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Posted: 11:43 PM Mar 21, 2010
Chesapeake Advances to Ohio Final Four
They've been playing basketball at Chesapeake High School since 1922, but they've never made it all the way to the state tournament - until now.
Reporter: Andrew Colegrove Email Address: andrew.colegrove@wsaz.com |
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23 Comments 
ATHENS, Ohio (WSAZ) – They've been playing basketball at Chesapeake High School since 1922, but they've never made it all the way to the state tournament - until now.
The Panthers knocked off Ironton and earned their first ever trip to the Ohio Final Four.
They've made six appearances in the regional finals but never made it this far.
Judie Kuhner has been a Panthers fan for a big chunk of the basketball program’s 88 year history.
"I'm 69 years old and my dad taught at Chesapeake,” she said. “He took me to the ball games when I was a little girl.”
She’s continued to support the team over the years, but each season has ended with disappointment.
"We had lots of good seasons, but we always came to the (regional) tournament, and we always lost,” she said.
The Panthers whisked away the drought Saturday night, beating Ironton 63-47 at the Convocation Center in Athens. They won the regional title and earned that long awaited birth to the state tournament.
"It is so exciting cause we've never done it before,” Kuhner said. “The fans are great, and we love the boys."
Around midnight Saturday, a large portion of the town's population of about a thousand people welcomed the team home and thanked them for the big win.
"The town is so happy, they've come together,” Principal Joe Rase said. “This is what they've been wanting for a long time. We're just so proud of our kids."
"The Chesapeake community is a basketball community,” Head Coach Ryan Davis said. “We're just thrilled to give them that opportunity to go to the state tournament."
The players say they're delighted to be the group to finally deliver the dream for their hometown.
"It's pretty special, they've waited a long time,” junior Nathan Copley said. “We've had a bunch of people donate a bunch of time to this program. I'm glad we could do something for them."
Chesapeake will play Lima Central Catholic at 10:45 Thursday morning in Columbus.
The principal says school will be dismissed that day so students can make it to the game.
Latest Comments
Good luck Panthers! Proud of you Colton!
I am so proud to be a Panther!!! Go Peake!!! Most touching moment of all this is that Fairland is wearing pwurple today to support our team...Thanks Dragons!
Wish Nana Sue could be here to see this!! I know she is smiling down from Heaven!
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