BROWN (22-3): Kayne Dotson 1 0 2-6 4, , Jaidon Florence 0 1 0-0 3, Chase Pinkerton 1 0 2-2 4, Sam Ramer 1 0 0-0 2, Carter Cluxton 2 1 0-2 7, Braxton Vance 3 0 5-7 11, Matt Dick 8 0 2-2 18. Totals: 16 2 11-19 49. Rebounds: (O-10, D-32) 42 (Dick 12, Cluxton 7). Assists: 7 (Dotson 4). Steals: 4 (Dotson 2). Blocks: 3 (Dick 3). Turnovers: 13. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.

CHESAPEAKE (20-4): Jon-Cooper Barker 0 0 0-0 0, Andrew Isaacs 0 0 0-0 0, Kaden Perkins 2 6 1-2 23, Dennis Scarberry 1 0 1-2 3, Maddox Kazee 0 0 3-4 3, Philip Thacker 2 0 1-2 5, Karson Frecka 0 0 1-2 1, Andy Chapman 1 1 0-1 5. Totals: 6 7 7-13 40. Rebounds: (O-7, D-16) 23 (Thacker 7, Scarberry 3, Kazee 3, Frecka 3). Assists: 6 (Perkins 2). Steals: 7 (Scarberry 4). Blocks: 2 (Thacker, Frecka). Turnovers: 6. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: Barker (4t, 3:10), Scarberry (4th, 0:11).