Chesterfield pulls away in 4th quarter to turn back CC

Fighting an uphill battle all the way against Chesterfield Community’s press and height advantage, Charles City’s host Panthers did all they could to stay in the game. But the visiting Eagles eventually put the contest away in the fourth quarter, claiming a 77-59 Tri-Rivers District basketball win.

Chesterfield threatened to turn the Jan. 18 affair into a blowout in the first half, but Charles City’s zone defense kept a lid on matters.

“That’s the only way we could play them,” Panther coach Brenner Carter said speaking of defense. “We don’t play man-to-man very well, and they’re big and they’ve got shooters.”

The Eagles were cruising late in the second quarter, up 31-14 with under three minutes left in the half. But back-to-back threes launched by point guard Kevin Wallace changed the complexion of the game.

Wallace’s baskets trimmed the Eagle lead to 31-20. And although Chesterfield took a 37-24 advantage to the locker room at halftime, the visitors unable to separate themselves from their hosts until the final quarter.

Nearing the midpoint of the third quarter, Aaronde Williams’ basket off a steal pulled Charles City within striking distance at 39-30.

“We got it down to nine at one point, but then our inexperience showed,” Carter said. “Then we want to turn the ball over and put them back up. We’ve got to realize we’ve got to break them down and come back down and score.”

On Chesterfield’s next possession, Jerrod House sank a pair of free throws to bump the lead back to double digits. Then after a Panther turnover caused by visitors’ press, the Eagles’ David Copeland buried a trey to open a 44-30 advantage.

Charles City closed to within 10 at 55-45 as the third quarter closed, but the Eagles put together a 9-0 run over the next three minutes to put the contest beyond reach.

“The kids really wanted this game, but we couldn’t get the lead at all,” Carter said. “We looked good in spots, but then we didn’t look good in spots. At least we didn’t back down, and I told them I was proud of that.”

Williams’ 19 points led Charles City, now 2-3 in the district and 4-9 overall. Trevor Jones tossed in nine followed by Wallace’s eight, seven from Welton Smith, six apiece from Cetha Boone and Antonio Tabb, and two each from Reynard Black and Vannie Spruell.

Chesterfield’s Copeland led all scorers with 20.