Lady Panthers never trail in topping Amelia

If Charles City’s Panthers made any kind of a statement Friday night against Chesterfield Community’s Eagles, the message is they won’t back down from anybody.

Facing a team with an obvious height advantage and talented players at all five positions, the Panthers overcame most of a double-digit deficit after one quarter and stayed within striking distance. With just over 1:30 left in the contest, it was a six-point game.

But the visiting Eagles put together a 7-0 run to pull away and escape with a 90-77 Tri-Rivers District basketball win. The outcome dropped Charles City to 2-3 in the district and 3-9 overall.

“Our motto is ‘We fight to the end,’” said Panther coach Sharone Bailey. “We’ve got guys out injured and we’re down to seven players, but those guys know they’ve got to have heart and got to have fire.

“I’m proud of my guys,” he said. “We just came up a little bit short.”

Chesterfield used its height advantage to hammer out a 25-15 lead after one quarter, giving the contest the makings of a rout. But Charles City refused to fold. Behind Jamie Howard’s 15 first half points, including three baskets from behind the three-point arc, the hosts kept the Eagles from running away. Chesterfield owned a 44-34 advantage at the break.

Charles City made a run at their taller opponents to start the third quarter. Trevor Jones followed a free throw with a basket in the lane and Terrance Banks scored at the end of a fast break to close the gap to 44-39.

The Eagles answered with a 6-0 run, but with a minute left in the third, the Panthers pulled back within five at 59-54 on a Howard lay-up. Dominique Williams’ trey early in the fourth quarter pulled the hosts within four at 61-57.

Charles City had opportunities to overtake their guests, but missed crucial shots in the paint. The Eagles, meanwhile, bumped their lead back to 10. Charles City quickly cut the Eagle lead in half on a Gregory Cotman trey and Banks’ lay-in off a fast break. The hosts trailed 71-66 with 3:38 to go.

Chesterfield went back up by eight, and Charles City twice whittled the margin to six, first on a Jaron Woodley basket and then on a Banks free throw. Banks’ foul shot closed the gap to 77-71, but the hosts were unable to make further headway.

“We missed a couple of easy shots and ran out of legs at the end,” Bailey said. “But I can’t ask for nothing else. Our guys came out and gave everything they’ve got.

“I’ve got to give my assistant coaches credit,” he added. “They worked hard to get our guys up and motivated.”

Howard and Williams led Charles City with 17 and 16 points, respectively, while Banks and Jones finished with 13 apiece. Cotman tossed in eight while Woodley contributed six and Wendell Jones chipped in four.