GAHS to host Division 3 power Chesapeake Friday

[jottings]

Coach Ryan Davis’ Division III state basketball power Chesapeake will invade Gallia Academy High School’s gym in Centenary Friday evening for a non-league hardwood outing.

It will be a twinbill. The reserve game will begin at 6 p.m.

The Panthers are coming off an 80-43 opening season victory over Huntington St. Joe Tuesday evening. Gallipolis is coming off a 55-37 setback at Fairland following a 47-45 non-league win over Rock Hill on Dec. 3.

CHS was a Division III regional finalist during the 2009-10 campaign and last year, compiled an outstanding 23-2 record under the watchful eye of Coach Davis, including a 77-22 drubbing of visiting Gallipolis last December.

The 55-point thrashing was Gallia Academy’s second worst loss in history. Worst Blue Devil cage loss was a 57-point beating (83-26) by former Southeastern Ohio League rival Pomeroy during the 1959-60 campaign.

Chesapeake has seven players returning from last year’s squad that reached the regionals, including Austin McMaster, Pat Hinze, Jay Thompson, Eric Kennedy plus a Lindsey, Noble and E. Kennedy.

Add Chad Meadows off the Panthers JV squad and it looks like CHS will be making another run for a state crown again this year.

Not only a high-scoring team, CHS averaged 75 points a game last winter, but also defensively, the Panthers gave up only 44.9 points a game in 25 outings.

In Tuesday’s opening win. McMaster tallied 29 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the defending Ohio Valley Conference champions. Eric Kennedy tossed in 17, Hintz 9, Noble 9, Thompson 7, Meadows 2 (and 11 rebounds) and Banaei 2 points.

The Panthers defense forced 23 turnovers in their 2011-12 opening victory. Last year at Chesapeake, the Panthers forced 29 GAHS turnovers, shot 45.4 percent from the field, hit 15 of 17 free throws for 88.2 percent and picked off 34 rebounds. The Panthers had only seven turnovers, 21 assists and 13 steals.

Gallipolis has four players back from last year’s loss including Nick Saunders, Joel Johnston, Ty Campbell, and Jimmy Clagg.

Saunders had five points in that game while Campbell had two. Johnston and Clagg did not score.

Probable GAHS starters Friday will be Bryce Amos, who missed last year’s Chesapeake game because of an injury, Nick Saunders, this year’s top scorer, Caleb Craft, Justin Bailey and Reid Eastman.

Chesapeake won last year’s JV game down there, 46-31.

Following Friday’s doubleheader, GAHS (1-1) will travel to Athens on Saturday for a tripleheader with the 1-1 Bulldogs. The freshman game will start at 5 p.m.

[WitnessProtection]

Chesapeake will hang 100 on GAHS if they want to.

[jottings]

Hope not.

Panthers will be one of Gallia's toughest opponents this winter. GAHS is averaging 42 points a game and giving up 50. Panthers are 80 ppg and 43 ppg.

Devils still smarting from last year's 55 point loss. Panthers poured in on in the fourth period, 23-1.

[dreamweaver]

Let's go Peake

[pfloyd]

... a shout out to Coach Davis and the 'Peake TEAM - best of luck this season, looking forward to seeing the Panthers next weekend Dec 17th , 7:30 pm , at the Convo vs Logan Elm ... THAT ONE will be a dandy ...

[dewdrinker]

Game night. plan on seeing the powerful peake team tonight and how gahs plays them.

[peake450]

any updates or radio broadcast

[superblue]

Peake was up by around 30 going into the 4th.