Derrick Webb, Managing Editor
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
WAVERLY — Put simply, Chesapeake had no answer for Macy Whisman on Saturday.
Portsmouth West’s junior forward was dominant for 32 straight minutes, bullying defenders en route to the bucket and powering her Senators’ offensive efforts.
Whisman’s double-double of 25 points and 10 rebounds took center stage in a 48-37 win over the Panthers in a Division V district semifinal.
“I wasn’t really thinking about doing anything special. I was just out there playing,” Whisman said. “I think having [teammates] like Brayleigh [Pistole] and Hailey [Carver] really helps space the floor. They feed me the ball when I need it. So it’s a team effort.”
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
Chesapeake’s Abbey Isaacs also had herself a night, matching Whisman’s 25 points to lead her Panthers.
But that was all West’s defense was willing to surrender.
The Senators (15-9) allowed Isaacs to score, but tightened the clamps on each of her teammates. Collectively, Chesapeake shot just 11-of-37 from the floor while racking up 17 turnovers.
“Defense is our biggest thing,” West’s Brayleigh Pistole said. “We know that if we play great defense, then offense will flow from it. So that’s our main focus. If you’re not having a great offensive night, just go down the court and play as hard as you possibly can on defense.”
Hailey Carver gave the Senators an early lead with two free throws before Pistole scored back-to-back baskets for a 6-2 edge with 3:12 left in the first quarter.
That four-point lead was still intact by the end of the first at 8-4.
In the second, Whisman started to get going with an old-fashioned three-point play for an 11-6 count. She’d followed with two more buckets to put West up 17-10 at the 2:03 mark.
Whisman and Isaacs then traded buckets before Isaacs hit a buzzer-beating 3 from half-court range, cutting the deficit to 19-14 at the break.
PHOTOS: Images from West’s district semifinal win over Chesapeake
And, while Isaacs’ heave did bring the Panthers to within five, it didn’t rattle the Senators.
Not one bit.
Carver began the third with a score and followed it with another at the 6:15 mark, putting West ahead, 25-18. Isaacs continued to do everything she could to keep Chesapeake in the game, but the Panthers never could whittle the deficit to under five points.
Whisman hit the front end of two free throws and followed that with a putback score, extending the Senators’ lead to 34-22 — a 12-point margin that stood at 36-24 at the start of the fourth.
During the final eight-minute stretch, Isaacs continued to match baskets. But the senior’s efforts simply weren’t enough as the Senators’ trio of Whisman, Pistole and Carver slammed the door shut on an 11-point victory.
“I think we prepared really well,” Whisman said. “And we trusted each other to know that we have each other’s [backs]. That’s especially true in these intense games. We just know that we’re there for each other.”
Statistically, following Whisman’s 25-point, 10-rebound performance was Pistole, who ended the night with 13 points and seven rebounds. Carver also helped out with eight points.
Chesapeake was led by its senior, Isaacs, who poured in 25 points alongside a trio of rebounds. Chloe Parrott chipped in with seven points and seven rebounds.
While the Panthers’ season comes to a close, the Senators now advance to a Division V district championship game at 2:30 p.m., Saturday back at Waverly’s Downtown Gym.
They’ll meet with Fairland, who beat Minford by a 68-38 final to advance.
“We come to the gym every day, play hard and just keep playing basketball. This has honestly just been the standard over the past couple of years,” Pistole said. “Now, we can spend another week together as a team. It’s just amazing that we get another week of basketball.”
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