ATHENS — There’s cold shooting and then there’s the Chesapeake Panthers second half on Sunday.
In the Division 5 Region 19 championship game, the Panthers shooting temperature was virtually zero in the third quarter and almost as cold in the fourth quarter in a 55-40 loss to the Minford Falcons.
Chesapeake trailed just 27-25 at halftime but went 0-of-9 from the field in the third quarter with the only points a pair of foul shots by Philip Thacker with 2:24 on the clock.
The Panthers didn’t get a field goal until Maddox Kazee made a layup and converted a 3-point play with 3:38 to play that left them down 51-33.
The Falcons (25-1) outscored the Panthers 12-2 in the third quarter to open up a 39-27 lead and they continued to pull away as they earned the school’s first-ever Final Four berth next Friday.
“I think had we been able to get a couple of baskets to go and a few free throws there and we were able to match that run I think it’s a totally different ball game,” said Panthers’ coach Steven Ater.
The key for the Falcons in the quarter were a pair of 3-pointers by Jackson Shoemaker along with the play of Co-District Players of the Year Bennett Kayser and Myles Montgomery.
“Give them credit. They’ve got two star players, but Shoemaker has done such a good job I feel like every big game, tight game I’ve watched them play this year he’d hit a big shot or get a putback that would help secure the win or push the lead. He’s such a crucial piece for them outside of (Kayser and Montgomery).”
Chesapeake took an early 5-1 lead as Maddox Kazee hit a 3-pointer and a layup. Kayser hit a baseline shot to start a 15-5 run that ended with a 3-pointer by Kayser with 3 seconds on the clock and it was 16-10.
During the run, Kaden Perkins had a 3-point play at the 1:58 mark that gave the Panthers their last lead at 8-7.
A 3-point play by Karson Frecka and a baseline jumper by Kazee got the Panthers within 21-20 with 4:07 to go in the half and Kazee’s 3-pointer tied the game at 23-all with 2:52 on the clock.
Layups by Ashton Reeder and Kayser made it 27-23 before Kazee hit another baseline shot with 2 seconds left and it was 27-25 at the break.
The third quarter was the turning point as Chesapeake failed to make any of 9 field goal attempts including 0-for-3 from behind the arc. The only points were a pair of free throws by Philip Thacker at the 2:24 mark that left the Panthers down 33-27.
Shoemaker — who back back-to-back 3-pointers to start the quarter’s scoring — had a putback, Montgomery sank 2 free throws and Kayser came up with a steal and passed to Shoemaker for a layup and it was 39-27.
“We just weren’t able to answer the run. We got some good looks. The ball just wouldn’t drop for us,’ said Ater.
“Then we got a little scattered. Once you get frustrated on one end, that carries over to the defensive end. We had slippage there. It just piled one and they did what they’re supposed to do. They kept turning our misses into transition baskets.”
Minford went on a 12-1 run to start the fourth quarter and it was 51-28 with 3:47 to play. A dunk off an “alley oop” pass from Montgomery gave the Falcons their biggest lead at 55-31 with 3:07 left.
Kayser had 23 points and 9 rebounds while Montgomery and Shoemaker scored 12 points each. Shoemaker also grabbed 6 rebounds.
Kazee led Chesapeake with 15 points and 5 rebounds. Perkins added 11 points and Frecka had 5 rebounds.
The Panthers finished the season 23-4 and reached the regional finals for the first time since the program’s Final Four run in 2010. The team will only lose seniors Ethan Kerns, Drew Plantz and Jack Blankenship.
“Obviously, the results are disappointing as they should be, but I told our guys that we’ll take a little time to grieve this, but at the end of the day we have a lot to be proud of,” said Ater.
“Those three (seniors) have been with me for all three years. They went through a coaching transition which is never easy. I was so fortunate to get to work with them and get to know those three. They’re just rocks in our program. Jack has worked with this program for 11 years. Few people have that kind of selflessness and heart to be able to give to the program and care so much. Those are the type of people I want to be around all the time. They’re great examples for our younger guys.”
Minford will play Lutheran East at a day and site to be determined.
Chesapeake 10 15 2 13 = 40
Minford 16 11 12 16 = 55
CHESAPEAKE (23-4): Ethan Kerns 0 1 2-2 5, Kaden Perkins 2 0 7-11 11, Maddox Kazee 4 2 1-1 15, Philip Thacker 0 0 2-2 2, Karson Frecka 1 0 1-1 3, Jon Cooper Barker 0 0 0-0 0, Drew Plantz 0 0 0-0 0, Landon Kerns 0 0 0-0 0, Dennis Scarberry 0 0 1-2 1, Andrew Isaacs 0 1 0-0 3, L Clay 0 0 0-0 0, Andy Chapman 0 0 0-0 0, Jackson Spitler 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 11-41 14-19 40. 3-pt goals: 4-17. Rebounds: 23 (Kazee 5, Frecka 5). Turnovers: 9. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: E. Kerns.
MINFORD (25-1): Curtis Glenn 1 1 0-2 5, Ashton Reeder 1 0 1-2 3, Myles Montgomery 2 0 8-8 12, Jackson Shoemaker 3 2 0-0 12, Bennett Kayser 8 2 1-2 23. Totals: 20-45 10-19 55. 3-pt goals: 5-18. Rebounds: 31 (Kayser 9, Shoemaker 6). Turnovers: 6. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: Kayser.
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